[DeTomaso] Hinge spring for gas filler gill

[Mike Scardina]

That makes sense to me.  Now that you mention it, I recall test driving a GTS Pantera years ago that had NO hinge spring at all and the flap stayed closed... albeit to my surprise.  I actually have an extra set of gills.  They look like the Wilkinson replacements.  They have a different set up for holding the hinge in place.  I could always transfer that mechanism over to the gills I intend to use.  I further thought a simple magnetic solution would be best.  The reason I preferred the OEM hinge spring was for the elegance of its simplicity.  Thanks for your advice.  If my homemade spring ever breaks, I'll next try half-hard 2024 aluminum.

--- On Sat, 1/15/11, JDeRyke at aol.com <JDeRyke at aol.com> wrote:


From: JDeRyke at aol.com <JDeRyke at aol.com>
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Hinge spring for gas filler gill
To: a42n8cfo at yahoo.com, detomaso at realbig.com
Date: Saturday, January 15, 2011, 1:52 PM


If your home-made spring works, MIke- don't worry about it. The loads are incredibly low and its more for vibration resistence. FWIW, I made a right-side gill of fiberglas, and duplicated the stock left-side opeing cap,hinge and spring so I could route the radiator cap up behind a hinged opening, just like the fuel filler. This was in 1998- and my home made spring (of half-hard 2024 aluminum) for rad fill is still nice 'n tight. Likely your handiwork will outlive you! Cheers- J Deryke