Spring on the gas door?
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,166
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From: Connecticut, USA
Spring on the gas door?
Is there supposed to be some type of spring on the gas door on a 68-69 to keep it open? There's nothing on my car or a couple of others I looked at, the 72 has a 1/2 moon spring that works well.
Thanks,
Gary
Thanks,
Gary
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: Godspeed Mikey Hogsmak Invitational Spring Skyline Drive Corvette Cruise
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Re: Spring on the gas door? (gtr1999)
Hey, Gary. Mine's a flapper also, I bought one of those springs but I can't figure out how to install it.
Racer
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: MESA, AZ, USA
Re: Spring on the gas door? (gtr1999)
My AIM shows a different holding mechanism than I found broken on my early '69. I've also seen the same as mine on other '69s, so I'm assuming GM changed the design mid-year (may actually be a '68 design). Mine is a U shaped spring that mounts upside down on the gas cap frame. The "legs" of the U are S shaped so the bracket that attaches to the cover/lid slides/snaps through the legs as you push the door up and back. The spring was originally "rivoted" to the bracket, but the rivots were small posts cast into the frame that were crushed to hold the spring. I repaired mine using dryer vent clamp material and shaped it to match the half a broken spring that was left on the frame. I drilled out the posts and used pop-rivots to mount the spring. I also had to fix the cap bracket that holds the door shut. I had to replace the cap to do this, though.
Andy
Andy
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From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Re: Spring on the gas door? (WATTAC)
No springs on original 68-69 gas lids. The pin should be tight enough that friction holds it open. The spring, advertised in all the catalogs is not for 68-69. Not sure when it was added....1970?? Chuck
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Connecticut, USA
Re: Spring on the gas door? (Chuck Gongloff)
Chuck you're talking about the hinge pin, I think it's roll pin on mine. Thanks, I can make an oversize pin if that will hold it.
Gary
Gary
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From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Re: Spring on the gas door? (gtr1999)
Try this...take the lid off. Put one end of the pin on your vise anvil and tap the other end. This will mushroom it....enough to create some interference. This will create enough resistance to hold the lid open. Worked for me. Chuck
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From: End of the Ike IL
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Re: Spring on the gas door? (gtr1999)
While an annoyance, its become routine to fiddle with a floppy door. If I tried to mushroom the pin with my Magilla touch, I'd probably put myself in a really bad mood. My $.02 worth.
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Brett Foote
Racer
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: MESA, AZ, USA
Re: Spring on the gas door? (gtr1999)
Sorry to have to disagree, but my gas cap and frame/bezel are as original as they come. And I've noted that 68/69 gas cap frames/bezels are "missing" from several of my Corvette parts catalogs. The spring I'm talking about would be a part of the bezel and not replaceable. I see nothing in my setup that would indicate its been changed or modified, other than what I did to repair it since I could find no new parts. But I did find used examples in my friendly neighborhood Corvette scrap yard.
First, when was your car built? Like I said I noted the AIM picture did not agree with my car, but I've noted that in several major areas. Second, have you removed the bezel to check what it looks like? It appears to me that there is a third type of spring that was used later in 71 and on that's different from the one I have and different from the pin. It's just a sping, sort of a soft U shape with hooks on either end.
Andy
Andy
First, when was your car built? Like I said I noted the AIM picture did not agree with my car, but I've noted that in several major areas. Second, have you removed the bezel to check what it looks like? It appears to me that there is a third type of spring that was used later in 71 and on that's different from the one I have and different from the pin. It's just a sping, sort of a soft U shape with hooks on either end.
Andy
Andy
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Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
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From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Re: Spring on the gas door? (WATTAC)
Hi Andy. You're correct about the "U" shaped gizmo on the lid, and the spring loaded "pins" in the bezel. These are used to keep the lid closed. 71?? and up Corvettes used another spring in the hinge pin area to keep the lid open while fueling. 68 and 69 do not have this "lid opening" spring. Chuck
