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06-15-2014, 08:23 PM | #1 |
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Location: Redmond, WA
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Restoring a gas cap, with pictures
Thanks to a board member who confirmed they were stainless and not chromed, I decided my ugly old gas cap should be restored rather than replaced as part of my resto. I'm not sure how to put text inline with photos, so I'll use separate posts. Sorry if that's a wasteful way to do it!
In any event, here's the starting point. It actually looks quite a bit better in the photo than it did in real life for some reason. Maybe this was after my initial failed buff attempt. Anyway, here it is:
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1970 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper - Built, not Bought 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Coupe 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Convertible |
06-15-2014, 08:26 PM | #2 |
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Re: Restoring a gas cap, with pictures
My first shot was to just buff it on the buffer wheels, but the scratches were too deep. So I started hand-sanding it until my hands were cramping up. Even 200 wasn't touching the deeper scratches.
I then had a bit of an epiphany: I'd take it apart. The first step is as simple as bending a little tab to release the center piece. Don't even need to bend both tabs.
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1970 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper - Built, not Bought 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Coupe 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Convertible |
06-15-2014, 08:29 PM | #3 |
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Re: Restoring a gas cap, with pictures
I didn't take a photo, but I then ran a small self-tapping bolt into the little center hole (the hole is visible in the previous post). That allowed me to chuck the cap into my cordless drill.
With it in the drill, I was able to do some serious sanding. I think I had to go down to 60 grit at one point if you can believe it. Here's an intermediate step, probably around 200 grit, and then later in the process I'm doing 1000 or so. I went up to 1500 on the final pass. And yeah, I gas a -lot- of moles.
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1970 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper - Built, not Bought 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Coupe 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Convertible Last edited by davepl; 06-15-2014 at 08:34 PM. |
06-15-2014, 08:31 PM | #4 |
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Re: Restoring a gas cap, with pictures
Then typical buffing and polishing.
Sad part is I'm sure someone will steal it if I park it! But I'm pretty happy with the results. I'm sure someone with more experience could get that last little bit of lens-flare out of it, but it's just a gap cap :-)
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1970 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper - Built, not Bought 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Coupe 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Convertible |
06-15-2014, 08:55 PM | #5 |
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Re: Restoring a gas cap, with pictures
That's an awesome job.
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It's not that I am apathetic, I just don't care. If your life is a joke, it appears death will be your punchline. |
06-15-2014, 08:59 PM | #6 |
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Re: Restoring a gas cap, with pictures
I wouldn't take it but maybe swap mine for yours it looks great you did a good job.
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James 63 GMC V6 4speed carryall 65 chevy swb bbw V8 auto 68 K20 327/4 speed, buddy buckets 2002 GMC CC Dually Duramax 64 GMC lwb 3/4 V6 4speed SOLD 66 GMC swb bbw buddy buckets SOLD IG duallyjams The only thing that stays the same is constant change! |
06-15-2014, 09:15 PM | #7 |
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Re: Restoring a gas cap, with pictures
Looks great, Dave. Mine looked pretty darn good to me. Thanks to you, it doesn't look so hot now. I've polished lots of stainless that way, Guess need to a little more.
How soon do you expect to get that truck on the road? Sounds like you are nearing that point. Feels good, doesn't it? Jim |
06-15-2014, 09:22 PM | #8 |
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Re: Restoring a gas cap, with pictures
Wow, that came out nice!
Ray
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06-15-2014, 09:50 PM | #9 |
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Re: Restoring a gas cap, with pictures
Very nice.
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(Clever Missouri) Southwest Larry Mr Chevrolet My Build, The Marathon Truck http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=604414 |
06-15-2014, 10:38 PM | #10 |
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Re: Restoring a gas cap, with pictures
Shinny
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06-15-2014, 11:26 PM | #11 |
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Re: Restoring a gas cap, with pictures
Very niiice...I know what I'm doing tomorrow evening.
Any idea what to use to replace the rubber gasket with?
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72 Cheyenne SWB C10 (daily driver) (Super fake cause I just love the glovebox emblem) 70 Camaro RS (frame-off in pieces) 70 Camaro RS (daily driver backup) 69 Custom LWB C10 (son now drives) |
06-16-2014, 10:20 AM | #12 |
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Re: Restoring a gas cap, with pictures
Looks killer! Great job. Wish I could do that to mine but it has a big dent in it so I'm just going to buy a nice locking cap for my truck.
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" Dead Pumpkin" 67 Chevy short bed, 292 I6, 4spd manual. Fan of the "Slant Noses". 93' Toyota pickup 2WD 2dr and 32mpg. Daily driver. 300k+ Members I've met... Mister-B |
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