Gas Cap

[lyndon sharpton]

was the cap silver for early 71 cars? are did you find gold iridite? that was what I was asking. form my old JM (the large diameter cap is dull silver cadium for 1970 an early 1971 units) my car had the gold iridite cap I would think that it was a early 71 car with a Dec build date. but the way I read the JM it should have a silver cap?

[Terry M.]

Re: Gas Cap

1970 and 1971 with the plastic label are silver.

If my memory is right (a big if) the originally installed late 1971 and 1972 gas caps were also silver. The gold colored late 1971 and 1972 style caps came later, and can be regarded as a service replacement on late 1971 and 1972 Corvettes.

All of that only matters if you are having the car judged. The finish is not at all related to function.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Gas Cap

Terry,

Since neither of my cars are here, I could be in as much CRS as you, but...

My June 71 definitely had a gold iridite finish on its gas cap.

I "think" the Bowtie 72 does as well but I can't find a photo of it. That's one of only about 3 things I don't have pictured on that car. I can check it tomorrow if needed, as I have to stop by the car on the way to BG anyway.

Patrick

[Jack H.]

Re: Gas Cap

My April build '71 has a silver cad gas cap with the 'Caution' notice embossed. I've seen quite a few relatively untouched '71 cars with silver cad gas gaps lacking the 'Caution' notice embossed, but having the 'stick-on' CAUTION label affixed and these were generally from the start of production out somewhere to the Oct/Nov timeframe.

My gut tells me both versions had the same GM PN and would have been binned alike, so there's probably a reasonable amount of cross-over, depending on how much inventory was on-hand at St. Louis of the early style cap with the stick-on label until late in the model year when the '72 version (gold dichromate with embossed CAUTION) came on stream.

I'm not sure we'll ever know the EXACT change over point between the three different version of the cap used used in 1971 (early, mid, late)....

[Terry M.]

Re: Gas Cap

I am sure about the silver for 1970 and early 1971, and I am also sure that ALL the versions of the judging guide call for that as well. That should answer Lyndon's question.
I shot from the hip for the later style cap, but I seem to remember John Woods going on at length on the issue. Just wish I could remember what he said, rather than how he said it.

[Gerard Q.]

Re: Gas Cap

If this will help here's a pic of the gas cap on my May 71 car.

[lyndon sharpton]

Re: Gas Cap

my car had a gold cap on it