Topic: Sprint 200 Standard Equipment?

[CharlesTurner]

Charles,

Here's a photo of the chrome radiator cap from my car.

In the recessed area inside the words "Tighten & Remove Slowly" are Motorcraft in fine letters and opposite it RS-512A. There's also a D6 stamped in the center and 13# on one of the outside ears.

That's simply a Ford service item.  Not concours correct for an early car.

[Pete Bush]

I thought so at first, too, Charles. But now I'm beginning to wonder.

If I compare it to the NOS one being offered on Ebay, it's similar in every respect except for the center stud. It's not chrome; it's black. And it contains, what appears to be, a date code D6 ... which would be correct for my car. Why put a date code on a service replacement? The one on Ebay doesn't have a date code.

[carlite65]

imo the presence of the word 'motorcraft' would be enough to disqualify it for an early car.

[Pete Bush]

Maybe someone can substantiate this:

The Autolite brand was given up by Ford on March 29,1972 by virtue of a Supreme Court decision of Anti-trust violation.

At which point Ford began to make greater use of the Motorcraft brand which it had acquired as early as the 1950's.

Are we saying that Ford didn't produce any Motorcraft parts until the Autolite brand was dropped? Or is it possible it was used in some limited capacity?

[CharlesTurner]

There were 2 predominant radiator caps for 65-66 and they were the S.M.C.O (Stant) caps and 'AC' brand caps.  Autolite was used after that (most likely started appearing sometime in 66) and at some point later, Motocraft came into the mix.

Similar date codes, like 'D6' do not necessarily date to a certain decade, just a year/month.  D6 could mean 4/66, 4/76, 4/86 or even 4/96.

You probably want to be careful calling a Motocraft replacement cap an "NOS" part.  Suffice to say that anything in a Ford box is a "Service Replacement" and may differ slightly or greatly from factory line parts.

[Pete Bush]

I know the history of the car from about '86 on, and it didn't get much use to warrant the wear on the inside of the cap (which is wore to the bone). Could it be a '76 cap? I suppose it could. But it's curious just the same.

Tony sent me a copy of an original sales invoice, but all it mentions is "Engine Trim", and not what that consisted of. Looks like there are several Sprint owners on the site here. Would like to hear from them on what they're finding for original chrome parts.

Kevin, you mentioned that you found a chrome master cylinder cap. Were there any identifying markings on it? Mine is currently painted (rather poorly) a silver color. A little scraping reveals a finish that looks more like yellow zinc. My oil cap is not original, so I can't help any there. Valve cover is steel, painted blue. Air cleaner is chrome with no snorkel, and a date code of March '66.

[NEFaurora]

Pete, What you have there is a '70's replacement Motorcraft radiatior cap. Motorcraft use the same mold for radiator caps similar to Autolite caps well into the late 70's, and even later into the 80's for their service parts. What cap you have there, as close to an Autolite original, is not original to the car. As Charles mentioned, Very Early caps were "AC" brand caps, then moved to S.M.C.O stamped caps which is what you should have. In sometime in mid-1967 Brought in the "Autolite" stamped caps which pretty much lasted until the end of 1969 until the "Motorcraft" caps started appearing which was late 1969.

Tony K.

[Pete Bush]

Hey Tony,

Thought I had something there with the date code thing. Curious. I think I'll hold onto it for a while just the same.

Any explanation for the air cleaner with no snorkel, and a date code of March '66 in the base?

Pete

[Twilight65]

Pete,
My May 66 has no snorkel either and the blue base has a 6E (May 66) stamped into it.
Dave

[Pete Bush]

Hey Dave,

That seems to coincide with Tony's statement (May). Mine seems to be the oddball at this point (March).

Say, what are you seeing on your car for radiator, master cylinder, and oil filler caps?

Pete

[Twilight65]

The only part chrome on my car was the top of the air cleaner, the original fomoco oil cap looks like it was painted black, same for the brake master cylinder cap, Radiator had bee replaced so an odd ball cap on it.
Dave

[kevin1221]

Pete:

My July Dearborn car has the blue portion of the base stamped 6F (June 66). Mine has no snorkel.

My chrome radiator cap is marked SMCO, 14 pat # 2,582,209

Chrome MC cap is stamped : WARNING
                                       CLEAN FILLER CAP
                                       BEFORE REMOVING
                                       USE ONLY DOT 3
                                       FLUID FROM A SEALED
                                      CONTAINER

My chrome oil filler cap has no stampings at all.  It is identical in appearance to an NOS black one that I have. It also has no markings.

According to Charles, I'll have to change out some of these chrome pieces before my next MCA National show in order not to loose any points on these items.

Kevin

[NEFaurora]

The only "real" Chrome part that should be on the car is the aircleaner lid ONLY, and some bases came away chromed as well, but most were painted Ford Corporate Blue, same as the valve cover. Even the "Chromed" radiator caps are somewhat questionable...but always slide through due to some being "found".

Basically, If you have a Sprint 200, and plan to enter it in "Concours" judging, The engine should look IDENTICAL to a Non-Sprint 200 car with the exception of the Chromed aircleaner, and aircleaner decal to be considered "Concours".

Tony K.

[carlite65]

i ran across a possible sprint 200 at a local show last weekend. it had a blue air cleaner top with no snorkel but the strange thing about it was the fact that it had two approximately 1" holes cut into the sides. the holes appeared to have been punched as they had a slight lip on the inside and they appeared 'factory'. any insight on this ??

[NEFaurora]

"the fact that it had two approximately 1" holes cut into the sides. the holes appeared to have been punched as they had a slight lip on the inside and they appeared 'factory'. any insight on this ??"

Answer: Yes.

Someone decided to do some "custom" work on the aircleaner with a conduit cutter.  Ask me how I know... It's pretty much the easiest way for someone to cut a clean near-perfect hole through sheetmetal. They make them for different sized holes too. People used them for "faking" radiator support cut holes for '65-'66 GT cars and also use them for cutting holes in radiator supports for A/C lines. Smoother cuts than a drill!  They are a pretty useful tool.

Tony K.