289FIA fuel filler cap

[xb-60]

Is there a correct orientation for the fuel filler cap on original 289FIAs?
I haven't found much consistency in the pictures I have.


Cheers,
Glen

[LMH]

What I've seen is the hinge pointed at the driver.
Larry

[CompClassics]

Typically the hinge is pointed toward the centerline of the body.

[LMH]

Took me a little while to find this but I knew I had it somewhere! Not saying they're all the same of course but this is one example I noticed.
Larry

[xb-60]

I’ve looked at dozens of pictures, and yes, some point towards the driver, some point towards the centreline and others seem to be almost random.
Maybe it was – as the norm with other features on race cars – just a case of the preference of the mechanics who were also the pitcrew for that particular car.

So, keeping things in perspective - orientation of the filler cap isn’t a major issue, but I don’t want to just do what seems to look OK to me.
Checking pictures of one of my ‘inspiration’ cars, COB6008 (with cut-back doors original from the AC factory, RHD, dropped centre dash), this is what I see:



Strangely though, the hinge is on the outside rather than the inside on COB6008


Then looking at CSX2323 (at Laguna Seca 2015 [credit: tkb]), his cap is ‘east-west’ as well, and hinge on the inside:



…and so is CSX2345, seen here at Monterey in 2012:


I think I’ll go with east-west, and hinge on the inside.

I know. I overthink these things sometimes. Time to head for the garage and just do it


Cheers,
Glen

[1985 CCX]

My guess is that it depends on the installer and the race.
Probably rotational differences either side of driver.
6008 and 2323 have been changed more than my socks so its a bad thing to base correctness on.

[peterpjb]

from the engineers point of view, the cap should be opened towards the splash guard or at least towards the centre of the car, any other position makes no sense while refueling

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by 1985 CCX

.....
6008 and 2323 have been changed more than my socks so its a bad thing to base correctness on.....]

You're correct Jeff. COB6008's cap was originally on the car's centreline.
CSX2345 is still close to its original as-raced state, but even so, its cap appears in difference 'states of rotation' depending on which picture I'm looking at

[peterpjb]

no room for interpretations

[xb-60]

Now, that is logical, isn't it?

.