Fuel cap orientation

[Packer fan]

What is the fuel cap orientation for an original ac cobra?

I saw in the instructions that they had it kind of canted so the hinge was about 45 degrees off of facing foreword. My fuel cap doesn’t touch the body when it is open and facing any direction. I was going to have the hinge forward until I saw that.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

What is the fuel cap orientation for an original ac cobra?

I saw in the instructions that they had it kind of canted so the hinge was about 45 degrees off of facing foreword. My fuel cap doesn’t touch the body when it is open and facing any direction. I was going to have the hinge forward until I saw that.

The very first COBRA as sold by Sothebys for $2M+ was latch at 6:00 o'clock. That said since they were hand built you can find the latch all around the clock. Put mine at 5:00 o'clock to keep it out of the way of the fuel nozzle & opens over the low part of the bodywork.

Expect the cap can be installed any way a person is happy with & still be "Correct".

Note: On my build was not trying to be correct so a lot of things I did can make some people unhappy. Still get the daily "Is it real?" question.

[GWL]

I remember, while owning a '68 TR-250, there was a recall on the gas cap. I got a LeMans style cap and instructions said to orient the hinge at 6:00 or 9:00 to avoid opening from potential front end impact. Location of the gas tank and cap, in that car, was similar to the original Cobras.

George

[Packer fan]

Thanks,
I was just wondering.
The rest of the car isn’t exactly original either.

[MPTech]

I asked this same question about 7 years ago, the general concensis (and most of the guys in my club) oriented it @ about 5:00.
This works great for me, but there was this one guy's uncle that had his oriented............... :rolleyes:

[Boydster]

I'm gonna apply the aviation idea (and most cars) and put the hinge forward. That way if I leave it up, it will close with air movement. My F150 fuel door closes right at 55mph.

[MPTech]

That way if I leave it up, it will close with air movement.

I've never come close to accidently leaving mine up. You have to replace the internal twisting cap first, latching the LeMans Cap is the fun part!

[Vspeeds]

Here are a few pictures I took today of original CSX Cobras at the Cobra Experience in Martinez California (SF Bay Area).

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=105044&d=1554410185

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=105045&d=1554410193

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=105046&d=1554410200

If any Cobra enthusiasts are in the SF Bay area they should visit this museum. They do an excellent job showing the cars. Only caveat is that they're only open I think the third Sunday of every month.

[GWL]

I asked this same question about 7 years ago, the general concensis (and most of the guys in my club) oriented it @ about 5:00.

And I remember answering one the same way I did today, several years ago.

George

[Avalanche325]

It does seem to be another Cobra "no two are the same" thing. It probably falls under the same line as when Carroll was asked what the "correct" number of hood scoop rivets was. He answered "It depends on how drunk we got the night before".
My latch is at 5.

[rich grsc]

I asked this same question about 7 years ago, the general concensis (and most of the guys in my club) oriented it @ about 5:00.
This works great for me, but there was this one guy's uncle that had his oriented............... :rolleyes:
Yep, Mark that's how I did mine, so you are 100% correct..........:p

[GoDadGo]

Ditto On Five O'Clock Orientation!

Besides, It Helps Me To Remember That It Is Always Five O'Clock Somewhere!

[Boydster]

I've never come close to accidently leaving mine up. You have to replace the internal twisting cap first, latching the LeMans Cap is the fun part!

Yeah, pretty sure I never would either, but I after 35 years around airplanes, it just seems right to me.

[roadscholar]

That way if I leave it up, it will close with air movement.
I hate that when I leave it up...then the Check Engine light comes on:cool:

John

[boat737]

I have no idea if this is what OG Cobra orientation was, but I did hinge forward, latch aft. Just looks better that way. To me. And after all, it's all about me.

Note: There is a drain hole in the LeMans cap assembly. I took the two pieces apart and rotated the parts so that the drain hole was at the low point.

[JohnK]

Sorry for the dumb question, but the clock orientation that everyone is referencing is relative to what? Where's 12 0'clock? Is it from the viewpoint of standing next to the car about to fill up? So hinge forward and latch aft would be 3 o'clock? Or do I have totally wrong?

[rich grsc]

Sorry for the dumb question, but the clock orientation that everyone is referencing is relative to what? Where's 12 0'clock? Is it from the viewpoint of standing next to the car about to fill up? So hinge forward and latch aft would be 3 o'clock? Or do I have totally wrong?
Where is 12 o'clock when you're driving? :eek:

[JohnK]

Where is 12 o'clock when you're driving? :eek:

I'm not driving when I'm filling up. :p

[boat737]

I'm not driving when I'm filling up. :p

Then, is it daylight savings at fill up? In Hawaii there is no daylight savings.

Sorry, just had to...

[Packer fan]

It’s 5 O’ clock somewhere.

But not while I’m driving!

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Sorry for the dumb question, but the clock orientation that everyone is referencing is relative to what? Where's 12 0'clock? Is it from the viewpoint of standing next to the car about to fill up? So hinge forward and latch aft would be 3 o'clock? Or do I have totally wrong?

Ever hear "I got your six?" 12 o'clock in the nose of the car.

https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=13669&pictureid=53539

5 o'clock

[JohnK]

Ever hear "I got your six?" 12 o'clock in the nose of the car.



See?! I knew it was a dumb question. I never disappoint in this regard. Thanks, everyone. :D

[Avalanche325]

Automotive references are done as the driver seated in the car. Left / right and clock positions. If you wear a digital watch, we can't help you.


Whenever my wife an I discuss anything with reference points, we are always off. She'll draw some diagram and I'll have to stop her and ask "where is the front". It is NEVER where I would have drawn it.

[rich grsc]

Automotive references are done as the driver seated in the car. Left / right and clock positions. If you wear a digital watch, we can't help you.


Whenever my wife an I discuss anything with reference points, we are always off. She'll draw some diagram and I'll have to stop her and ask "where is the front". It is NEVER where I would have drawn it.

Back in the day when you traveled with a Rand McNally for direction, my sister would always turn the map so the direction they where driving was straight a head. The only time the map was correct was if they where headed North. Bout drove me nuts.:rolleyes:

[Desert Cobra]

Lets recall what the original purpose of the "racing gas cap" was: to allow the fast refueling of the car from a "jerry can". Generally this meant a 5 gallon fuel tank was placed on the right shoulder, the left hand would press the latch to release the cap and the right hand guided the nozzle into the opening. When completed the left hand closed the cap while the right hand carried the empty gas can back over the pit wall. Now of course a lefty would reverse this and thus would orient the cap in the opposite direction. Standing at the side of the car on the passenger side would require that the cap NOT have the hinge at the 6 o'clock (latch at 12) or you cannot go over the open and upright cap with the can spout. Latch to the rear allows the left hand to easily open the latch. So from many pit stops I think a 9 o'clock latch and a 3 o'clock hinge, although any small variance makes no difference. And besides when was the last time any of us has had to refuel in a hurry from a jerry can?105084105084105084

[Jethrow]

Doesn't the picture show the hinge at 9 o'clock and latch at 3? So that the the cap clears away from the side of the car for easiest refuleing access? Anyways, this is how did mine for this exact reason! Seemed most logical :)

[Desert Cobra]

It seems our o'clocks are all taken from a different perspective, or on clocks that have stopped. Besides you are on the bottom of the world. Even sinks and toilets flush in the wrong direction down under. Have a VB on me. PS: Love your country.

[SanDogDewey]

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=105045&d=1554410193

Has anyone seen these caps reproduced?

Patrick