Topic: Autolite radiator cap

[silverelvis69]

Hi fellas
Looking for opinions here. Bought this radiator cap for only $30.

Can you confirm what plant this would have been.
Is it of great value?

Do I restore this r save the money and display on window when in meeting at car shows?

Thanks

[silverelvis69]

Just cave it a polish with metal cleaner
 I think I saved myself $$ in restoring

Seal is still nice thank god.

[Bob Gaines]

They came zinc plated or chrome. The picture cap looks like it was originally zinc that has worn off . The metal polish makes it shiny but not like when it was new . I agree the worked over condition looks better then the condition it was initially. It depends on your expectations. A zinc finish has a distinct silver look. Your polished cap does not have the original look. New looking is the most accepted definition of restored. That cap would be subject to deductions in a restored class where items are expected to look as new.

[J_Speegle]

Hi fellas
Looking for opinions here. Bought this radiator cap for only $30.

Can you confirm what plant this would have been.
Is it of great value?

Typically this version is thought to be related to San Jose and Metuchen built cars (though the other "Dearborn" versions was used there during the late 60's into 1970 at San Jose) and over the counter service replacements.

Do I restore this r save the money and display on window when in meeting at car shows?

Little late now but in the future you might want to no clean it up so much so that someone with a unrestored car could use it. All cleaned up its now not nice enough for a well restored car IMHO nor that survivor/unrestored car.

Just an opinion

[silverelvis69]

Yep
My heart sank when zink came off.

Anyways , Here is what it looks like now

[J_Speegle]

Don't have equipment set up here but wonder if it could be replaced assembled, only the top cap, with zinc

Would be a fun experiment. Maybe someone here has already tried and has experience. Have been thinking about the same possibility in redoing solenoid upper mount brackets