Correct Reproductions Radiator Caps

[Wayne M.]

Patrick -- the seller DOES say 99% new

The question is what consitiutes the other 1% that is NOT new.

[Jack H.]

We DO that now...

Just go to a Chapter, Regional or National meet and see the attitude, feel the pulse, of those owners there to compete for the Founders Award... It's laid back, helpful and low/no stress AND they get to drive their classic Corvettes both ways to and from the meet while others chug along in the tow vehicles pulling their enclose car haulers!

[Mark #28455]

I just go for sportsman *NM*

[Marc R.]

Re: Who makes them...

Patrick, Please advise the source for the caps you have. I'd like to have one at a reasonable price.

[Thomas D.]

Re: Who makes them...

Me, I'll sell you one for $30

[Patrick H.]

Re: Who makes them...

You've changed suppliers, then?

[Thomas D.]

new suppler

Yes, I changed and I'm working with them to produce a correct RC26 too. We're also talking about making a couple versions of the RC15 with both rivets.

What if we were to come up with a early and late RC15 (not the Early RC15 non-corvette one in your article) cap?

Cap A (66-68 ?)would have the hollow rivet and the arrows would not have the triangle. Cap B (69-72)would have the solid rivet with the triangle heads on the arrows. Both would have "fat" lettering per the so called old tooling.

What percentage of judging do you think would pass those?

PS: How about that blue print?

[Peter L.]

Re: new suppler

Tom - Please double check your Cap A description with regards to the arrows not having the triangle heads. Pete

[Thomas D.]

Re: new suppler

What do you mean, check them? Both A & B will have pointed arrow head, it's just that B would have an extra line, completing the triangle. Refer to Patricks article in the lastest drive line

[Peter L.]

Re:Check Them!!!!!!!!!!

Tom - From your earlier posting which reads as follows: Cap A (66-68 ?)would have the hollow rivet and the arrows would not have the triangle. Cap B (69-72)would have the solid rivet with the triangle heads on the arrows.

Maybe I missed something but I guess I was expecting Cap A (66-68?) to have the triangle heads on the arrows too. I know the "original" RC-15 on my '66 Chevelle w/ C60 has the triangular head arrows. Pete

[Patrick H.]

Re:Check Them!!!!!!!!!!

Pete,

You're correct, of course.
I sent Tom an e-mail noting a few things.

Patrick

[Michael H.]

Re:Check Them!!!!!!!!!!

Yup, I agree. The cap on my 66, which I believe to be original to the car, has the filled triangles. Patrick has a scan of this cap.

[Thomas D.]

Pat, little help here

Peter,

I assume you have not read Patrick Hulsts' article in the Driveline yet. In the article he outlines two versions of RC15 caps that were used on Corvettes from 66-72. He has done extensive research over the years and has many original samples and HE came to the conclusion the early (66-68) caps had no arrowhead. Not me, I'm just trying to confirm that I understand it right.

Do I believe you have a triangle head on the arrow? Yes I do. But many questions arise. First, is that the original cap? Now wait, before you answer absolutely...unless you are the orginal owner you cannot be positive. In fact, even if you are the original, it might have been changed during a routine dealer check up in, say 1968, and they thought a new cap would be a good idea. It could get replaced under warranty and the owner would never know.

What I think, but can't prove, is that GM used multiple suppliers. All the suppliers had the same drawings and blueprints but minor variances existed. So minor, that GM didn't care. That could explain why we see two different designs because we have two different companies that made them. It's possible two suppliers alternated the GM contract based on a competitive price quote.

That was the point of the thread. The controversy with caps will never end and therefore makes it impossible to offer "correct" reproductions without making about five versions of each cap and letting people choose the one or ones they feel is correct. That way you can go to the show with a pocket full of caps and do a quick switch on site.

The reality is, nobody can PROVE thier cap is the production version because it could have been changed without thier knowledge. I am not saying we should pass anything and everything but have a window in which both are acceptable. The JM could say, arrowheads may or may not have a triangle based on supplier. Just a thought.

[Peter L.]

Re: Read the Article

Holy Crap Radiator Man apparently you haven't read the article. I along with several others worked with Patrick in drafting and reviewing the article. Check the acknowledgements. BTW, I still like your radiators. Your loyal customer. Pete

[Thomas D.]

Ok, I read it again, I'm a dumb a...

I read it about four times so I thought i understood it but now i got it. It was that first (non-corvette) RC15 that got me screwed up. We have enough confusion without showing caps that are wrong. The way they type set the article was the blow up photo of the non-corvette cap (no triangle) was positioned right above the first Corvette cap and that's were i got it from.

So, both have the triangle, just different rivets. That's not a problem.

I still think the dual sources are possible though.

BTW, pat I noticed my profle had an old email address so I never got your mail