DIY: Gas Door Lightening
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DIY King
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From: Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, US
Rep Power: 419 
DIY: Gas Door Lightening OKay, first off... This is sort of a joke. I was bored and I thought to myself, "My gas door has an extra piece of useless metal on it. Let's hack it off and say we did it because it lightens the total weight of the car."
Tools:
- metal sheers
- drill
- grinding stone bit
- body color spraypaint
- masking tape
- duct tape
- newspaper
This is how the gas door looks like on a 2001 Civic. The 2002 Civics have a little plastic gas cap hanger I think. Maybe I could have even bought the part off of the 2002 Civics to put on and have myself a gas cap hanger. IMO that just gets in the way.
The little part in the middle is totally useless. It's just dangling there and not really doing anything. It doesn't press up against the gas cap when the door is closed. It doesn't really stiffen the gas door. It's useless. Let's hack it off. Use the metal sheers to cut it down the middle. Then bend the pieces up and down until they tear off.
Woohoo! We just lost 0.2 ounces! Maybe 0.3 ounces with the little tabs that were left on the car that I didn't place on the scale. I ground them off with the dirll and the sanding bit. I placed a few pieces of duct tape behind the work area so that I wouldn't grind up anything else with that sanding bit.
Viola! No more center piece. Uh oh! It's not painted behind that metal piece! Whoops!
No problem.
We use some spraypaint to paint that spot. I had some from a while back and it matches the OEM paint perfectly. I masked off what I didn't want painted with newspaper and masking tape. I used quick bursts from about a half a foot away and I moved the nozzle around fast here and there to get good even coverage. The results speak for themself.
I'll have more lightening coming up later. I'll do this, I'll do that. Pretty soon I'll shed a pound of stuff without losing anything important.
Tools:
- metal sheers
- drill
- grinding stone bit
- body color spraypaint
- masking tape
- duct tape
- newspaper
This is how the gas door looks like on a 2001 Civic. The 2002 Civics have a little plastic gas cap hanger I think. Maybe I could have even bought the part off of the 2002 Civics to put on and have myself a gas cap hanger. IMO that just gets in the way.
The little part in the middle is totally useless. It's just dangling there and not really doing anything. It doesn't press up against the gas cap when the door is closed. It doesn't really stiffen the gas door. It's useless. Let's hack it off. Use the metal sheers to cut it down the middle. Then bend the pieces up and down until they tear off.
Woohoo! We just lost 0.2 ounces! Maybe 0.3 ounces with the little tabs that were left on the car that I didn't place on the scale. I ground them off with the dirll and the sanding bit. I placed a few pieces of duct tape behind the work area so that I wouldn't grind up anything else with that sanding bit.
Viola! No more center piece. Uh oh! It's not painted behind that metal piece! Whoops!
No problem.
We use some spraypaint to paint that spot. I had some from a while back and it matches the OEM paint perfectly. I masked off what I didn't want painted with newspaper and masking tape. I used quick bursts from about a half a foot away and I moved the nozzle around fast here and there to get good even coverage. The results speak for themself. I'll have more lightening coming up later. I'll do this, I'll do that. Pretty soon I'll shed a pound of stuff without losing anything important.
Thread Starter
DIY King
iTrader: (61)
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 11,469
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From: Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, US
Rep Power: 419 Originally posted by NeonImpact
HP & Torque results?
HP & Torque results?
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,248
Likes: 2
From: Rockville, Maryland
Rep Power: 331 
dyno the sucker...
what kind of paint is that, it looks like it matches really really well...
brand???
what kind of paint is that, it looks like it matches really really well...
brand???
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 13,151
Likes: 3
From: Washington DC
Rep Power: 424 Now the weight is uneven from side to side!!!!! What are you gonna hack off the other side to even it out now??? Your car must be pulling like hell!
Thread Starter
DIY King
iTrader: (61)
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 11,469
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From: Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, US
Rep Power: 419 Oh yeah, good point. Hmm... Time for another DIY then. I'll try to find something else that's useless that I can hack off from the other side. 
Its a celebration bitches!
iTrader: (17)
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 1
From: LA, CALi
Rep Power: 403 I don't think your should have painted it... paint is too heavy... why do you think most people don't paint their CF hoods, because the paint will put too much weight on the front of the car.
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,255
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From: NJ
Rep Power: 0 
Holy ****! You must have a monster there. I wouldn't even think about trying to dyno after that mod... the restraints would probably break midway into the torque!
Lol.
Hey, beats studying for finals I guess.
Lol. Hey, beats studying for finals I guess.
My friend told me he wanted to do a "Stage 2" weight reduction. I said, look, you're a 300 lbs guy driving a f**king Civic, if you wanted to do a STAGE 3 weight reduction, hit the gym. Fat people in small cars r funny.
Thread Starter
DIY King
iTrader: (61)
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 11,469
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From: Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, US
Rep Power: 419 Originally posted by dru106
Kool! What brand and type of paint ypu used? Cuz the color matches perfect.
Kool! What brand and type of paint ypu used? Cuz the color matches perfect.
If you wanted to tie a string around your cap so it wouldn't get lost (or be put on the trunk by the filler-up'ers) that other end of that string would attach tie through the hole of the piece you just cut off.
Registered!!
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From: St. Pete Beach, FL, Florida, US
Rep Power: 0 "Coming up Next" DYI remove your Cargo Net.
Step 1. Park car. You can't do this DYI when you are driving.
Step 2. Pull up the Trunk Release lever, CAUTION!!! Do not press down on the lever because this may pop open the fuel door, and might make you do something REALLY STUPID like hack off some metal that has you baffled as to why its there.
Step 3. Open trunk
Step 4. Unhook the 4 mounting loops that connect to the floor and sides, becareful not to catch your finger under the mounting stud because you might hurt your finger nail.
Step 5. Remove the Cargo Net, if you're a girly boy you might need some help, ask your Mom.
Step 6. Close trunk, this also might require your Mom's help.
Step 7. Post this DIY on the internet for all people to see
Step 8. Get a girlfriend (or boyfriend if you swing that way) and let them run your life becasue you're a loser.
Step 1. Park car. You can't do this DYI when you are driving.
Step 2. Pull up the Trunk Release lever, CAUTION!!! Do not press down on the lever because this may pop open the fuel door, and might make you do something REALLY STUPID like hack off some metal that has you baffled as to why its there.
Step 3. Open trunk
Step 4. Unhook the 4 mounting loops that connect to the floor and sides, becareful not to catch your finger under the mounting stud because you might hurt your finger nail.
Step 5. Remove the Cargo Net, if you're a girly boy you might need some help, ask your Mom.
Step 6. Close trunk, this also might require your Mom's help.
Step 7. Post this DIY on the internet for all people to see
Step 8. Get a girlfriend (or boyfriend if you swing that way) and let them run your life becasue you're a loser.
Thread Starter
DIY King
iTrader: (61)
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 11,469
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From: Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, US
Rep Power: 419 Nah, it's nice out...
Originally posted by HomerSimpson
GREY, is the weather bad by you or something? You must be REALLY bored.
GREY, is the weather bad by you or something? You must be REALLY bored.
2k1civic.com O. G.
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,165
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From: PhILLy, Pennsylvania, US
Rep Power: 334 wait till aem and DC sports start selling full replacement performance gas doors. that are lightened and bullet proof.. built for boost. then APC will make one that has neons or something
LOL
this mod reminds me of $210,283.00 Mugen radiator caps :P
LOL
this mod reminds me of $210,283.00 Mugen radiator caps :P
