ok, not exactly sure if i have the year right, but i know that my tank (from my 60 bug) is the 'upright type', without a sender or a guage.

if i find a guage that i like, what can i do to get it to work? ie can i add a sender to the tank? how exactly do the sender units work? float device?

Phil74Camper explained this quite well in a reply to Jak here (VDO fuel guage)
http://www.aussieveedubbers.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=2796 

I couldn't add anything to his explaination.

The hole/ attachment point for the sender is quite big- I've never had an early Beetle, but I'm guessing you'll have to change tanks - or modify your current one. Perhaps someone may know of an aftermarket kit that fits an early Beetle tank?

Good luck
Jeremy

I fitted one in my Oval a few years ago, yes the sender unit works on a float system.

Better off purchasing a new VDO gauge and sender unit. You can calibrate it by bending the arms so that it reads correctly

thanks for that link

but let we confirm what you're saying dave.... i'd be better off buying a new vdo guage and new aftermarket vdo sender to suit,
(or)
i'd b better off buying a new vdo guage and a new oem vw sender?

sorry, not entirely clear.

Kim

Yes i wasassuming yr car is 12 Volts so yes buy a new VDO gauge n Sender unit that match.

It would be more accurate, if you can bend the sender unit stops to get bottom n top of the tank.

I've looked into this a little as well. George at Custom Offroad here in Brissy mentioned to me a while back that he should be able to cut the tank and weld where necessary (not recommended for the home mechanic on a fuel tank!) to fit an aftermarket sender so a guage could be run in my mate's 58 beetle. Sorry can't give you any specifics since I am not doing the work myself.

You shouldnt have to weld any thing onto the fuel tank to fit the gauge sender unit. I fitted one to my Oval by drilling n filing the hole out to fit the tank unit.

Thanks dave. I didn't think it would be that easy!

Hey Dave, i know this is old, but did you get the sender and gauge from a local auto shop? i want to put a hole into my tank and fit one. How did you mount the sender? As in, how did you secure it to the tank? I wouldn't image there would be much metal there to tap it...

the VDO unit i fitted had a split ring made from 10 gauge steel taped with holes to line up with the sender unit top section pretty easy actually once you have one started the rest r easy

how did you get the bottom ring to line up? Through the fuel cap hole with some kind of rod, or flipped the tank upsidedown and played till you got one in.

bloody long time ago i think you slide to the side and do the first hole then the others

I bought a VDO mounting kit(23950/9A) for mine-I marked out the cetre hole and the 5 mounting holes-cut everything out and cleaned up all the dags.I seem to remember that the 5 mounting holes aren't symetrical(maybe dreaming here)so you need to think about the float direction.I remember then I cut a slot in the ring and fed it in,then put all the screws in and tightened them.I then drilled 2 small holes opposite each other and in the same PCD as the 5 mounting screws.Pulled the ring out and threaded it 4mm and drilled out the 2 holes in the tank and counter sunk them.Fitted the ring back in-fitted the 5 mounting screws again to make sure they all went in OK,then used 2 stainless counter sunk head screws to hold the ring up against the tank.I now can't move and the rubber tank gasket seals it all up.A lot neater and safer than trying to weld in a ring.I used a speedo with the fuel guage,so took the guage to a VDO agent and he supplied the tank unit to suit.

yeah thats the same as the unit i fitted

Do you lads run breathers for the tank?

i fitted a vdo sender and gauge to my oval's tank a coupla years ago... had a machine shop weld in a raised section into the tank and tapped the holes in the raised plate. bought the sender and gauge from repco i think.. they have catalogues of all the gauges and senders available.

No breathers on my tank. Fuel cap should be enough of a breather as i dont think it has a perfect seal on it when tightened up.