Another mid-course correction

I read with interest and shared enthusiasm Gary Clarke's post that his car is up and running. One of the respondents mentioned the on-going nature of our car building projects... In that spirit I may have a flip top gas filler cap for sale soon.

In spite of my best design efforts and some very professional body work, I am not pleased with the results of my thru-the-hood modification.

The body shop guru just plain made too big a hole and the cap looks wrong sitting just off of center in it. I keep hearing strains from the Grand Canyon Suite in my head every time I visit my car and see the chasm in my hood... I can see these little burros winding their way up through the overflow rubber, packs loaded on their backs as they emerge single file from beneath my bonnet...
donk-key-donk-key-donk, key donkey-key-donk

I just read your comments on the through-the-hood-gas-cap and not being familiar with your kit, could you be referring to a Spyder?
If so, I had a similiar experience, after cutting the hood I really disliked the looks of the gaps around the cover. I ended up reglassing that hole and then cutting a round hole just big enough for the threaded part of the filler neck to stick up through the hood. I now screw the cap on or off when I need to open the hood. If you make a ring of soft plastic or rubber to fit between the cap and the hood you won't scratch the paint. I've got some pictures of my Spyder on the Spyder side of the house.

Paul, how much for the flip-lid? Are you gonna keep the big tank and cut down the neck?

No Spyder yet, my friend...this is my speedster.
I have no idea what they are worth as I did a trade for a tank, powder coating and the cap. Make me a reasonable offer.

Yeah, big tank stays, the erection jutting through the hole will be modified to 'G' rating!

MM,
I guess I might as well return the color matched prophylactic I ordered as a gift.(O: Give me the the hole diameter & I'll get you a giant rubber cap. They have them with propellers to match our beanies~R

Paul,

So are you going to patch the off-centered hole and forego the flip cap? Had the hole been centered correctly and the opening not a bit excessive would have had stayed with the flip cap?

I got the same setup from John Steele but haven't cut the hole yet. A cabinet maker friend is going to assist, he is more percise than me. Most people mount their caps higher than I plan to. I will have only half the thickness of the cap visible above the hood, and am striving for a very close fit between the hole and the cap.

Just a thought...is there any such thing as a hood-hatch that could be mounted over a hole in the hood that would expose the gas cap (shortened) when opened?? - Ya know, like a regular car has only on the hood...
Still have to go with the "G" rated neck, but woudl cover the crater and be quick-access...again, jsut a thought
-Time

The later model 356's had their gas tank door mounted on the fender, right front I believe. That would be a cool modification for someone to try on a fiberglass Speedster!

Bruce

Bruce,

Here in the UK, Chesil offer this (flap in fender) as a factory option for their kits.

Would have gone for it too, if my GT wing mirror wouldn't have sat half over the flap!!

Tim: The stock 1969 (or thereabouts) VW beetle had a gas door on the side of the body where the front fender swept down toward the bottom of the door. It could, I suppose, be adapted to a Speedster. Had a latch activated by a lever in the cockpit going through a cable to the gas door.

gn

For the record the hole is centered, allbeit pretty darn big, 6.5" in diameter. The bodyshop guru got pretty nutted up thinking (and over-thinking) what the hood travel impact was going to be and any possible rubbing or snagging on the cap.

I think those concerns were a product of the uncut filler neck projecting up in its raw state. As Erik posted his desired height is what I was looking for and at that configuration I see the hood just lifting right up when need be... My guy was thinking there was some lateral travel or something so he mapped out this craterous surround. I OK'd it. We have a stainless steel surround ring that was to go on as a finishing touch and in the beginning it was looking pretty sweet.

When the hood went back on the car, the problem became the filler neck in that it was not in the middle of the hole. Again with the over thinking and over compensating! With the flip style cap there is the 'handle' area of the cap, the little hook and catch-y thing that makes this sort of asymetrical. A twist off cap like the original 550 no problema, all round all the time.

Lots of words over such a minor modification. It was mostly for looks and part practicality. My personal prejudices heat up when I'd have to fill up and my bonnet wasn't counterbalanced like true 356 hood hinges are...instead I'd have to use that sissy prop.

Anywho, I think the flip filler caps can ride comfortably close to the hood's surface without binding. I think the hole can be notably smaller so as not to take on song flute characterisitics when crusing.

Truly a measure twice cut once exercise, but maybe go to two cuts if the first hole is too small. Ahh, the double entendres and sophomoric comparisons this modification brings to mind... Rick, I'll just use the French tickler as a helmet when I drive down to Knotts. I'll just cut a coupla eye holes in it and Voila' Medicine Man is back! People will wonder what station I'm listening to!

They key is to mount the flip-cap low but accessible. If it sits high in relationship to hood then there might be a tendancy to rub when opening and closing, but at flush-plus half an inch, nope. John Steele suggested that I install the tank without removing the hood. Put white paint on tape covering the neck of the filler opening and lower the hood until the inside of the hood touches the wet paint. Then measure to locate the exact center of the hole and use a hole saw to cut it out to near exact dimensions. Use masking tape to keep the hole saw from chipping paint and fiberglass. Lastly use a dremel tool to grind out and enlarge the hole so the flip cap's outline will fit the modified hole. Custom fit.

Like Paul I found I didn't like opening the hood to add gas. I also h-a-t-e-d the normal-sized gas tank capacity. Since I decided to go with a larger tank I figured I would address the the filling nusiance at the same time. Besides, I love the GT look with the cap peeking through the hood.

All of our spyders have the flip type cap through the hood. My hole is pretty tight against the sides of the cap, and is only a little wider that the hinge part and the latch part of the cap. Is wasn't too difficult to create the hole on my car - although it took several fittings as I didn't want to screw up. I measures the center location as referenced off and "x" and "y" on the body outside of the hood. Then put the hood on and drilled the center hole - made sure it lined up with center on the cap. I then made a pattern of the basic shape of the filler and opened the hole up close to that - as I got closer I tot he outline i was checking more and more. In the end, I have about 1/8" gap on the sides and maybe 1/4" at the hinge and latch to allow movement. I did not use more than a file to shape it.

Mike

Paul, I sent you a couple messages privately when you get a chance to look...

Hey Mike...
I think if I had had access to some shop space and time, this is a modification that would have been right up my alley. In reading how you went about the measure & fitment, I'd have been on track with you... I did learn that the there is a significant difference in 'foam' which we used to fill in between the inner and outer hood surfaces. It is not recommended to use 'Good Stuff' or any of the Harry Homeowner home improvement offerings... they can break down and get musty.

I would encourage anyone buying a larger tank or making this modification to their existing tank, to get the fill neck length, height figured out first! Oy, such a mess.

Rick, thanks for the rubbers,buddy. Your timing was impeccable as always.Diana wanted to know what I was up to?

Don't you Just love those mid course corrections.
I've had so many so far It's a wonder I haven't lost my mind let alone being lost as to what to do this project. I have some how managed to keep the faith.

I just encountered another mid-course correction...interestingly enough this wasn't a Paul didn't plan ahea d adventure. Just be'in ironed out now. One man's ceiling is another man's floor! Paperwork to follow, details to follow, more money changing hands, ah, the smell of exhaust fumes linger on this near spring day in Benicia... The 'perfect engine' is on the horizon and Mr. Beefy, the transmission, should be right on its tail!