I have replaced the original fuel cap on my '60 valiant with a Stant OEM non-vented locking gas cap. It fits wonderfully. However, more often than not, if my gas tank is full, and I've been driving around corners, I will step out of the car and find the lower edge of the gas cap wet with a small drip and the metal of the body below the gas tank opening is shiny with gas that has spilled out. The gas tank has been in and out of the car several times for a thorough cleaning, and once more to sauter a leak because one of the small tubes at the neck inside the body was leaking. Therefore, I don't think it's anything leaking inside.

Bottom line question: is there anything that can be done to stop the spillage?

This is probably no surprise to many of you who own these cars. I've even read in original review literature from the same year how owners complained about the gas cascading down the side after a fill-up because of the nearly-horizontal filler opening. But I didn't think it would leak out while driving and it seems to be. I'm wondering if anyone has come up with a great remedy or if there's a solution I don't know about, or if there really is something that needs to be fixed.

Thanks for your help!

Yep, it's a problem with the '60-'62 A-bodies. The locking caps don't seal nearly as well as the non-locking caps. I've been able to make the non-lockers seal nice and tightly by either replacing the fibre washer with a rubber one, or adding a rubber one in front of the fibre one.

Layson's has a modified filler tube that is supposed to stop this from happening. They want a wad of cash for it though.

I don't know anything about how manufacturers of modern cars stop the gas from overflowing at fill up, but I would thing you may be able to adapt something. I would also think this would help with the leaky gas cap issue.

Any thoughts?

John

I called them about this option, and it boils down to a big rubber plug that is somehow specially set in there, and tethered. You take off your gas cap, and then reach in, and remove the plug.

No thanks. I might experiment with making a plug on my own, but I am not going to pay them for it.

Greg

Yeah, same ol' Layson, full o' laughs.

Though I've never tested my idea, the problem could be fixed fairly easily, I think, by removing the filler neck and installing a fuel filler restrictor such as is required for catalyst-equipped cars. They're available as universal repair parts. I think the "wall" and flap door would probably do a decent job of reducing or eliminating splashback when filling the tank and slosh when taking hard right turns.

I have had the same idea. I haven't found one of those fuel door conversions at the local parts store, though. It seems to me I remember that they had little kits that would pop right in some years ago.

I'm pretty sure they can be had from NAPA Balkamp.

For the amount of money Laysons is asking for their conversion, I would think you just make a plug out of Money and solve the problem.

John

I don't think money and gasoline mix.

_________________
82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

One more thing, does anybody have a picture of a non-locking gas cap that fits a 74 A-body. All of them I've seen have lockers.

_________________
82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

Stant 10800.

Thanks Dan. Is the cap Chrome all over. Could not tell from the angle of the picture.

_________________
82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

Naw, the current replacements have a silly black plastic handle bar and an even sillier (and thoroughly non-applicable) warning stamped on an aluminum plate. Stupid crapola about "WARNING! Gasoline may splash! Remove cap slowly!".

The original caps were body colored with a body colored handle.