Correct Oil Fill Cap?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 345
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From: Baton Rouge, LA USA
Correct Oil Fill Cap?
I am trying to put my 71 small block as close to original condition as I can. I ordered a rubber oil fill cap from ZIP for my steel valve cover and it won't fit. Can anyone tell me if the oil fill holes in the stamped steel valve covers from 68 - 72 are different sizes? I thought mine were original to the car but now I don't know. Any ideas?
John
John
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Re: Correct Oil Fill Cap? (John's Shark)
John, what type oil filler cap did the car have on it when you got it?
Someone may have changed your valve covers to the earlier cover with the metal filler cap. Examine the inside of the valve cover filler hole for notches or detents intended to stop and lock the twist-applied metal cap. If that rim inside is smooth, it is possible you are not pushing on the rubber cap hard enough. With the 72 Chevy small block I had, I found a sharp rap with the heel of my hand worked better than just pushing on it. As I recall, the filler holes in the rubber filler plug valve cover ARE larger.
The twist caps were used up through 70. Is your car a very early 71? There is a chance that the a few of the twist steel filler caps could have carried over from 70, but I have never heard of that particular anomaly before. If it is original, and you have the car judged, you can prepare to argue with the judges, because they will be expecting a rubber filler plug.
If it were me, and I wasn't getting the car judged, I would keep the twist cap if that's what is on the car now. I never liked the rubber caps since they were first introduced; once they get hard, they are difficult to get back in the hole, and I never felt comfortable with the sealing of the rubber plug. Just my $0.02 worth.
[Modified by Chuck Sangerhausen, 12:09 PM 3/8/2002]
Someone may have changed your valve covers to the earlier cover with the metal filler cap. Examine the inside of the valve cover filler hole for notches or detents intended to stop and lock the twist-applied metal cap. If that rim inside is smooth, it is possible you are not pushing on the rubber cap hard enough. With the 72 Chevy small block I had, I found a sharp rap with the heel of my hand worked better than just pushing on it. As I recall, the filler holes in the rubber filler plug valve cover ARE larger.
The twist caps were used up through 70. Is your car a very early 71? There is a chance that the a few of the twist steel filler caps could have carried over from 70, but I have never heard of that particular anomaly before. If it is original, and you have the car judged, you can prepare to argue with the judges, because they will be expecting a rubber filler plug.
If it were me, and I wasn't getting the car judged, I would keep the twist cap if that's what is on the car now. I never liked the rubber caps since they were first introduced; once they get hard, they are difficult to get back in the hole, and I never felt comfortable with the sealing of the rubber plug. Just my $0.02 worth.
[Modified by Chuck Sangerhausen, 12:09 PM 3/8/2002]
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Baton Rouge, LA USA
Re: Correct Oil Fill Cap? (Chuck Sangerhausen)
Chuck,
The inside rim of the hole does have the stops for a twist on cap. The build date for my car is April of 71. I suspect they are not the correct year covers. The previous owner gave them to me after I purchased the car. He had LT-1 aluminum covers on it. I guess I need to go with the twist on cap. While I want the car to look original, It's a NOM, so NCRS judging is not an issue. Thanks.
John
The inside rim of the hole does have the stops for a twist on cap. The build date for my car is April of 71. I suspect they are not the correct year covers. The previous owner gave them to me after I purchased the car. He had LT-1 aluminum covers on it. I guess I need to go with the twist on cap. While I want the car to look original, It's a NOM, so NCRS judging is not an issue. Thanks.
John
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Re: Correct Oil Fill Cap? (John's Shark)
The previous owner gave them to me after I purchased the car. He had LT-1 aluminum covers on it...It's a NOM, so NCRS judging is not an issue.
Don't automatically assume that just because you have a NOM motor, that you are precluded from judging. My opinion is, with a correctly numbered and dated engine, a nice car will have a good shot at Top Flight. If it doesn't have the correct casting numbers and suitable dates, then it becomes less likely to Top Flight. Having an NOM is not the "instant death" in judging that it used to be.
