Materials:
Locking gas cap ($2 at TSC)
8x1.25x80 full-thread bolt (Ace Hardware is your best bet)
2 1/4" washers
8x1.25 nut

1. Disassemble gas cap, removing vent and springs.
2. Grind (cut) plastic down so filler tank threaded portion is flat with lock portion. Be careful not to grind (cut) sides of vent portion below flat. Make smooth. This surface will rub the paint. Notice that the glass-filled plastic of the existing screw has already rubbed your paint raw!!!
3. Grind (cut) vent portion down to flat.
4. Feed 1 washer onto bolt.
5. Feed bolt through former vent hole from lock side.
6. Install washer and nut onto bolt. Tighten well.
7. Re-install lock and top of cap.
8. Trim hole in roll bar as necessary, so vent portion fits inside hole and lock portion flat provides stop. (A 1/4 washer will fit through, but the shoulder of the vent on my cap was a slightly larger diameter than the hole in the rollbar.)
9. Check bolt length to ensure at least 6 threads of engagement, but not so long it pops out through top when tight. Adjust length with grinder as necessary.

Ratchet in cap seems to be just about right for proper tightening torque.

Voila!

 

Excellent ideal, nice job

 

WOW! Definitely a sweet mod!!!

 

I'm actually surprised to see someone using these things, much less coming up with a mod for them. I took those out a few months after I bought my JK and I haven't seen them since... as I sit here and think about it, I have no idea where they might be. I've never had an issue without them.

But I guess if you use them, this is a great mod.

 

X's 2..................................

 

I think the intent here was for theft-proofing the panels, great idea. There was another thread where a guy had one side of the panels stolen and it will be a couple hundred to replace it.

 

Everyone getting rid of those retaining nuts, are those not to keep the roof secure in the event of a roll over?? I do not think those plastic black levers would hold the roof together if the car were rolling???what do you guys think??

 

great idea.

 

thats a fair comment, but tbh, alot of people drive around totally topless and without the protection from them anyways?!?

and they arent very strong to begin with and wont be the most protective things if you do roll i wouldnt have thought?!!?

i have got rid of the big bolts too, and i have had no leaking issues and we have had weather warnings from torrential rain here for the past few days, so they pose no purpose that i can see that relates to stopping water ingress either.

 

Yup, theft-proofing.

I first had the thought when my fair-skinned kids were riding in the back that I have no need for a full bikini, just over the back seat and the freedom top for the front. At that point, I realized one of the turds floating in the societal gene pool could steal the freedom tops, whether for profit or just to be an arse. After seeing the thread where one WAS stolen, I figured it would behoove me to at least make a proof of concept.

For less than $10 in parts and a few minutes of time, I've made some scumbag's life more difficult, hopefully enough so to keep on moving. (or delay him long enough for the microwave sensor and 2-way remote to give me time to get back to the Jeep and acquaint him with my evolutionary advantage)