Topic: 65 Gas Cap Wire Retainer Nut

[65KGT]

Does anyone have a source for the Gas Cap Wire Retainer Nut part # 380331-S8 ? It's a 12-24 7/16 hex head. The AMK Ford fastener book has it listed but I have not been able to find anything similar.

[CharlesTurner]

Only source is original/NOS gas caps.  The correct nut allows the wire to spin.

[Bob Gaines]

Only source is original/NOS gas caps.  The correct nut allows the wire to spin.

+1

[jwc66k]

Only source is original/NOS gas caps. 

Salvaged cars mostly.

The correct nut allows the wire to spin.

Not exactly true. It's a 12-24 threaded stud with a hole in the "head" for the cable. The nut has a dished 5/8 disc washer with a sealer, a light red in color for 64-66.
Jim

[CharlesTurner]

Not exactly true. It's a 12-24 threaded stud with a hole in the "head" for the cable. The nut has a dished 5/8 disc washer with a sealer, a light red in color for 64-66.

Jim, have you actually seen one of these?  They are designed so that the threaded hex portion of the nut will allow the retaining cable to pivot/spin within the hole and not be stuck in one position from over-tightening.  It allows flexibility in getting the cap lined back up in the filler neck opening.  This is absolutely true in contrast to your 'not exactly true' statement.

[jwc66k]

Jim, have you actually seen one of these? 

Yes. See the AMK Guide, pg195 and the 64-65 Mustang Chassis Assembly Manual, pg39, showing Ford Hardware Part Number 380331-S8 highlighted in red.
Jim

[67gtasanjose]

We had some discussion over in the 67 section over this nut.
It seems that Ford quit servicing a replacement for it.
It looks to be available across the Vintage Mustang years and the same whether or not it has the cable-secured gas caps or (for other year applications) if it has the optional pop-open design gas cap.
https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=21856.0

[Jammarstang]

NPD has them but without the seal. I don?t understand the spinning thing. The nut should be tight. If the cap is properly lined up when you tighten the nut there is no issue removing or installing the cap. Every mustang I?ve ever owned had a tight nut/stud on the security cable.

[CharlesTurner]

Attached pic of originals.  If they are tightened too tight, the nut loses it's ability to spin, so the cap cable becomes locked in one position.

[Jammarstang]

 :The cap spins on the cable. The cable doesn?t need to move. For ?65-66.

[Jammarstang]

The nut needs to be tight to hold the fuel pipe tight and straight to the body, otherwise the cap sits crooked.

[CharlesTurner]

:The cap spins on the cable. The cable doesn?t need to move. For ?65-66.

If the nut is over-tightened, it remains in one position.  The cable can move in/out, but to be able to move the cap more freely, the spin nut needs to operate as intended.


The screws around the filler neck and the clamps keep things pretty well in place.  Early 64.5 cars didn't use a retainer cable and the filler neck stayed in place just fine.

[jwc66k]

If the nut is over-tightened, it remains in one position.  The cable can move in/out, but to be able to move the cap more freely, the spin nut needs to operate as intended.
The screws around the filler neck and the clamps keep things pretty well in place.  Early 64.5 cars didn't use a retainer cable and the filler neck stayed in place just fine.

I looked in the 64-65 Mustang Chassis Assembly Manual (AM0005 pg39), the "1965 Comet, Falcon, Fairlane and Mustang Shop Manual" and 1966, Ford Car Parts, 60-68 Illustrated Section 90, p11, Text 90 p3, and found only one mention of that nut, 380331-S8, a torque spec of 30-43 inch pounds. There is no mention of spin in any of the normally available documents.
Is there a TSB?
I know that nut/cable arrangement is a pain to contend with or adjust, but where does any reference to "spin" exist?
(The factory used a red foam gasket/sealer from the captive washer to the body.)
Jim

[CharlesTurner]

In my pic shared above there is a cupped base that the red sealer sticks to.  The top hex part spins on the base, which is what allows the cable to move around easier to position it in the filler neck.

[jwc66k]

In my pic shared above there is a cupped base that the red sealer sticks to.  The top hex part spins on the base, which is what allows the cable to move around easier to position it in the filler neck.

I believe the intent and use of the special nut and sealer. My question remains: outside of the torque requirement specified in the Chassis Assembly Manual, there is no reference or mention of the nut spinning in any Ford documentation.
Jim