megaracerx

any opinions on having the gas cap behind the left tailights? kinda like the 57 chevy??

Post ALL opinions, idea for how to do it, or anything relating to this..


i just thought this up, so forgive this incomplete idea.

Timz2882

iTrader: (1)

i think the main thing would be gettin a good seal for the filler tube. then have the tailight able to pop out and swing out and then latch back into place and not have it able to just pop open. also there would probably be alot of fumes in the car enless you built a little tunnel for the filler tube to run thru and then into the tank.

paulmoore

For an idea of where to start, check out this thread...

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...ight=fuel+cell

The part is probably about 2/3 of the way down. You can see the pic of how he has the fuel filler neck inside the rear hatch area.

nick418

are u thinking about doing this mega?

megaracerx

yea actually i am....but i wanna find out how much work it would take....as i am not bill gates in the $$ department

redraif

We did it our selfs so the $ was not a big deal, just the how! How good are your abilities?

Because of the complication of how to get the filler neck to the tailight area, we decided against the idea. Here was some of our brain storming from the time!

A fuel cell in the truck well area would be the best method. You could route it that way w/o too much trouble. I just really did not want a fuel cell in the car!

Another idea was taking the neck thru the cargo area where I put mine and run it the whole way back to the tail light area. It would still be hidden inside by the cargo panels. I would just be concerned that there would not be enough slope in the neck to work properly. That when you fill it up some gas would get trapped in the neck cause the tank would fill up and back up into the neck. Then you accelerate and the gas gushes back toward the cap. You could end up with a mess of gas on the back of the car. Then you further the problem when you try to figure how to attach the extended filler neck. If you weld it on, to be 100% sure there are no leaks, then you run the issue of what do you do it you ever have to get the tank out (dead fuel pump). Or you use a coupler like I did and you have to watch out for the occasional leak (fill too quick).

And none of this is getting to the problem of how to get the light to pop open or fold out. So we just dropped it. Thought it would be cool, but too many variables were there!

megaracerx

well then...what could i put behind the tail light??

i love the idea of it popping out with a remote control. but i dont like the idea of haveing gas in my back seat.

redraif

Make the center section pop out to expose your key hole! Then you could have that hidden and have a nice smooth tail section. I'm planning on moving my bird emblem to cover the key hole and mounting it so it will move to uncover the key hole. Just have to find the right donor car in the local yards for the right design!

megaracerx

now thats a sweet idea....plus no one would know theres a lock there...so they'll just break the glass to get in!!....


i wonder how you would go about making the taillights on peice...or atleast appear that they are one peice, because that would be sweet also..

i like the idea of the lock behind the center section though...but wouldnt you need a key...to get to your key hole?

what else would you use to open it...

redraif

If a thief wants to get in quick he/she is going to break the glass key hole or not. I doubt a smash and grab artist would take the time to drill out the locks and use a screw driver!

As far as entry to my truck...I have mine on remote! The popper kit has some extra keyless entry features! So I would only need it in an emergency. In that case, I would slide my emblem out of the way and use the key hole.

Your center section would be on remote as you said before...then it moves adn gives you access to the key hole and u use the key you would ahve attached to your keyring where the remote is. Its not like its a different key from the door locks! Or are your door locks shaved?

megaracerx

nothing is shaved on my car yet, but when i paint it, i wanna shave the locks/atenna/moldings and maybe gas cap.


are you talking about putting the lock behind the firebird emblem? or behind the entire center section?

JeremyNYR

iTrader: (2)

I'd say it'd be easier to have the gas cap behind the center taillight section than the taillight. I'm pretty sure that's how the 2nd gen birds were set up. I've been thinking about doing that, but worry about the potential interference with the hatch lock and also routing the filler neck to that location may require notching into the trunk well a bit. It all adds up to a lot of planning, money, and time. This is why I'm more realistically considering a flush gas door with a manual pull popper setup instead.

redraif

Nah I was trying to tell you if YOU wanted something to put behind the taillight area that could be visible when you open the panel via remote...You could put the lock behind the center section.

What I'm gonna do...is leave the lock where it is, but put the 2nd gen bird emblem over it. Then the emblem will rotate or fold out to expose the lock cylinder Ergo it will looked shaved!

MrDude_1

like this?


(i got this pic off of some thread on this site)

megaracerx

just like that actually, do you know what thread it from?

Thunderboy

I think it is possible, but it would involve quite a bit of metalwork, and you better get a spare taillight to practice the cutting and fitting of a hinge.

Also, you would loose the inner tool compartment that runs on the left side of the trunk, and have some interference problems if you have mounted subwoofers in the trunk (like in my case). All that, because the filler tube needs a funnel like shape which takes space, and would end inside the trunk area and would need cutting the inner plastic cover and disguising it somehow.

How about if somebody (let's hope not!) rear ends your car? you will have an exposed open hose to your fuel tank when the taillight is smashed and the frail plastic cap breaks.

I would rather replace the round flush cover on the body with a metal patch, and put a nice and cool looking tank filler cap from a motorcycle, like a Ducati or such. Would look different and cool, and wouldn't have to worry about the taillight fracturing (and possibly water leaking into it) or accidentally swinging open; or messing up a lot of inner sheetmetal.

Anyway, custom tricks and ideas are always welcome!

megaracerx

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Thunderboy


I would rather replace the round flush cover on the body with a metal patch, and put a nice and cool looking tank filler cap from a motorcycle, like a Ducati or such.

! [/QUOTE


would it be flush with the body? or stick out? (like on motorcycles)