hi can i get the firewall out and get to the breathers without dropping the engine? off to the freddy files in a couple of weeks and need to get the smell of petrol sorted cheers
I couldn't on mine I had to drop the engine down about 2 inches by undoing the rear support bar and gearbox top mounts. That gave just enough (just enough) room to get the bugger out without resorting to an angle grinder! The danger with forcing the firewall out by not having quite enough clearance is that it WILL be impossible to get it back in coz it won't bend the same way as it did if you force it out.
Are you sure that the smell is coming from behind the firewall? Check the connection behind the spare wheel well first . Best way to replace it is take the rear left hand light cluster out completely for easy access. Pays off in the long run.
Fuel leaks and perished hoses and breathers and leaking carbs are common topics on here and doing a search should help. I had a smell of petrol in the engine bay which turned out to be perished fuel and breather hoses and a cracked tank filler hose. I ended up replacing it all.
mine were all replaced by a 'specialist' 2 years ago. didnt use r9 pipe and didnt do the breathers despite charging me for it
do a search for the correct fuel lines, I used the 5.6mm CODAN R9 which has held up fine so far. and get a new fuel filter and place it under the tank outlet well away from the engine bay.
Mine comes out ok. Swapped some of em recently. Bus is a 72/3 uk model (carbs) but has a 2 litre box and engine (1700 originally)
Personally i would drop the engine out if you have the gear to do it . Taking carbs off and lowering engine at the rear and all that , you may as well just disconnect electrics , fuel , bell housing bolts . Get yourself cross legged and do it in comfort . I tried it without drove me nuts .
I've changed a fuel tank on an FI engine without dropping the engine or removing anything from the engine so getting the bulkhead in and out is readily doable, fiddly but doable, as above don't forget the underneath screws, pulling the carbs off the inlets will make it possible
Let's be honest, if I had a four post lift and a tall snap on tool box like Ed China I'd pop engines out for every little job, but even with a motorbike type Jack and a flat garage floor type4 engines in particular are a right bloody maul in and out, even type1s having to get the back of the bus so high to get them out I don't knock anyone trying to avoid it where possible!
I'm 2ltr and did mine ok, though have fuel injection so not sure if carbs would be in the way. Right about the 2 screws but also be careful if you need to loosen the straps that hold the tank in to help with access, I broke one of mine.
But, my firewall came out OK, but wouldn't go back. Faced with undoing the mounts, I jacked it up, and magically, the bit of body distortion this caused let the firewall go back on. I never needed to undo the mounts
