Furious Fastback
- purplepeter
- Posts: 2404
- Joined: 8th August 2006 - 4:41pm
- Location: Bath, Avon
Re: Furious Fastback
( it was in that big box of left over parts you sold me years ago!)
Re: Furious Fastback
Ahghh, I thought it was going to be my standard comment about the timing marks 

The sultan of swing
Re: Furious Fastback
I decided to change out the Mountney steering wheel and gone back to the correct 4 spoke VW type. The wood on the aftermarket wheel had started to split and separate, so it needed to be retired sooner or later. Also, because it was a smaller 13” wheel I found that it obstructed my view of the dash gauges:
Sometimes going back to factory stock just feels like the best option (or maybe that is my older self speaking!), but I am liking how this looks and more importantly how it feels when I am driving:
Just got to hook the horn back up (it’s currently wired into a push button on the dash), but that is a little job for another day.
Sometimes going back to factory stock just feels like the best option (or maybe that is my older self speaking!), but I am liking how this looks and more importantly how it feels when I am driving:
Just got to hook the horn back up (it’s currently wired into a push button on the dash), but that is a little job for another day.
Re: Furious Fastback
Ive always liked stock, and Ive never been that old, and im still not. Youre right, the view is much improved
The sultan of swing
Re: Furious Fastback
Cheers Broady, it’s just interesting that my appreciation of stock is increasing as I ‘mature’; that said, I am still a sucker for a low ride and a sweet set of alloys!
In other news, I’ve now swapped out that knackered old rubber air intake boot with a decent part-used one:
Hopefully another small step towards improving the cooling of the car now that warm air cannot be drawn in from the engine compartment through the splits and cracks, like was probably happening to a degree with the old one. Incremental improvements will hopefully add up. Better than was n all that!
In other news, I’ve now swapped out that knackered old rubber air intake boot with a decent part-used one:
Hopefully another small step towards improving the cooling of the car now that warm air cannot be drawn in from the engine compartment through the splits and cracks, like was probably happening to a degree with the old one. Incremental improvements will hopefully add up. Better than was n all that!
Re: Furious Fastback
Happy Halloween! How is everyone? It’s been a minute, but I’ve been out and about enjoying the Fasty and getting those last rides in before the roads get salted and dampen my enjoyment until the spring. Happy to report that the car has been running well since just adjusting the timing a fraction. The car happily starts from cold and most importantly will restart once up to temperature. Maybe that is due to the cooler ambient temperatures at this time of year, but I will call that a win for now!
Lots of little things to sort over the winter, but I have just been looking at what I need to renew the fuel tank breather system. Purple Peter recently pointed out that I was missing the all-important rubber j-shaped pipe that passes through the inner wheel well and connects to the filler. Consequently, I discovered that the hose that had been put in place by the PO had kinked up, severely restricting flow.
With a new j-pipe acquired, I set about fitting it up, but despite my sweat I simply cannot get the integrated grommet to fit the hole. Has anyone managed to do this and if so, is there some kind of trick to getting it to fit up? If not, I will just leave it loose as it maddening task when I get it halfway on and then it pops back off!
Lots of little things to sort over the winter, but I have just been looking at what I need to renew the fuel tank breather system. Purple Peter recently pointed out that I was missing the all-important rubber j-shaped pipe that passes through the inner wheel well and connects to the filler. Consequently, I discovered that the hose that had been put in place by the PO had kinked up, severely restricting flow.
With a new j-pipe acquired, I set about fitting it up, but despite my sweat I simply cannot get the integrated grommet to fit the hole. Has anyone managed to do this and if so, is there some kind of trick to getting it to fit up? If not, I will just leave it loose as it maddening task when I get it halfway on and then it pops back off!
- purplepeter
- Posts: 2404
- Joined: 8th August 2006 - 4:41pm
- Location: Bath, Avon
Re: Furious Fastback
Did You get it from Simon? (it's an important question, as there are 2 versions, early & late, both almost identical, except that one is longer- simon's version is the longer, with the intention that you cut it down for earlier cars!)
It's a balancing act to fit, between the J pipe & the fuel filler grommet (sink plunger) but if you loosen the clip on the big rubber grommet that secures the filler pipe into the front wing, and the clips on the rubber pipe into the Tank, you can wiggle the metal fuel filler pipe itself (which you need to paint asap) either in or out a teeny bit, until the J pipe fits nicely
Don't leave it dangling, otherwise it'll slosh fuel out on ever corner!
It's a balancing act to fit, between the J pipe & the fuel filler grommet (sink plunger) but if you loosen the clip on the big rubber grommet that secures the filler pipe into the front wing, and the clips on the rubber pipe into the Tank, you can wiggle the metal fuel filler pipe itself (which you need to paint asap) either in or out a teeny bit, until the J pipe fits nicely
Don't leave it dangling, otherwise it'll slosh fuel out on ever corner!
Re: Furious Fastback
Thanks Peter! No, not from Simon - I bought it locally along with some other good/used bits and bobs. The length between the filler connection and the inner wing is spot on, so I am confident that it is the correct part. When I say I can get it on halfway, I mean I can get the inner lip of the grommet to fit halfway around the hole, but it always pops off as I work my way around. Its a bit like what happens when refitting a bicycle tyre, if that makes sense? Perhaps this view from inside the bonnet area shows my struggle better, using a small screwdriver to lift the lip through:
There is no tension pulling back on the rubber j-piece, its simply that I cannot get the lip of the grommet to form around the opening and thus provide a weather tight seal. However, once connected up it wouldn't be dangling; it would just have the grommet sat on the outside of the hole rather than the inner wing being sandwiched between.
I may try soaking the rubber j-piece in warm water, squirt a little Fairy liquid in the grommet seam and then use a small hook to try and coax it into place. I'll also give that filler a lick of paint whilst I am at it, you are right to point it out as I don't want that getting worse.
There is no tension pulling back on the rubber j-piece, its simply that I cannot get the lip of the grommet to form around the opening and thus provide a weather tight seal. However, once connected up it wouldn't be dangling; it would just have the grommet sat on the outside of the hole rather than the inner wing being sandwiched between.
I may try soaking the rubber j-piece in warm water, squirt a little Fairy liquid in the grommet seam and then use a small hook to try and coax it into place. I'll also give that filler a lick of paint whilst I am at it, you are right to point it out as I don't want that getting worse.
- purplepeter
- Posts: 2404
- Joined: 8th August 2006 - 4:41pm
- Location: Bath, Avon
Re: Furious Fastback
Don't use washing up liquid-It's full of Salt!
I'd suspect it's the roughness of the surrounding metal that's causing problems, so maybe clean & paint that area
Once installed, theres a plastic T piece that goes into the open end of the J pipe & expands it, so you only need it to hold itself in position for a few moments, but think about a splodge of mastic/underseal (Not silicone-it's full of salt!)
You'll have already tried a bit of dowel/thick screwdriver inside to J pipe to try to coax it to grip the metal.
I'd suspect it's the roughness of the surrounding metal that's causing problems, so maybe clean & paint that area
Once installed, theres a plastic T piece that goes into the open end of the J pipe & expands it, so you only need it to hold itself in position for a few moments, but think about a splodge of mastic/underseal (Not silicone-it's full of salt!)
You'll have already tried a bit of dowel/thick screwdriver inside to J pipe to try to coax it to grip the metal.
Re: Furious Fastback
Thanks Peter, I’ll put the washing-up liquid bottle down. It hadn’t even occurred to me that it would be bad to use as a lubricant. I will probably use a dab of motor oil instead. I’ll be bringing the car into my garage shortly, so will have time over the coming weeks to gently clean up the area and make sure the surrounding steel is perfectly smooth. Good idea to use the dowel inside the rubber of the J-piece to manipulate it into position, whilst I use the small screwdriver or hook to pull the lip through. I think that could work.
I already had the T-piece and test fitted inside the j-piece. It fits like a glove (I will add hose clamps when I do the final installation):
I’m just going to order some connecting breather hose, I’ve measured with the callipers and it would appear to be 15mm ID. I assume I need to get low-pressure fuel safe hose, any recommendations for a good source for this? I’ll also get hold of some cloth braided vent hose that should come off the top connection of the T-piece. Fortunately, the regular VW sellers seem to keep a stock of that (3.5mm ID labelled as vacuum/breather hose).
I already had the T-piece and test fitted inside the j-piece. It fits like a glove (I will add hose clamps when I do the final installation):
I’m just going to order some connecting breather hose, I’ve measured with the callipers and it would appear to be 15mm ID. I assume I need to get low-pressure fuel safe hose, any recommendations for a good source for this? I’ll also get hold of some cloth braided vent hose that should come off the top connection of the T-piece. Fortunately, the regular VW sellers seem to keep a stock of that (3.5mm ID labelled as vacuum/breather hose).
Re: Furious Fastback
Also dont use engine oil, it will degrade the rubber. The correct thing to use is a silicone lubricant. Either a tine of grease or an areosol. I use an aerosol when fitting rubber parts and things tend to slid in rather easily after that.
Carbuilder solutions are a reliable soruce for ethanol proof fuel hose.
Carbuilder solutions are a reliable soruce for ethanol proof fuel hose.
The sultan of swing
- 937carrera
- Posts: 1235
- Joined: 7th June 2013 - 11:54pm
- Location: North Yorkshire
Re: Furious Fastback
Brickwerks are also very good for fuel hose...
David
1974 412LS Variant
1973 412LE 4 door Fastback / Saloon
1974 412LS Variant
1973 412LE 4 door Fastback / Saloon
Re: Furious Fastback
Thanks Broady, I will get hold of some aerosol silicone lubricant in that case. I will look at the offerings on Carbuilder Solutions and Brickwerks (thanks David) for the hose that I need. Much appreciated!
- purplepeter
- Posts: 2404
- Joined: 8th August 2006 - 4:41pm
- Location: Bath, Avon
Re: Furious Fastback
I don't know if you've done your door cards yet Rhys?, But I remembered a tiny detail that I thought I'd better tell you
The technique I used was to stick the plastic sheet down, and then stab all the clip holes with a stanley knife, before inserting the grommet/bungs through the plastic
The technique I used was to stick the plastic sheet down, and then stab all the clip holes with a stanley knife, before inserting the grommet/bungs through the plastic
- purplepeter
- Posts: 2404
- Joined: 8th August 2006 - 4:41pm
- Location: Bath, Avon
Re: Furious Fastback
T'other thing I have been meaning to show you, is the original vw fuel pump mounting for FI cars
My excuse for not saying anything sooner is that all of my spare axles were down in the pit, but now they are out, and I'm in the process of cleaning them up
First pic is from behind the Beam, Second is from the front
I'm hopeful that I'll be able to remove it from the beam without damage & if I do, it's yours, next time I see you, just so you can add it to your stash
My excuse for not saying anything sooner is that all of my spare axles were down in the pit, but now they are out, and I'm in the process of cleaning them up
First pic is from behind the Beam, Second is from the front
I'm hopeful that I'll be able to remove it from the beam without damage & if I do, it's yours, next time I see you, just so you can add it to your stash
Re: Furious Fastback
purplepeter wrote: ↑22nd January 2025 - 9:23amI don't know if you've done your door cards yet Rhys?, But I remembered a tiny detail that I thought I'd better tell you
The technique I used was to stick the plastic sheet down, and then stab all the clip holes with a stanley knife, before inserting the grommet/bungs through the plastic
Thanks Peter, that is a good plan. I have cleaned up the front cards (they came up great!);
I'm still in the process of repairing the rear cards. However, the fitting of these will need to wait a little longer as I've got a couple of pressing deadlines for some creative pursuits I am engaged with currently. In the meantime, the door cards are out in the garage, facedown with some weight on the backside in order to reduce the worst of the warping

Re: Furious Fastback
Ahh, this is interesting to see how and where the pump was mounted on FI cars.purplepeter wrote: ↑23rd January 2025 - 10:49amT'other thing I have been meaning to show you, is the original vw fuel pump mounting for FI cars
My excuse for not saying anything sooner is that all of my spare axles were down in the pit, but now they are out, and I'm in the process of cleaning them up
Good man, that would be ace, but do not worry if it is not possible. I'm happy with the current mounting of the aftermarket pump, but the opportunity to utilise an original part designed for this purpose would be a bonuspurplepeter wrote: ↑23rd January 2025 - 10:49amI'm hopeful that I'll be able to remove it from the beam without damage & if I do, it's yours, next time I see you, just so you can add it to your stash
