My version of a Hidden Taillight Fuel Filler

[MattPSU]

After looking at all of the threads on hidden taillight fuel fillers, I decided to create my own version. There's obviously lot of influence from various members and lots of inspiration from this site in general, so thanks to you all!

I've been working on this on and off for a couple of months. Lots of trial and error, but I think all of the tweaking if pretty much finished up and my prototype is working well enough to share. I still need to add the filler/cap fixture, but you can see my basic idea below. I wanted the tail light lens/fixture to move out of the way so that it wouldn't interfere with the gas nozzle and I thought having it retract into the fender would be a cool alternative to having it swing out or up.

I used a scrap piece of thin sheet metal that I plan to recreate with something a little thicker now that the design is working well. I did everything with just hand tools and my vise - no welder. It's basically one piece that's been bent into shape and screwed into place. I had to gut the inside of the fender and cut into the inside corner of the bed. I'll build a box to extent the stake pocket to hide this opening. I used RC car tie rods to act as sort of a double hinge. Once I pull everything back out, I'll share some pictures of what exactly I built.

Forgive my crude cuts/bodywork/etc. It still needs to be cleaned up some, but I was excited to finally have it up and working and wanted to share.

Let me know what you think, and please, if there's a huge potential problem that I'm missing, let me know!

Video: http://youtu.be/8C2IuF9wGMI

Thanks,
Matt

[black_sheep454]

Looks great.
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[richards72chevy]

I like it.

[Billhilly]

Originally Posted by richards72chevy

I like it.

Me too.

In the video it appeared to 'lock' in the down position. Is it just gravity that holds it down or ......

[AirSpeed]

Very cool! If it doesn't latch yet I bet a couple of small neo magnets would hold it in place. Very nice design!
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[Billhilly]

Originally Posted by AirSpeed

If it doesn't latch yet I bet a couple of small neo magnets would hold it in place.

Yeah I wondered the same.

[MattPSU]

Here's some pictures of what I built.

[fine69]

Looks great so far.

Do a step by step of it and post it in the FAQ section here.

[Fatkid1983]

Very neat! I wished I would have done something like this before we painted it!
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[67lowered]

great idea! nice job , pics when its finished off, please

[MattPSU]

Thanks guys! At the moment it's just gravity holding it in place. I've tried a couple of magnets, but the ones that I "borrowed" from the fridge aren't strong enough. I did put a stopper in place so that the taillight housing won't drop any lower than it should. I drove it around the block a few times and it seemed to stay in place even without a latch/magnet. But the final version will have something to secure it in place.
I'll do a full write up on it when I build the final version and I'll be sure to take a bunch of pictures.
Thanks - Matt

[tubbedII]

That is definitely cool! Do you think there's enough room to have the lense flip down rather than up?

[Primered_69]

man i wish you could do a pattern of that bottom box bracket...I want to steal this mod...but I do not know if I am that smart...thats some good stuff right there.

[AirSpeed]

When I repaint my 69 I want to do something similar, I won't be using the tail light because I want to leave my tank in the cab, instead I'm going to recess the filler like a newer truck and make a lid that articulates similarly to that one. I want to be able to push on it and have it fold in. I haven't seen one yet, have any of you?
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[elf w/capital T]

that is legit. i wish i had the skills to fab something like that.

[MattPSU]

Thanks again for the great feedback everyone!

I had a little time this weekend to start the fabrication on my final product. I bought a 8x18 sheet of 22 gauge sheet metal at Lowes and got started. First I made a cardboard template that I bent and taped into shape. Once I got the order of the folds/bends figured out, I got started with the sheetmetal. Once I cut out the basic shape, I started to bend it up which went rather quickly. That's about as far as I got. I'll try to wrap it up later this week.

There's a lot of trimming that still needs to be done, the piece for the taillight assembly needs fabricated, and the hinges will need to be attached.

I'll try to answer some of the questions below:

tubbedII - I know there are designs that flip the light down and out. Not sure how you could tuck it in if it came down.

Primered 69 - I've started a pattern. Once I know for sure that it will work, I'll post it.

AirSpeed - I haven't seen one of our trucks with the mod you're talking about,but I know I've seen something like that somewhere. If I come across it, I'll let you know.

FatKid, Elf, etc. - Thanks again for the comments!

- Matt

[tubbedII]

Very clean...do you have the dimensions of the template you used?

[ChevLoRay]

You might check out some of the gas door retainers from the imports, maybe even to the point of getting one that has an inside the cab release. If you used a popper, it would make it pop out a little when you hit the release.

[slipkorn34]

i wonder if door rod clips would fit the tie rods you used so they would "clip" into place at the top and bottom of the travel. im assuming the front and back lips that are on the newer template you posted are for something like a bump stop anyway?

[Pop's C-10]

Man that is trick
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[MattPSU]

After looking at lots of fuel fillers, I selected this one from Whitecap: Whitecap Push Up Angled Deck Fill - 1-1/2" Hose - Gas - 6993A.

The big brown truck delivered it this afternoon so needless to say I ate supper as quick as possible so that I could get it installed. Here's some photos of where things are at this point.

For those of you who've asked me for a template, I'll try to measure everything and post one this week.

slipkorn - good eye, this version has stops built in but I like your idea about clips. Any idea where to get something like that? The front one is too short and could use to be 1/4" or so taller, but I figured that I could add a small piece of rubber to keep it from rubbing.

Now that it's done, I need to take it apart and repaint it. I may also remake it one more time with the taller stop in the front. Feels like this is a never ending project that will be part of a much larger never ending project. I guess that's why it's fun!

- Matt

[MattPSU]

One more pic.

[VA72C10]

great job!

[DRTY72]

Sweet!!! Looks awesome

[Possmguts]

Bringing this one back to life once again for reference... I'll be going with this design... it was an amazing idea and much cleaner than the hinge down design I've seen.