My Emergency Gas Cap

[ew1usnr]

On the way to work this morning, I stopped to put gas in the car. The gas cap turned but would not come off. I pulled on it, and the gas cap came off, but I heard a “tink” as the center screw from the gas cap fell into the the gas tank. Darn it!

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I filled the car with 5.0 gallons so that there would not be too much sloshing around and drove to work. I used the gas cap as a template and cut a circle from a plastic coffee can lid to use as an emergency cover for the gas fill spout. I cut tabs in the disc to match those on the gas cap and aligned them with the notches on the fill spout. When I turned the disc clockwise the tabs locked it in place.

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I was impressed that it worked so well. :)

Does the center of the gas cap require a special screw?

[Luva65wagon]

Dennis, I'd guess it is a short (~3/8-1/2" long) 10-24 or 10-32 screw. Cap in hand haul it into you local hardware store and figure out the thread with any length, then when you know the thread you can get the right length.

You might consider the gas fill relocation many do. I see the tell-tale paint staining in that picture from gas spill-over.

[BadBird]

Moving the gas tube inside the trunk was one of the best upgrades I've made to my car. I was able to fit it under the fiberglass shroud along the back and it doesn't show at all. :banana:
I can't tell you how many times I was frustrated by gas pouring all over the car and pavement.
Had a few upset gas attendants also. I'll admit, I was worried about gas fumes, but figured 75% of the Falcons out there have that change.
Larry