1965 Fuel Filler Door Restoration

[Ray K.]

I am considering restoring my original 1965 fuelfillerdoor, due to sun fade & cracking) rather than purchasing a non-OEM door.
However, in my "how to restore" search, I have had little success in finding any articles, pictures, video, etc on how I might go about accomplishing the restoration . . . .

Maybe I missed them, but, in my searching the Tech Board archives, I couldn't find any real good info.
And, I would prefer not to look thru my "volumes of hardcopies" of the Restorer (if an article was published).

Any

info, advice and/or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Ray K

[Ray K.]

Re: 1965 Fuel Filler Door Restoration

Still pursuing the thought of restoring my original fuel door . . . .
Is there a chance that somebody could post a picture of the backside of the fuel door's chrome ring?
Sure would like to see what the backside of the chrome ring looks like the backing plate removed (before I decide to "undertake" this adventure and possibly destroy an original door).
Anybody have a picture that they could post????

[William G.]

Re: 1965 Fuel Filler Door Restoration

Ray, I have restored a few of these. Sometimes you can coax the rivet heads up but typically they do not look good when done. I have some 1/8" x 1/2" long semi tubular aluminum rivets I could send to you if you have some machining skills. The trick is to remove the old die cast rivet bosses, and then drill holes to epoxy in the aluminum rivets. It can be a tedious job and there is a learning curve. Bill Gould

[Ray K.]

Re: 1965 Fuel Filler Door Restoration

Bill,
Thanks for posting ther jpeg . . .
I'll send you a message for the rivets . . .
Thanks a bunch.
Ray K

[Daniel S.]

Re: 1965 Fuel Filler Door Restoration

Ray, I replied to your email...

Dan

[Don A.]

Re: 1965 Fuel Filler Door Restoration

Hello William Gould. I tried to PM you but your in box is full. I am interested in some of your tubular rivets so I can restore my 65 fuel filler door. Can you send me an e-mail to bowtys4ever@msn.com ?? Thanks in advance. Don Anderson (13269)

[James W.]

Re: 1965 Fuel Filler Door Restoration

Here is my restored 1964 fuel door. I disassemble the frame and had it re-chromed and installed a new insert. Note: I sanded down the back of the new insert on a flat surface using a fine grit sand paper just enough so that I could re-peen the original studs. CAUTION! Sand only enough material off of the new insert to enable you to re-peen the studs, if you sand off too much the insert will "rattle" inside the frame. I found a close match for the silver paint and repainted it before re-assembly.

James

[Don A.]

Re: 1965 Fuel Filler Door Restoration

Looks like you did a nice job. Thanks for the ideas! Don