Photo of a real 69 rad cap?

**Bill Rose** · #1 05-10-2010, 05:57 AM

Thanks for all the pictures gentlemen. My only concern with an old cap, is that it works/holds pressure, unless it's just used for shows. Thanks again.

**wheelhop** · #2 05-10-2010, 06:59 AM

I believe Sam Griffith's specialty is gas cap resto's.

**737Driver** · #3 05-10-2010, 07:05 AM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bill Rose</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My only concern with an old cap, is that it works/holds pressure, unless it's just used for shows.</div></div>

Personally, I've had a bunch of original caps restored and when they are done, I use them just for show. Otherwise, I put a new cap on and drive on, Garth. That's not to say a restored cap won't work just fine but, after the investment, I feel better letting it be a trailer queen while a new cap does the work.

Regards,

Mark

ORIGLS6 · #4 05-11-2010, 03:38 AM

I'm not meaning to stir the pot but I'm still running the OE caps on my '69 Nova AND on my '70 Chevelle. Both still doing the job, ............. and the Nova gets driven quite a bit.
If there's any question couldn't a radiator shop check them for you?

#5 05-11-2010, 03:46 AM

Hi. I talked to John Pirkle about that very topic. The problem is, caps live in a relatively volatile environment. He claims he stopped restoring them because the vast majority of cores were thin or unusable in the area near the rivet. The fix was to weld them, and that was something he decided he didn't want to do. The cause was corrosion. Makes sense I think. Particularly when you factor in the age (mileage I don't believe enters the equation).

Just my two bits. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

Wayne

**Bill Pritchard** · #6 05-11-2010, 07:53 AM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hotrodsled</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> The cause was corrosion. Makes sense I think. Particularly when you factor in the age (mileage I don't believe enters the equation). </div></div>

I think I'd have to agree with you there, Wayne. My 69 still had the original cap on it when I bought it 8 yrs ago, but it had a small hole rusted thru on the top. The car had <20K miles on it at that time. Still functioned OK, but I bought a repro to use and saved the original for posterity.

**mockingbird812** · #7 05-11-2010, 04:18 AM

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif[/img]

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