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ORANGEDAKOTA
Dodge Dakota
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2/08/2003
19:45:10
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 Subject: BILLET FUEL DOOR
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Before anyone wastes the $100+ dollars on some of the billet fuel doors out there, try the dealership. They have them for $69.00 and they look sweet. I got mine on wednesday.
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rtdkota
R/T
 
2/09/2003
03:49:30
|  RE: BILLET FUEL DOOR
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Just an FYI- The fuel doors from the dealership aren't billet-- :)
They are cast aluminum that has been machined-- look closely on the inside-- and you'll see the mold points... Yeah, they look nice, but they aren't billet.
Sam
RTDKOTA
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SinCity R/T
Dodge Dakota
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2/09/2003
09:36:03
| RE: BILLET FUEL DOOR
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There are two fuel doors available for the Dakotas... One is cast alloy, and the other is billet aluminum. Both of them are actually made by AMP Research.
The cast alloy model is sold via Mopar parts counters for $50-70. The door is slightly squared off (not truly round) and can also be identified by the inside of the door - it has a big + on the inside with a Ram's head in one corner.
The billet aluminum model is found on E-Bay and other various retailers for $90-145. The door is circular in shape and has a brushed finish.
Both of them work for all 1997-2003 Dakotas and 1998-2002 Rams.
- Steve
http://www.dakota-durango.com
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0RANGEDAKOTA
Dodge Dakota
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2/09/2003
13:07:06
| RE: BILLET FUEL DOOR
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Yes I am fully aware that it isnt a real billet fuel door but standing next to it you cant tell the difference and for the savings it cant be beat. You try and help some people and they just feel the need to throw in thier 2 cents. Just kidding. I was just letting yall know that there are other options out there.
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99CCRT
Dodge Dakota
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2/09/2003
14:49:35
| RE: BILLET FUEL DOOR
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are there different finishes on the alloy or billet fuel doors? I have seen them listed as Satin Billet and Satin Brushed on ebay.
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99CCRT
Dodge Dakota
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2/09/2003
14:56:32
| RE: BILLET FUEL DOOR
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and where is the cheapest place to get a real billet fuel door? any stores or links would be helpful. thanks
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Strat79
Dodge Dakota
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2/09/2003
16:36:16
| RE: BILLET FUEL DOOR
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Why is everyone always so impressed by the term "billet"? All billet means is that the part was machined from a blank block (billet) of aluminum. Yes, the machined surface finish looks cool, but in some cases, a billet part can actually be weaker than a cast part, and large billet parts such as wheels are DEFINITELY weaker than true forged wheels. The billet blanks are made by casting or forging, but it might not have the ideal grain structure for the intended application once it is machined.
Ever notice how the best hand tools like open end wrenches are made by forging? there is a reason for that, strength.
In cast parts and forged parts, the metal grain structure can follow the contours of the part, giving it greater strength. In a billet part, the grain structure of the billet can actually be going the wrong direction from what is needed for strength.
Billet is just a lower cost way for some of these small manufacturers to make parts since they don't have to make the big investment in casting or forging tooling. They can change designs quicker with billet parts because it's much easier to just change the CNC machining program instead of investing in new tooling.
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Strat79
Dodge Dakota
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2/09/2003
16:54:26
| RE: BILLET FUEL DOOR
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Oh yeah, I guess I should have added that either the cast or billet doors look a hell of a lot better than the stock door.. :-)
I just hate to do any mod that adds even more weight to the already heavy Dak!
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ORANGEDAKOTA
Dodge Dakota
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2/10/2003
19:32:58
| RE: BILLET FUEL DOOR
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Thanks for your points STRAT79. The term billet is just so impressive to some people when it really doesnt mean anything.I personally like the factory billet TYPE fuel door because it has the rams head logo on the inside.
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frankie
Dodge Dakota
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2/13/2003
20:07:48
|  RE: BILLET FUEL DOOR
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i think the point of the matter-- there's a reason to the price difference that's all (one cast machined, one billet aluminum.)
"Billet is just a lower cost way for some of these small manufacturers to make parts since they don't have to make the big investment in casting or forging tooling."
untrue-- amp research makes both pieces-- sells the billet for more, and the cast for less. casting is for mass production, which equates to typically lower quality in some instances--- it's a lower production cost process. the cnc mills required to makes this pieces can cost into the hundreds of thousands of dollars for multiple processes. typical cast aluminum alloy has a yield strength of 16-50ksi (16,000-50,000 psi), typical "billet" which is a wrought alloy has a yield strength of 45ksi, and the best wrought alloy has a yield strength of more than 85ksi.
wrought is stronger than cast.
wrought on!
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