What is the best approach to changing the spring on the fuel door ? thanks, Tom

I hear bending it actually works. But I have never attempted it. I used some velcro to hold the door shut.

You need to pull the pin out, swap the spring, and put the pin back.

Or if it is bent or weak, do as Hoody describes.

Repop hinges are made, but I have never used one to verify fit.

Decades ago I bent the spring on mine and the door has held shut ever since.

I found this to be a fairly easy fix. I removed the fuel door so I had easier access to the spring and just rebent the one end of it just a little. Works perfect now

I was hoping that I could bend the spring. thanks, Tom

Okay, color me stupid but after reading the posts here I'm confused. Do I bend the center of the spring toward me? That is what I did and it didn't change anything. I used a screw driver to bend it. Thought I'd check with the people who know before I break something. Thanks, any help will make me smarter.

I can't quite remember, but basically if you think about it, the spring is too long so you need to shorten it. I think what I did was bend the rolled part of the spring toward the fuel cap (imagine fuel door closed). I don't think that I actually bent the main body of the spring, just the attachment points.

That makes sense. I can understand why you would want to remove the door. I will try that tomorrow.
Thanks

Wish I read this before I bought a new $20 spring but I still have a question.
How do you remove the pin? I banged on one end with a hammer and it isnt sliding through - tried both ends. Kinda feel once again something is going to break like the door hinge mount.

Also I can now see what needs to bend for a worn spring - its the end that goes through the slot - bend the end towards the slot it went through. I cant bend mine because i cant get it off - but I shimmed it at that spot and it did noticeably improve it.

still want to put the new spring in or bend my old one properly if someone can confirm you have to bang the pin out - and it doesn't matter which direction you slide it - don't see how the pin would always stay in then but first things first.

We put new a new spring on the fuel door on our '68 recently completed. The installation was a PITA, with really shaky results. Every time we open the door, we expect the spring to fall out.

Pictures and tips would be appreciated by someone who has this figured out.

I replaced mine. I punched the pin out and removed the spring. I then put the pin in the top hole, slid the spring in which was very tight and then punched it through the bottom hole. I think the top of mine was sort of bent over a little were it would only go in one way.

Same here.

Thats what I'm afraid of - well at least its not just me. Sounds like the top of the pin might be bent but my top of the pin looks much smaller than the other side. Maybe i'll just make a permanent shim.

thanks for the responses

Reading this encouraged me to go try spring bending rather than buy a new spring.

I removed the door assembly (2 7/16 nuts). used a pliers to remove the pin on the spring, then again to bend the end of the spring "longer" pushed the pin in wiht a pliers. put the door on, works ok now. If doing again, should have bent a little more.