Should Pumping Gas Be This Hard

[spacechem]

Posted this before in a similar thread, but I'll repost and add this: I try to avoid the "new & improved" stations that have some bonehead TV or radio at the pump so you can't hear what's going on at the filler. I especially like when he says, "It's good to see you!"...


Well my '74GTV's neck hasn't been shortened and the brand new filler boot doesn't fit at all, so I haven't much to lose by shortening mine. As things stand now, it's about a 15 minute process to fill the tank- stuff a paper towel in the filler boot to catch the (unavoidable) splash, hold the nozzle just right and dribble the fuel in as carefully as I can so it doesn't spill all over and have the trunk open the whole time so the cabin doesn't fill with fumes. Then leave the trunk open and fiddle around a few more minutes to let the filler boot dry out and dissipate the fumes I do get. Doesn't seem to be any different at other stations.

Handy, no? Well, from what I've read in other threads on the subject it's no picnic to remove the tank for the neck modification, though I may give it a whirl this off-season (I'm a Midwesterner).

Oh, I forgot the last step in the process: get back in the car, start it up, and notice all the other drivers gawking at my Alfa, and think, "If it was easy, everybody'd be doing it..."

[lowmileage]

Thankfully in my area (NY), the Shell station I go to has gotten away from the strong springed vapor thingamagiggie's and now just have a non-spring set-up that just covers the top of the filler from the tank.