Gas Caps??

67GTA-FB429 · Feb 17, 2004

OK. Here is new question for everyone.

Why do some retailers state that flip-down gas caps are dangerous??

crushnut · Feb 18, 2004

Maybe because they can cause sparks I dunno

NorCal66 · Feb 18, 2004

Never seen one in person...so I don't know...but once it is flipped open is there anything else preventing gas from spilling out if you forget to close it? If not that could be a problem.

crushnut · Feb 18, 2004

Correct me if i am wrong, but i think there is suppose to be a little gas cap inside that you have to undo after it is flipped up, but i may be wrong on that. Yet again i thought the flip up part of the cap had a gasket on it that sealed up the filler neck hole Im sure someone else knows more about it, but i obviously dont

hhead · Feb 18, 2004

i believe the original flip down design was not with the twist cap insid. I think there is literature when you buy the flip cap, to leave it original for show only. i think it is a spring loaded cap attached to the flip lid, and when you flip it open that's it, it's open. but the twist cap inside is the road safe way.

Platonic Solid · Feb 18, 2004

Isn't it supposed to "flip up"? I have one of each of the Elleanor (sp?) type caps. One with the rubber gasket attached to the hinged lid and the other with a sepparate cap under the hinged lid.

67GTA-FB429 · Feb 18, 2004

They flip up and latch. There is a gasket on the inside to seal the filler. I see more people leave twist on caps off and drive around town (see: Ilovemyminivan.com)

Gas would have to come all the way up the filler tube to leak out.

Most retailers seem to be reluctant to sell the flip-ups. I want to replace my GT flip-up with another exact copy.

mp67 · Feb 18, 2004

I don't know either. Mine is a flip down gt350 cap. There is a gasget inside and not another screw cap. Gas will not come out if its open, unless you fill it completely full cause of the neck from the cap to the tank. But I know its not airtight even with the gasget, so maybe that's the problem. If you overfill, then you could have gas flooding out when you accelerate, and hot exhaust is nearby.

Another thing just thought of. The poster about creating sparks could be right. The striker assembly is metal, and when you flip the outside part to let the gas cap open, maybe the striker could create spark or if you flip it fast and just let the cap fall, maybe that could create sparks.

SuperDave · Feb 18, 2004

Simple: A "flip-down" cap is considered dangerous because, if a car is hit in the rear, the cap often "flips" open and the tank spews gasoline. A "twist-on" cap is not nearly as likely to do so.

Retailers are reluctant to sell them for liability reasons.

bnickel · Feb 18, 2004

the original flip down had the cap connected to the flip lid, and it just had a gasket seal, the later replacement caps had the twist on cap for safety reasons, and all the current repro's are that way as well. if you want an original non twist cap cap check ebay, i see nos caps on there all the time.

bud4660 · Feb 18, 2004

SuperDave said:
Simple: A "flip-down" cap is considered dangerous because, if a car is hit in the rear, the cap often "flips" open and the tank spews gasoline. A "twist-on" cap is not nearly as likely to do so.

Retailers are reluctant to sell them for liability reasons.

SuperDave is right. And if you flip one of those cars gas goes everywhere. They vent through the cap. I always worried about water getting in the tank. They dont seal very well. If you fill the tank full it will pour fuel back out the cap when you take off. But I still like mine and wouldnt change it. Whats scary is to know the fuel tank is not well protected from rearend crashes. Once you get by that chrome bumper... lol

Shades of pinto's batman.....

67GTA-FB429 · Feb 18, 2004

Holy-Fires, boy wonder....

Any of these cars are maltov cocktails if hit from behind unless you have added a fuel cell ($1200+).

I like SD explaination though, and it highlights the need for resto-mod and stock guys to stay together.

67GTA-FB429 · Feb 18, 2004

BTW, Branda has the COOL flip-up gas caps!! Be the first on your block to own one!!

pabear89 · Feb 18, 2004

I don't want mine hit at all.
But I will not lose my Cap from not remembering to put it on.

PB

zookeeper · Feb 19, 2004

Actually the repro cap I bought has both. You could either use the original-style flip-open cap with the spring seal only, or leave it off (it comes unassembled) and install the twist on cap under the flip door. Also, I think part of the safety issue stems from the fact that most cars of that era had rear exiting exhaust, and if the cap didn't seal 100%, the "dead-air" space behind the car as it travelled created a perfect place for gas fumes to hang out looking for an ignition source, like a backfire. In fact '69-'70 Shelbys were recalled to correct this when they were still considered "new" cars. Since the exhaust exited directly under the filler cap (not one of Ford's better ideas), it could and did make more than a few backfires just that, "back-fires".

Gas Caps??

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