Listers -
I just purchased a MKII vintage GT6 gas filler cap on EBAY. Now I am not
really complaining since I got a pretty good deal on it ($20). . .but. .
.in all fairness it was advertised as a GT6 magnetic gas cap, which is
exactly what I have on MY GT6 and what I expected, but this one isn't
magnetic (hence the subject line)! For those not familiar with the
different caps I'll sort of explain. It appears outwardly in every
respect just as my installed GT6 cap is. These differ from the usually
fitted Spitfire and TR caps in that they look more like the Shelby Cobra
style of gas caps, and are just slightly bigger in diameter than those of
the standard Spitfire/TR variety. They are not chromed but have a soft
aluminum polished look, and have a large doughnut shaped magnet in the
opening portion that positively snaps and holds the cap shut against what
is basically a large steel washer fixed in the body portion of the filler
neck (along with the spring catch of course). They are fairly rare, being
only used on the MKII GT6 (that I know of) and I always thought the caps
were very cool and wanted one for my Spitfire, so. . . if I ever saw one I
figured I'd grab it, which leads me here.
Its in excellent shape, and it's conceivable that the person that sold it
just removed it from the vehicle and didn't even open it to see. It's
exactly the same casting, shape, and construction with a couple of minor
differences (magnet notwithstanding). Both are vented internally, with a
cast in the filler vent and hose fitting. The cap seal is slightly
different than the one installed currently in my GT6 in that the car
mounted one is just a rubber seal in the cap portion, rigidly mounted, not
unlike an inverted (rubber) bottle cap with the lips curled slightly inward
that seal when closed against the body mounted casting surface. The seal
in the one I purchased is just like the Spitfire/TR cap that uses a spring
loaded mechanism with the same Spitfire/TR shaped rubber seal to push
against the sealing surface. Which leads me to the main question. THE
MAGNET. It would appear that it was manufactured this way. What I mean is
that while there is room to install the magnet similar to what I have in my
car now, I believe that in this case, this one was never originally made
with a magnet. On the one in the car, the large steel mating washer
appears to have two studs that fit into holes in the filler portion and are
secured with a couple of nuts on the back side. All this is concealed with
a soft stamped sheet aluminum cap that fits over the casting. The one I
just purchased is exactly the same and has the cast in recess for this
"washer" but no mounting holes, and the cap itself has the casting recessed
for the rather large doughnut shaped magnet, but it was never installed.
Making a steel washer is an easy task, but the magnet is another matter. I
would like to have the magnet as it positively ensures the cap is closed
(its a pretty strong magnet) and is part of the cool factor! the magnet
piece (appears to be a cobalt cast and ground piece) measures roughly 3 and
1/2 inches across, the center clearance hole being about 2 and 1/2 inches
(to clear the seal) and the whole thing is about 1/2 inch thick. I know
that a speaker magnet might work, but the prospect of finding one exactly
the right dimensions is about as good as me winning the lottery (ok, I
probably would win the lottery first :-}) but I also don't think machining
a speaker magnet to the proper dimensions would be an option either
(although it would sure keep the chips from flying around!) Anybody got
any good ideas?? Maybe embedding a bunch of small magnetic pieces in a
molded epoxy base of the right size?? Or can one have a magnet made to
ones own specifications?
Barry Schwartz (San Diego) bschwart@pacbell.net
72 PI, V6 Spitfire (daily driver)
70 GT6+ (when I don't drive the Spit)
70 Spitfire (long term project)
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