Lemans cap place

[husam22]

Quick questions - what direction should the cap open? I cant seem to find if there is a proper direction.

Thanks.

[speed2much]

Mine opens towards the trunk. I was going to place it to open towards the rear of the car, but it hit the body.

[MK4]

45 degree tocards thé driver side, does not hit thé body and looks good, also easy to fuel.

Mk4

[Big Blocker]

Both 90° and 45° are correct. Early Roadsters were photographed with the latch at 6 o'clock looking straight down at the cover from the right rear wheel . . . photos taken in later years show the cap latch at 7:30. Research will tell you that it was relocated in the later years to make it easier to fill the car when two pit crew guys were involved.

But in the grand scope of things here . . . and the one true underlying rule of this forum . . . build it like you want it, it's your car.

HTH

Doc

[emac]

Originally Posted by MK4

45 degree tocards thé driver side, does not hit thé body and looks good, also easy to fuel.

Mk4

+1 the latch isn't hitting the pump nozzle.

[AZPete]

I wrestled with the position of the LeMans cap also because where I wanted it was not where it was tight on the threads of the mounting base. So, I drilled and tapped a small hole below the hinge and added a set screw. Then when I had it in the right position I just tightened the set screw to keep it in place. (The threaded base is not a sealing joint.) And, it might just keep someone from stealing it, though I've never heard of it happening.
Pete

[wibby]

Several years ago I read on this forum that some people had issues with the latch whistling at highway speeeds. One person said that he turned the cap so the latch was in a different position and the whistle went away. I did not experience this problem with mine.

Also, I did almost the same thing that Pete did, but I drilled and tapped the base so the cap can't be turned at all. I also backed my cap off of the base a couple turns so that my mustang gas cap fits under it without any issues. I have a MKIII version though. You'll be surprised how many people will mess with that darn cap when they are checking out your car. They don't even know if it will hit the body when they open it, yet people who would never touch anything else will open that cap. It's like it's calling them over (like Lord of the Rings or something). I recommend where ever you put it that you make sure that none of the parts can ever touch the body.

Wibby

[husam22]

Did you guys have to cut the bolt holding the spring to get the cap to fit - as the instructions said? Or did you get a new cap, and did that clear?

I was thinking of shaving my gas cap - I think I could remove about 1/2 inch - to get it to fit with out messing with the bolt, as this seemed a bit easier to me.

[Radar Pete]

Rather than cutting the spring and bolt in the cap, I shaved the gas cap. Can't see it with the big cap down....

[Jack Wojack]

On the Plastic Cap...Like Pete I cut out a notch in the center of plastic cap.

On the Lemans Cap: I have it positioned on a 45 deg angle relative to the center-line of the car so it swings open towards the drivers head. I am right handed and this way I have a clear shot with the gas pump nozzle.

jack

[husam22]

Great info! Thank for all the reply's.... I thought I was the only one faced these issues.

[wibby]

Originally Posted by husam22

Did you guys have to cut the bolt holding the spring to get the cap to fit - as the instructions said? Or did you get a new cap, and did that clear?

I was thinking of shaving my gas cap - I think I could remove about 1/2 inch - to get it to fit with out messing with the bolt, as this seemed a bit easier to me.

Yes, I cut the bolt and I unscrewed the cap (top) from the base a couple of turns so that the mustang cap fits underneath. No other shaving was necessary. However, without a set screw the cap will be too loose if unscrewed a couple of turns because it no longer rests on the big O-ring.

Wibby