Locked cap in the middle of gas filler tube??

[Righty Tighty]

Hey all, I just bought a '74 Barracuda that had been sitting for a decade. Needless to say (gonna say it anyway), there's a lot to do before she's back on the road. I'm in the process of dropping the tank, but I wanted to look inside before doing so. I removed the gas cap and saw what appears to be a second cap about 6 inches down in the filler tube. It looks like it's got a keyed lock similar to the gas cap, but there's no way I can reach it. What is this?? Thanks for reading.

 

[MoparCarGuy]

I would remove the filler tube and see if you can get that out of there. Does it readily accept fuel or back up in the tube?

 

[Righty Tighty]

I haven't tried adding fuel yet, I'd like to drop the tank and clean it out first. I'll remove the filler tube and see if I can get it out, like you suggested. There look to be some holes around the edges, so maybe fuel is supposed to pass through? Not sure.

 

[budascuda]

Dropping the tank for a clean out is the best first step!
If it had a locking gas cap at some point and the key was lost, the cap could have been jimmied and the inner part fell inside the filler tube, maybe?!
Good luck

 

[Righty Tighty]

I’m starting to think that it’s an anti-siphon device. There are 4 holes in it that seem to be for letting gas through.

Maybe?

 

[tonysrt]

Those were the prime stealing gas years when the price was going up like it is today. So could very well be anti syphon device homemade of course. Today most cars have something in filler tube to prevent that. I have 05 Ram and tried to get gas for my son to go to work when Sandi hit and electric was out for several days. Now stations here on Long Island have generators to continue to operate when major storms pull the plug.

 

[Chryco Psycho]

just looks like a regular locking gas cap that broke & fell into the fill pipe to me .

 

[Righty Tighty]

It is definitely attached to the walls of the filler neck.

 

[MoparCarGuy]

You might try a coat hanger with a hard 90° "hook" on the end. Stick the hook into the keyhole slot and turn it. You may be able to pull it out the same way it went in.

 

[Righty Tighty]

Well, you guys are pretty amazing. I was certain that this was something attached to the walls of the filler neck. I removed the filler neck and wouldn’t ya know, it’s the lock tumbler from a previous gas cap...wedged tightly in the tube!