On a '66 (coupe, if it matters) what's the trick to filling up with gas? I'm finding myself spilling as much on the ground as gets in the tank .....

 

Welcome to the club.

I've found it depends on the gas station and what pump nozzle they use, and how you hold it. Some don't work no matter what. Some people use an older metal filler neck from the old metal gas cans, some people use funnels.

I have a new filler neck that's for a 67 with a 22gal 70 tank, it has a different bend radius, but haven't fueled it enough to know if it seems to help.

 

I kind of hold the pump handle sideways-ish on my 67. Keeps the backsplash from running back out,

 

ive never had a issue, but i do hold the nozzle sideways

 

first put a coat haber in thr filler neck to see if it has an anti gas theft spring. i would remove if if it does.

i haVE FOUND THAT If I PULL THE RUBBER BOOT BACK ON THE HOSE SO IT WILL NOT SEAL THEY usually WORK FINE.

if it is one without a boot or if it still does not work with the boot pulled back, then turn the nozzle completely upside down.

yes its a pita.

 

What a pain in the ***.
I replaced the factory tank in my 67 with a larger 1970 model a few years back.
Still the same issue and still the same work-around.

I don't stuff the nozzle in all the way and I push down/sideways while filling up. It might kick off a couple times but I don't have any spillage to speak of.

 

I figured out this workaround on my '67:

Insert the nozzle so the handle is at the 1 o'clock position (upside down), then push the handle towards the vehicle as far as it will go. Pull the fill lever about halfway so you don't trip the auto-shutoff on the nozzle.

It takes a while to do it like this, and you have to keep track of how many gallons you put in, as well as listen for the sound of the tank filling up, but the only time I spill gas now is when I'm not paying attention and accidentally overfill the tank.

 

I went with the 22 gallon replacement tank as well. I just don't squeeze the gas handle all the way, and I have to keep track of how many gallons go in. I also squat with my ear next to the filler tube and listen for the gas to fill the tank so that when it gets close I can shut off the pump handle in time. I've had the car for over seven years and have driven it every day back and forth to work (except for two years of Iraq deployments) and even now I spill some gas from time to time....

 

A lot of it is the nozzle boot. Older ones allowed for a longer nozzle entrance into the filler neck. The newer ones are stiffer boots with shorter nozzles. That's fine on newer cars with near vertical filler necks, but our cars start out almost horizontal; and you can get fuel splashing back as it sprays off the inside of the filler neck.

 

Has anyone cut off the filler neck and installed a real filler in the trunk?