Need a picture of an oil filler cap

[Donald H.]

At a recent judging meet I was told that my oil filler cap on my small block 66 was a reproduction. I thought it was an original but could be wrong.

The picture on the left is from the 1966 judging guide and is of a big block cap. The area in the red circle is of the 'tang' that hold the cap on. Note that the bottom of the tang (red line) is mostly flat. The picture on the right is of my small block cap. The tang has a definite curve in the bottom. There is no picture of a small block cap in the judging guide.

The caps are quite difference as the big block cap attaches to the valve cover and the small block attaches to the filler tube.

Can someone with an original small block cap let me know for sure that the tang is indeed flat.

[Ara G.]

Re: Need a picture of an oil filler cap

Don, first off the term reproduction should not be used by a judge on the field. He should have said your cap was not typical factory production and explained why he felt so. Later service SB caps sometimes have a larger, more squared off "S" on the top. Also, reproduction caps often had a flat rivet on the underside, as opposed to a dished/concave rivet. Not sure what the reasoning was for your deduct, but it should have been explained to you a littler better IMO. I will try to post some pics of an original this weekend, but am sure other members will post for you sooner than that. Regards...ARA

[Donald H.]

Re: Need a picture of an oil filler cap

Thanks Ara,

In fairness to the judge I can't recall if he used the term reproduction.

[Donald H.]

Re: Need a picture of an oil filler cap

Here's a couple more pictures of my cap. The judge didn't mention the S or the rivet, he just commented that the shape of the tang was wrong as indicated in the pictures in my first post. He actually drew a picture on the score sheet of what the shape should be. I don't have the score sheet back yet.

[Ara G.]

Re: Need a picture of an oil filler cap

Don, the tang should be flatter than your tangs IMO. Also, worthy of mention, i personally would have made a note/deduct on the underside of your cap. Flat rivet is NTP. Should be dished/concave as noted in the JM. With your being flat, I would have expected him/her to have taken action on that as well. Just my two cents...ARA

[Leif A.]

Re: Need a picture of an oil filler cap

Why were the "tangs" being judged in the first place? Oil filler cap does not need to be removed for judging. Did the judge have x-ray vision?

[Donald H.]

Re: Need a picture of an oil filler cap

Why were the "tangs" being judged in the first place? Oil filler cap does not need to be removed for judging. Did the judge have x-ray vision?

That's a good question. I actually can't recall if he removed the cap or asked me to remove the cap. Maybe I was a little to accommodating!!

I must have removed it on request. I did remove the fuel filler cap and the windshield washer pickup at their request.