Race look fuel door?

[Datsun260Z]

Hello everyone. Thanks for taking the time.

 

I've searched the site in attempts to find some info on fuel doors with no luck. What I would like is info regarding (I don't even know their proper name) aluminum fuel doors. They look like the caps that Ferrari's have. What I would like to know is their installation process, price range and has anyone here installed them on their Z.

 

Cheers

Tim

[240Z2NV]

A reference pic would help so that others know exactly which one you have in mind. Many have done the Cobra flip lid. Some [including myself] have grafted sportbike lids on. Either option requires a fair bit of fabrication.....cost is not so big a deal; but, to make it look right takes WORK.

[blueovalz]

This is my version of a fuel door. When I put my car back on the street, I wanted to have a means of fueling the cell without opening the hatch every time. Even though it is on the hatch, there have been others that have done this on the quarter panel where the OEM door is. There are some strings on this, but I can't imagine what the key search word would be. I believe most of this type of modification has been done when wider flares were installed.

 

[G.I.jonas]

Man that is awesome...terry's car is a thread jack for me every time,Im always amazed to see the outcome of your car after seeing the mess that went into building it.I would have to say that type of cap on a quarter panel looks pretty sweet too.

[Datsun260Z]

This is my version of a fuel door. When I put my car back on the street, I wanted to have a means of fueling the cell without opening the hatch every time. Even though it is on the hatch, there have been others that have done this on the quarter panel where the OEM door is. There are some strings on this, but I can't imagine what the key search word would be. I believe most of this type of modification has been done when wider flares were installed.

 

 

Thanks Terry. Beautiful car by the way and if you don't mind I might adopt your idea of planting a Z logo on my door too when the time comes. I will keep searching since you say there are threads about this install. I am going to put mine ideally in the OEM placement.

 

to everyone else who took the time - thanks for your replies!

 

Tim

[SpeedRacer]

Moss Motors http://www.mossmotors.com and most Cobra kit car sites have them.

 

I bought mine from Moss Motors

 

[Datsun260Z]

A reference pic would help so that others know exactly which one you have in mind. Many have done the Cobra flip lid. Some [including myself] have grafted sportbike lids on. Either option requires a fair bit of fabrication.....cost is not so big a deal; but, to make it look right takes WORK.

 

A sport bike lid you say...? Sounds interesting. Are they costly? And do they fit in the existing space? Somewhat of course. I fully expect to be fabricating no matter what.

 

Tim

[Dudeboy]

I think the name is Le Mans Gas Cap?

 

Ecklers Corvette in Florida sells them. Also, go to Factoryfive.com they sell them as well.

 

Ecklers pricey http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?pf_id=39414&dept_id=1280

 

Factory Five a bit less;http://parts.factoryfive.com/newcatalog/exterior/gascap.htm

[ndeli55]

the motorcycle cap should not be that costly, since you could pull it from nearly any junker super bike. look on ebay there is often a dented tank selling on the cheap cheap. just make sure you like the look of the gas lid. you will most likely be on your own with the mods. have fun

[240Z2NV]

The extreme majority of sportbike tanks are sold WITHOUT the Gas Lid....eBay, craigslist, salvage sources. It is VERY rare to see someone selling the tank AND lid....what are they going to put on their replacement tank [assuming that you are dealing with a bike owner]?

 

Also, you WILL need a tank [same brand bike] to cut-out the mount 'recess', which will not have the same contour as your Z, so you now need to fab enough material that matches the contour of the Z to the material/contour of the fuel 'recess'.

 

The sportbike fuel lids run about $100 [give or take] for new. I spent several months casually scouring to get both of mine at what I felt was a reasonable price [$50 or less]. I got a second unit because the first one got pretty scratched with on-again-off-again trial fitting and body filler 'layers'.

[Datsun260Z]

Moss Motors http://www.mossmotors.com and most Cobra kit car sites have them.

 

I bought mine from Moss Motors

 

 

Wow is that your ride? Wow! It's beautiful. That fuel door is what I am aiming for. I will check out your link.

 

Thanks again to everyone who's replied. Very much appreciated.

 

Tim

[ndeli55]

looks like i stand corrected

[Guest mphillips4739]

Just get a complete tank that is damaged. When guys are looking for a new tank it is because they have laid the bike down and dented theirs. Dented tanks are cheap. The main thing is to get the key. All bikes I have ahd have a lock that uses the ignition key.

[DavyZ]

I think I know what you are looking for, but do you just want a lid that looks like a billet 'racing' cap or an actual cap, such as on a sportbike? If you just want a lid, it's true that the car has a slight curve in the panel and that you will either need to 1) build up to a flat cap or 2) get a contoured cap and hope for the best in terms of curve compatibility.

 

One way to find just a door is to get a billet replacement from ebay of a Mitsubishi Eclipse, Hyundai Tiburon, or Audi TT. All of them have curved quarter panels with curved doors.

 

If you want a flat one, well, the sky is the limit. An uncommon source would be from performance boating or even from the rodding magazines (roadsters and such). You just need to look around. The sportbike doors would almost be my first choice in form and function, but they require bodywork to make it fit correctly. The billet doors from the Mitsu on ebay would be my second choice, although the curve is a slight gamble.

 

Just my $.02

 

Davy

[240Z2NV]

'mphilips4739' you missed the point. If a sportbike rider has damaged his tank in a 'get-off', the gas lid is almost NEVER damaged, therefore not replaced [especially due to the cost]. It is extremely rare to see a dented tank being sold WITH the gas lid & key.

 

The original poster appears to be looking more at the 'Cobra' or Ferrari type, so it is a bit of a mute point.

 

The first on in DavyZ's post is REALLY COOL; but, I bet that it costs some serious dollars!

[Hey_Allen]

Here are a few links to options from the motorcycle side of the house.

 

 

http://www.shopcycle-parts.com/productdetail.htm?productId=4008988&browse=77192&shopBy=4108&catalogId=652

 

There are a few options among those, and there are other sources that are cheaper by far, for some of that stuff.

 

The advantage with buying from a company like Drag Specialties is that you can either get them direct, or through any local motorcycle shop. (and as usual, prices vary widely between vendors...)

 

Hmm.. I posted them, then checked them only to find that they all now directed to the same product, even though they were different links. Wierd.

 

 

Try looking on the list at Drag Specialties directly: http://www.dragspecialties.com/fatbook/21/240

 

http://www.dragspecialties.com/fatbook/21/240/3896677

http://www.dragspecialties.com/fatbook/21/240/3896705

http://www.dragspecialties.com/fatbook/21/240/3896722

http://www.dragspecialties.com/fatbook/21/240/3896650

http://www.dragspecialties.com/fatbook/21/240/3896794

 

 

A slightly different take on it, these are flush mount welded bungs, with a pop-up plug that blends flush with the surface around your fuel opening.

http://www.dragspecialties.com/fatbook/21/240/3896406

http://www.dragspecialties.com/fatbook/21/240/3896384

[Datsun260Z]

I think I know what you are looking for, but do you just want a lid that looks like a billet 'racing' cap or an actual cap, such as on a sportbike? If you just want a lid, it's true that the car has a slight curve in the panel and that you will either need to 1) build up to a flat cap or 2) get a contoured cap and hope for the best in terms of curve compatibility.

 

One way to find just a door is to get a billet replacement from ebay of a Mitsubishi Eclipse, Hyundai Tiburon, or Audi TT. All of them have curved quarter panels with curved doors.

 

If you want a flat one, well, the sky is the limit. An uncommon source would be from performance boating or even from the rodding magazines (roadsters and such). You just need to look around. The sportbike doors would almost be my first choice in form and function, but they require bodywork to make it fit correctly. The billet doors from the Mitsu on ebay would be my second choice, although the curve is a slight gamble.

 

Just my $.02

 

Davy

 

Sweet. I like all three options. Honestly, I would be willing on all of them. I am no stranger to fabrication so...which ever I run into might be satisfying enough. However, I admit I do like the contoured one.

 

Thanks Davy

 

T

[Datsun260Z]

'mphilips4739' you missed the point. If a sportbike rider has damaged his tank in a 'get-off', the gas lid is almost NEVER damaged, therefore not replaced [especially due to the cost]. It is extremely rare to see a dented tank being sold WITH the gas lid & key.

 

The original poster appears to be looking more at the 'Cobra' or Ferrari type, so it is a bit of a mute point.

 

The first on in DavyZ's post is REALLY COOL; but, I bet that it costs some serious dollars!

 

Bang on my friend, however after reading through what everyone's offered up, I am open to many ideas.

 

T

[Datsun260Z]

Here are a few links to options from the motorcycle side of the house.

 

 

http://www.shopcycle-parts.com/productdetail.htm?productId=4008988&browse=77192&shopBy=4108&catalogId=652

 

There are a few options among those, and there are other sources that are cheaper by far, for some of that stuff.

 

The advantage with buying from a company like Drag Specialties is that you can either get them direct, or through any local motorcycle shop. (and as usual, prices vary widely between vendors...)

 

Hmm.. I posted them, then checked them only to find that they all now directed to the same product, even though they were different links. Wierd.

 

 

Try looking on the list at Drag Specialties directly: http://www.dragspecialties.com/fatbook/21/240

 

http://www.dragspecialties.com/fatbook/21/240/3896677

http://www.dragspecialties.com/fatbook/21/240/3896705

http://www.dragspecialties.com/fatbook/21/240/3896722

http://www.dragspecialties.com/fatbook/21/240/3896650

http://www.dragspecialties.com/fatbook/21/240/3896794

 

 

A slightly different take on it, these are flush mount welded bungs, with a pop-up plug that blends flush with the surface around your fuel opening.

http://www.dragspecialties.com/fatbook/21/240/3896406

http://www.dragspecialties.com/fatbook/21/240/3896384

 

Excellent links man, thanks! I took a quick look through an am pleasantly surprised, the prices are really not all that bad. I can live with 50 to 80 bucks plus fabrication for the install.

 

This info in this thread is pretty great, I really appreciate it.

 

Tim

[240Z2NV]

Having already done the sportbike route, if I were to do it over I would probably try the contoured Mitsubishi route. It will still require a fair bit of fabbing to correct the OE opening; but, in the long run, it will be easiest. Wish that it locked, I'm old enough to remember the Gas Crisis in the 70s when people siphoned gas out of others' cars. If this war continues for long, we could see people doing it again...as gas reaches $5/gal.

 

I would have loved to do the pop-up route; but, at nearly $300, I'll pass. The first one [basic aluminum] is made in China and can be had cheaply on eBay. Again, not locking; and, I emailed the importer [out of SF] and he couldn't give me an intelligent answer as to how it secures, so I stuck with the sportbike route.

 

'Cat is out of the bag' now. I was one of only a couple of guys that had done it; but, guess we'll be seeing alot more of them now....

 

God Bless our troops