'61 Radiator Cap Selection
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
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Army
'61 Radiator Cap Selection
OK - what radiator cap do I use on my '61 270HP 2X4 283ci original motor and cooling system ?
Corvette Central has #549, #306, #307 and #362 all listed for 1961...
Corvette Central has #549, #306, #307 and #362 all listed for 1961...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,007
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From: Grand Harbor in South Carolina
If you have a copper radiator (very early '61) use AC cap RC1 7lb. If you have the more common aluminun radiator and your car is an early number , use AC362 13lb. If your radiator is a 3151116 , use AC306 13lb. IF your car was mfg. on or before Feb.1961.After Feb.1961 use AC307 13lb. BTW, Eaton & Standt also made caps for the copper radiator in the 7lb. catagory. Don't have #'s for them tho. Hope this helps.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
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Army
If you have a copper radiator (very early '61) use AC cap RC1 7lb. If you have the more common aluminun radiator and your car is an early number , use AC362 13lb. If your radiator is a 3151116 , use AC306 13lb. IF your car was mfg. on or before Feb.1961.After Feb.1961 use AC307 13lb. BTW, Eaton & Standt also made caps for the copper radiator in the 7lb. catagory. Don't have #'s for them tho. Hope this helps.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,576
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From: Conroe Texas
Just don't be surprised if your new reproduction radiator cap arrives looking like it's been dancing in a bin a sharp objects for a year before it was sent your way.
That's how the one for my 65 arrived.
That's how the one for my 65 arrived.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
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Army
Have to say tho in the 16 months of restoring this C1, the repro parts have been pretty darn good, except for the POS gas tank sending unit I got from Eckler's 9 months back. It was SO bad I repaired the original and send the repro back.
Repro parts are much better than during Mustang restoration days 10 years or so ago - I never saw so much thin, shoddy, overseas-based, poorly fitting junk in my life. I bought some pricey center console chrome back then and I swear it rusted before my eyes in a month.
