C2 (C1, C3?) tire valve caps -- Dill markings

[Wayne M.]

Did my annual junkyard visit yesterday and was really disappointed that the oldest GM product was a '74 Buick ; this joint has a high turnover. So, as I was going up and down the rows, I killed time by checking valve caps. When finished, I'd gathered eighty three Dill 627's . Noticed that there were two styles (thumbnail below); one with 'DILL' @ 12 o'clock and '627' @ 6 o'clock (the majority), and the other [shown on left] with an added number/letter code at the 3 o'clock position [8A in this case]. I've seen as low as 2 and as high as 8, with letters as high as 'S'. Most, but not all, of the ones without the 3 o'clock marking had a bolder font.

Bearing in mind that none of these that I harvested were original to the C2 era, and that the '65 TIM&JG is silent on cap markings, which of these (if either) are those respected gentlemen with the black hats expecting to see ?

That is, IF they can see -- at my ripe 66 years, I should have taken a magnifying glass with me .

[Peter L.]

Re: C2 (C1, C3?) tire valve caps -- Dill markings

Wayne - Spring thaw up there?

I have a box of 500 DILL 627 Valve Caps dated MAR 20 '08 and I checked all 500 of them and no alphanumeric characters at 3 o'clock. Not sure what it means if anything, just the facts.

You are going to cause some more trouble for those "seasoned" black had folks. Now they will have to carry a magnifying glass along with their "broach - buster, very bright flash light, magnet, and mirror etc.

Pete

[Terry M.]

Re: C2 (C1, C3?) tire valve caps -- Dill markings

Since you put C3 in the heading I will tell you why the 1970-72 TIM&JG is silent (up to this point) on thsi subject. -- Not all 1970-1972 Corvette valve stem caps were DILL. That is my story, and I am sticking to it.

[Edward J.]

Re: C2 (C1, C3?) tire valve caps -- Dill markings

Terry, now you struck my curiosity, what were the othet caps on C-3,s?

[Peter L.]

Re: C2 (C1, C3?) tire valve caps -- Dill markings

Terry - Because you mentioned it, DILL valve caps have become the de facto standard because they are still available but not all C2s used DILL valve caps either. Schrader Valve Caps were also used. These were black plastic caps embossed with SCHRADER on a raised rectangular section on the top of the cap. You don't see many of them. I'm sure most of them got lost over the years. Kind of like the 15" OE by ANCO wiper blade assemblies used on 65 - 67 Corvettes or the orange clutch cross shaft plugs. Pete

[John C.]

Re: C2 (C1, C3?) tire valve caps -- Dill markings

Attached is a picture of the valve stem cap that is on the original spare tire of my 1968. It has no markings at all. It could have been replaced over the years, but the tire has never been mounted on the car so I see no reason why it would have been.

John

[Alan D.]

Re: C2 (C1, C3?) tire valve caps -- Dill markings

Great pictures Wayne! Tried to get some details but not close to yours.
Somebody mentioned (2+ years ago) that the newer DILLs has a different font.
I checked mine and all had other numbers except the one on the original spare tire which is the only one I know is 64 time period correct.

[Patrick H.]

Re: C2 (C1, C3?) tire valve caps -- Dill markings

Attached is a picture of the valve stem cap that is on the original spare tire of my 1968. It has no markings at all. It could have been replaced over the years, but the tire has never been mounted on the car so I see no reason why it would have been.

John

I looked this afternoon - the original spare of the orange 72 has yet a different cap.

[Terry M.]

Re: C2 (C1, C3?) tire valve caps -- Dill markings

Attached is a picture of the valve stem cap that is on the original spare tire of my 1968. It has no markings at all. It could have been replaced over the years, but the tire has never been mounted on the car so I see no reason why it would have been.

John

BINGO We have a winner. I see this plain cap more oftent han DILL on real deal early C3s.

[Terry M.]

Re: C2 (C1, C3?) tire valve caps -- Dill markings

I looked this afternoon - the original spare of the orange 72 has yet a different cap.

You have a rare valve stem cap, Patrick. Congratulations. I know that will make you feel special.

[Peter L.]

Re: C2 (C1, C3?) tire valve caps -- Dill markings

Terry - I think those were used on original C3s. For judging the DILLs are installed. Pete

[John D.]

Re: C2 (C1, C3?) tire valve caps -- Dill markings

Plain cap was on C2's also. Made by Schrader.
The Dill 627's made in the 80's and up are not correct for a C2 guys. The font is much too small.
Story: Back in the late 70's I had a friend who owned a tire shop/recap joint. He had many 5 gallon buckets full of valve stem caps. Lord knows how many hours I spent going thru those buckets picking out the black Dills with the large lettering. Notice I said black. The Dill 627's were also made in grey.
I have looked at a lot of Dills on our show cars and the majority don't have the real dill (deal) on them. 63's used Schraders and Dills. Bobby Gregory & Jorjorian told me about the Schraders-smooth top ones. JD

[Mike M.]

Re: C2 (C1, C3?) tire valve caps -- Dill markings

Hi Wayne
To answer your question;
Judges expect to see only the "Dill" and the "627" in the larger, bolder font like the example on the right side of your pic.
There are also pictures on page 83 in the latest revision of the 1966 JG.
HaND

[Jim T.]

Re: C2 (C1, C3?) tire valve caps -- Dill markings

Since you put C3 in the heading I will tell you why the 1970-72 TIM&JG is silent (up to this point) on thsi subject. -- Not all 1970-1972 Corvette valve stem caps were DILL. That is my story, and I am sticking to it.

Just this evening I had to remove my 1970's original spare away from home because of a flat front tire. Second time my original spare has ever been used in almost 40 years of ownership. The valve stem cap on my original spare has no identification that I could find. It does have the raised nipple.

[Patrick H.]

Re: C2 (C1, C3?) tire valve caps -- Dill markings

Just this evening I had to remove my 1970's original spare away from home because of a flat front tire. Second time my original spare has ever been used in almost 40 years of ownership. The valve stem cap on my original spare has no identification that I could find. It does have the raised nipple.

Does it match the picture I posted above?