dctrouant1995

I have seen a few pics of this done but have not seen a thread on how to do it. I am going to pick up a gas filler door today to try it on. I plan on just cutting the little finger thing off and smoothing it out. I dont exactly know how to go about it, but if somebody could give me some advice that would be great! I figured taking a thin piece of plastic, epoxying it to the back of the door, then plastic weld around the edges to make sure it stays and then just putting bondo across the front to smooth it, would this work?

kentuckyKITT

iTrader: (4)

I don't recall seeing anyone shave one like that. Usually, I see people take the locking doors and fill the hole in where the lock was. Would be much simpler to do than trying to cut that finger grip off and fix the edge. Search on ebay for "firebird locking gas door."

dctrouant1995

I know it would be easier, but I'm getting the gas door for free, and since I'm broke, free is great haha. I've got the stuff to finish it.

lmidden

i did it to my car after seeing 86_irocz-28 do it to his car. used a popper from a cabinet to open it. cut out the finger hole thing then you need bondo hair of something similar to fill it in straight bondo wont work.

86_irocz-28

Hello all glad to see somebody has been watching my build thread

For those of you who havent seen it heres a pic, more pics and mods are in the sig


dctrouant1995 heres a thread i made step by step enjoy
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...e-project.html

84 1LE

iTrader: (9)

Used a saturn latch system on mine.....slightly modified!

dctrouant1995

That looks great! I plan on putting a piece of plastic and epoxying and plastic welding it to the gas lid so it will have some support, then kitty hair fiberglass, then bondo, and if need be putty, then just find one of the little popper things where you just push the gas cap and it opens

86_irocz-28

cabinet poppers mine came from my old entertainment center

dctrouant1995

got a picture?

86_irocz-28

dctrouant1995

Awesome! Thanks! I think I have one of those layin around

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

I smoothed mine years ago. I cut the finger notch off, then ground down the back side about half the thickness. I cut a piece from an old window screen I had laying around for reinforcement and filled it in with bondo. It's been plenty strong, I've put over 7k miles on the car since. It's my daily driver in the summer, or was till the engine started knocking.

I like the cabinet popper idea, I'll have to add that. I usually just flick it open with a fingernail.

dctrouant1995

was it a metal screen?

rarebmx

iTrader: (6)

don't some older cars have the spring loaded smooth doors already? Could'nt you find all the small pieces at the junk yard off some other make? I know for a fact I have had cars with this in the past, just cannot remember which car, maybe a Buick Park Avenue...

84 1LE

iTrader: (9)

The spring is mostly to keep the door shut.Not to "pop" it open.

Unless of course your talking cable release type.Those do have a spring to release the door when the lever is pulled.Mine works that way.

toxik IROC

iTrader: (12)

How did you do that popper from the Saturn?

84 1LE

iTrader: (9)

Basically, its the whole saturn cable system.The lever was shortend to tuck in closer to the floor.The door is 3rd gen, but on the backside part of the saturn door is riveted to the 3rd gen piece.I modified the 3rd gen door to accept the saturn spring that pops open the door.The cabel is run alongside the sill, up the wheel well(near the top) where i drilled a hole for the cable to pass thru onto the filler plastic.

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

No, really stiff plastic. Possibly plastic-coated metal, but I doubt it.

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

My first car, an 89 Dodge Daytona, a smooth filler door with a cable release on the floor. Might have been a bit smaller though, it's been years since I had that car.

It's not spring loaded, but fullsize Chevy/GMC trucks and Blazers/Jimmys from 88-98 have smooth doors too.

dctrouant1995

I know on the 97 Z71 I'm getting, it has a smooth gas door but now button or anything to open it. So I should be fine just leaving it without any button or cable even that would be nice. I haven't had time to work on it. Been swamped with school. I have the gas door pulled off and sittin on the car, just keep forgettin to grab it.