65 radiator cap question

[Jim D.]

I'm finding two different caps listed for a 1965 small block. Both have the AC and #13 lb. 307 stampings but one has a circle around the "AC" and the "13# 307" stampings, the other only has the circle around the "AC". The judging guide doesn't address this. Help.

Jim

[Joe C.]

Re: 65 radiator cap question

I'm finding two different caps listed for a 1965 small block. Both have the AC and #13 lb. 307 stampings but one has a circle around the "AC" and the "13# 307" stampings, the other only has the circle around the "AC". The judging guide doesn't address this. Help.

Jim

You'll find the answer here:

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?t=70245&highlight=radiator+cap&uid=3031

http://www.keenparts.com/pages/detail.php?year=1965&partnum=145120&PL=409

[Jim D.]

Re: 65 radiator cap question

Thanks Joe. How does the cap from DeWitts compare to an original?

Jim

[Rick S.]

Re: 65 radiator cap question

Jim,
In my search for the "most correct" cap for my 67 327/350 L-79, it was felt that LI Corvette produced the best repo cap. Hope this helps. Maybe they have the best 65 13 lb cap.

Rick

[Joe C.]

Re: 65 radiator cap question

Thanks Joe. How does the cap from DeWitts compare to an original?

Jim

According to the thread, it looks like DeWitts early version of the 307 cap is the right one.
According to the thread, DeWitts late version 307 cap is not candy for the judges.

DeWitts early cap is same as Keen's cap, and also LICS 307 cap. Keen/DeWitts have equally cheap price of 30 bucks.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 65 radiator cap question

According to the thread, it looks like DeWitts early version of the 307 cap is the right one.
According to the thread, DeWitts late version 307 cap is not candy for the judges.

DeWitts early cap is same as Keen's cap, and also LICS 307 cap. Keen/DeWitts have equally cheap price of 30 bucks.

Odds are, Keen and DeWitts sell the same piece.
LICS has the caps made expressly for them, and I don't think they sell them to any other vendors.

Patrick

[Jim D.]

Re: 65 radiator cap question

Thanks for all the help. I'll get one from LICS.

Jim

[Wayne M.]

Re: 65 radiator cap question

Hope this doesn't muddy the waters, but here's an original '307' given to me by Grant Wong of the BC (Canada) chapter.

[Dan H.]

Re: 65 radiator cap question

Nice cap Wayne, wish the JGs would re-think the different possibilities of these caps. I've still never seen an original with 'circles' around the AC or whatever! Many Judges are going 'by the manual' and not recognizing original caps when they are presented. Ask me how I know! Grants is a nice example of a 307 cap, used 63 to 65 on many applications. All the repro caps have some issues and do not represent the real caps exactly.
Dan

[Peter L.]

Re: 65 radiator cap question

Joe - To the best of my knowledge, none of the AC radiator pressure caps manufactured by AC Spark Plug Division before 1966 production had the AC in a circle.

In fact from what I can tell the pre-1966 AC caps such as the 307, the RC-15 (not used on Corvettes but was used on all GM passenger cars equipped with C60 air conditioning), and the RC-26 all shared the same basic cover blank and associate logo and instruction stamping with the exception of the specific radiator cap stamping, i.e, 307, RC-15, or RC-26 and the pressure rating.

Pete

[Peter L.]

Re: 65 radiator cap question

Rick - I'm curious about the under cap configuration. Can you post a picture. Thanks, Pete