Datsun Roadster Gas Cap Alignment Review
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Datsun Roadster Gas Cap Alignment Review
Datsun Roadster Gas Cap Alignment Review.
The annual ongoing effort from the 311s Official Gas Cap Inspector to remind roadster owners
that there is a correct alignment for the gas cap. The ridge on the lid is vertical and the hinge is at the top.
Skeptics might ask "How do you know?"
Aside from the obvious "sure looks right and matches the other lines of the trunk area", there are pictures
from "original" sources such as sales brochures, owners manuals, Introductory bulletins, publicity photos and magazine road tests
that show the roadster as it came from Nissan..
Not too many clear pictures from the back but here are 2 good ones. More at the link.
So the questions are.
"Why are so many gas caps offset to the right about 25 degrees?". The metal filler tube has turned in the rubber filler hose.
"How come"?. Gas cap removal turns to the right, The vent hose from the filler tube to the gas tank is
angled to the right and wants to twist the filler tube to the right. Over time the filler tube slowly turns to the right
until the vent hose angle is reduced and it stops twisting the filler tube.
Solution?. Loosen the filler hose clamps and turn the filler tube to the left till the cap lid ridge is vertical.
The gas cap can be seated on the tube upside down with the cap hinge on the bottom.
The pictures show the hinge is at the top. Thin end of the ridge is at the top.
Covid-19 allowing I will be at the 2021 West Coast roadster shows and I will be checking gas cap alignment.
Violators will be photographed and shamed on 311s!
Seriously. lets have our roadsters looking nice.
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AjExGNQ-D8bA2DGxSbE ... 4?e=XvPxk1
Ted
311s Gas Cap Inspector and Enforcer.
The annual ongoing effort from the 311s Official Gas Cap Inspector to remind roadster owners
that there is a correct alignment for the gas cap. The ridge on the lid is vertical and the hinge is at the top.
Skeptics might ask "How do you know?"
Aside from the obvious "sure looks right and matches the other lines of the trunk area", there are pictures
from "original" sources such as sales brochures, owners manuals, Introductory bulletins, publicity photos and magazine road tests
that show the roadster as it came from Nissan..
Not too many clear pictures from the back but here are 2 good ones. More at the link.
So the questions are.
"Why are so many gas caps offset to the right about 25 degrees?". The metal filler tube has turned in the rubber filler hose.
"How come"?. Gas cap removal turns to the right, The vent hose from the filler tube to the gas tank is
angled to the right and wants to twist the filler tube to the right. Over time the filler tube slowly turns to the right
until the vent hose angle is reduced and it stops twisting the filler tube.
Solution?. Loosen the filler hose clamps and turn the filler tube to the left till the cap lid ridge is vertical.
The gas cap can be seated on the tube upside down with the cap hinge on the bottom.
The pictures show the hinge is at the top. Thin end of the ridge is at the top.
Covid-19 allowing I will be at the 2021 West Coast roadster shows and I will be checking gas cap alignment.
Violators will be photographed and shamed on 311s!
Seriously. lets have our roadsters looking nice.
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AjExGNQ-D8bA2DGxSbE ... 4?e=XvPxk1
Ted
311s Gas Cap Inspector and Enforcer.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by ted heaton on Mon Jan 18, 2021 1:44 am, edited 2 times in total.
Ted Heaton
Bellevue, Washington
DROPS (Datsun Roadster Owners of Puget Sound)
SPL31003054 1964 1500
SPL31112958 1967.5 1600 S15 SR20DET
SRL31105015 1968 2000 S13 SR20DET
Bellevue, Washington
DROPS (Datsun Roadster Owners of Puget Sound)
SPL31003054 1964 1500
SPL31112958 1967.5 1600 S15 SR20DET
SRL31105015 1968 2000 S13 SR20DET
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Re: Datsun Roadster Gas Cap Alignment Review
Great reminder and something to check and align easily enough. I'll inspect mine tomorrow. Pretty sure I aligned it before the last Solvang event but I will double check.
Greg a.k.a SOLEX68 - http://www.datsunvents.com/
Laguna Hills, CA
68 2000
Always willing to help another Datsun Roadster owner
Pending installs: All steering components, Stan Stealth Dizzy
Laguna Hills, CA
68 2000
Always willing to help another Datsun Roadster owner
Pending installs: All steering components, Stan Stealth Dizzy
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Re: Datsun Roadster Gas Cap Alignment Review
Just say no. My cap will never be aligned.
66 stroker, almost done.
67 basket case, paint coming soon.
67 basket case, paint coming soon.
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Re: Datsun Roadster Gas Cap Alignment Review
Thru the years I lost too many caps.
Now using a rag. I believe it hangs down when not driving.
Hope that helps.
Cheers
Ray B.
Now using a rag. I believe it hangs down when not driving.
Hope that helps.
Cheers
Ray B.
Thats not a R16 death rattle....its a dried leaf hitting my heater blower fan.
1968 SPL311 non-smog
1968 SPL311 non-smog
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Re: Datsun Roadster Gas Cap Alignment Review
There's supposed to be a cap? Seems inconvenient to have to remove and replace a cap each time I need to fuel up.
Ive seen normal. It aint pretty.
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Re: Datsun Roadster Gas Cap Alignment Review
I went out and checked mine and found it rotated slightly to 1 O'clock. Followed your instructions and am now "oriented correctly" to 12 O'clock, thus joining the inspected and corrected alignment crew. Amen.
1968 510 Wagon
1970 Roadster 1600/U20/5 sp. swap
1972 510 4 dr. vg30e/5 sp. ricky racer
1971 510 shell behind the shop, r.i.p.
I drive a Roadster or 510 almost every day!
1970 Roadster 1600/U20/5 sp. swap
1972 510 4 dr. vg30e/5 sp. ricky racer
1971 510 shell behind the shop, r.i.p.
I drive a Roadster or 510 almost every day!
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Re: Datsun Roadster Gas Cap Alignment Review
Well tongue and check to some degree. But I'm not sure how a gas cap gets left behind if the ignition key is on the same fob as the gas lock key. Keep the gas key in the cap when filling. When done you have to put the gas cap on to pull out the gas / ignition key to drive away. Yeah yeah easier said then done. Back in the day when these cars left the factory wasn't the ignition and gas cap key one and the same? How did you drive away without your cap if you had the sense to keep the key in the cap while filling? I must be missing something?
1967 1600 in waiting SPL311-09002 / R-28178
2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Sport Ultimate
2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Sport Ultimate
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Re: Datsun Roadster Gas Cap Alignment Review
My gas cap lock malfunctioned years ago. I simply removed the locking tang and have used it as a non locking cap ever since, so no key required.
Mike M
Old enough to know better, too old to remember why!
1969 2000 solex mine since 1972, under resurrection. (Finally resurrected as of spring 2019!)
1969 Porsche 911s -worth more, but not as valuable! Gone!
2017 Lotus Evora 400 - Oh my!!
Old enough to know better, too old to remember why!
1969 2000 solex mine since 1972, under resurrection. (Finally resurrected as of spring 2019!)
1969 Porsche 911s -worth more, but not as valuable! Gone!
2017 Lotus Evora 400 - Oh my!!
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Re: Datsun Roadster Gas Cap Alignment Review
I promise to check mine. I have to get the car down with my forklift from winter storage overhead on a pallet rack so it may be a week or two.
located in Chester NH
1967 1600 in restoration
2013 Arctic Cat F-1100 turbo
Ford F-350 6.0
Ford 9000 puller, Ford 960 puller, Ford 901show, Ford 971 worker, Oliver 70 waiting its turn
1967 1600 in restoration
2013 Arctic Cat F-1100 turbo
Ford F-350 6.0
Ford 9000 puller, Ford 960 puller, Ford 901show, Ford 971 worker, Oliver 70 waiting its turn
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Re: Datsun Roadster Gas Cap Alignment Review
Any alignment tips for my '70 gas cap?
San Jose, CA
70 SPL311 (Pumpkin)
67 SRL311 00520 (Princess)
70 SPL311 (Pumpkin)
67 SRL311 00520 (Princess)
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Re: Datsun Roadster Gas Cap Alignment Review
Kurt, Use your black sharpie and draw a nice vertical line.
No alignment enforcement for those plain, ugly 70 gas caps.
Ted.
Ted Heaton
Bellevue, Washington
DROPS (Datsun Roadster Owners of Puget Sound)
SPL31003054 1964 1500
SPL31112958 1967.5 1600 S15 SR20DET
SRL31105015 1968 2000 S13 SR20DET
Bellevue, Washington
DROPS (Datsun Roadster Owners of Puget Sound)
SPL31003054 1964 1500
SPL31112958 1967.5 1600 S15 SR20DET
SRL31105015 1968 2000 S13 SR20DET
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Re: Datsun Roadster Gas Cap Alignment Review
Ahem, It seems like the two caps in the pictures you provided are not straight either. The Datsun plated picture is Clockwise a few ticks and the 871 picture is counterclockwise a few degrees. Doesn't that give a poetic license to be off a bit? I solved it by using the non-standard Dauphine or Suzuki or whatever it is cap painted car color.... I have a locking one hanging out on the tool bench waiting.... I'll make sure to point out my mangled mess to you at Solvang.
Rustbucket
Rustbucket
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
67.5 1600
Orange County, CA
67.5 1600
Orange County, CA
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Re: Datsun Roadster Gas Cap Alignment Review
Will this make up for the tremclad & roller paint job??
Just checking. Now .... get back to the game.
Just checking. Now .... get back to the game.
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Ralph
Rolling restoration of white 1968 SPL311
Rolling restoration of white 1968 SPL311
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Re: Datsun Roadster Gas Cap Alignment Review
So, I'm headed to Solvang with my Roadster in tow Thursday morning. This is the first time I've brought my car, but I've been there twice before. Reading this thread today, I definitely didn't want to be shamed, or worse yet ticketed by the gas cap police, so, one of the last things I did today was to properly orient the cap. I've never affixed the locking tab to my cap, and looking today, I seemed to have misplaced the key. Does anyone know if the 4 digit code under the cover (5641 on my cap) is sufficient to have a key made by a good locksmith?
I'm sure I'll be set straight on several other issues on my Roadster at the show, but that's OK. Part of the reason for attending is to learn from the "experts." The other reason is to drive through the vineyards tasting wine for four days in Paso Robles the following week. That's been on my wife's and my bucket list since the Roadster was finished. Looking forward to a fun week!
I'm sure I'll be set straight on several other issues on my Roadster at the show, but that's OK. Part of the reason for attending is to learn from the "experts." The other reason is to drive through the vineyards tasting wine for four days in Paso Robles the following week. That's been on my wife's and my bucket list since the Roadster was finished. Looking forward to a fun week!
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Re: Datsun Roadster Gas Cap Alignment Review
Yes...a good locksmith can cut one with just the 4 digit code under the cover, He'll have to see the cap itself too probably because there are different caps. keys and locks (i believe).
I may bring my spare keys to sell at Solvang but I don't have all the types organized right now so matching one up is kinda a pain with so many choices. If I had more time to prepare I would have for sure. I'll see.
I may bring my spare keys to sell at Solvang but I don't have all the types organized right now so matching one up is kinda a pain with so many choices. If I had more time to prepare I would have for sure. I'll see.
Greg a.k.a SOLEX68 - http://www.datsunvents.com/
Laguna Hills, CA
68 2000
Always willing to help another Datsun Roadster owner
Pending installs: All steering components, Stan Stealth Dizzy
Laguna Hills, CA
68 2000
Always willing to help another Datsun Roadster owner
Pending installs: All steering components, Stan Stealth Dizzy