59 radiator cap

[John D.]

Looking on ebay I spotted a NOS 59 radiator cap for buy it now of $595.00
Info in nice ad says 13#. RC-6 Part # 850800.
Ad does not say what is on the cap as far as a 3 digit number next to or below the 13#.
Just so happens I use one of these caps on my 63 to replace the original cap that I took off after a show. Then I "put" it somewhere in my shack and it's gone.
Meanwhile what's the story on this NOS cap on ebay. Is it correct for 59?.

Ebay # 310119092681

[Peter L.]

Re: 59 radiator cap

John - The March 1958 P&A 30 I have shows
58 CORV. w/F.I............ w/gasket (pressure type)(13 lb.)(RC-6).. 850800

and the Oct. 1966 P&A 30 shows
58-59 CORVETTE w/F.I..... pressure type (13 lb.)......................3852236

I'm not sure about the Part Number difference of 850800 and 3852236.

It looks like that cap should work but I don't know if the configuration of the cap is what came on the 58-59 Corvette w/F.I. The Oct. 1966 P&A 30 also applications to 58-64 PASS (exc C.A.C.), 63-64 Ser. 10 D-D), 65-66 Ser. 10 thru 30 (exc. D-D). More checking should be done to confirm before letting the eagles fly.

Pete

[John D.]

Re: 59 radiator cap

Hi Peter, Old JD ain't letting no eagles fly. LOL. Still recovering from shock as didn't know the caps I thought were worthless are real deal.
So the 850500 are 58's. Well that's good news as have some around here in the AC boxes. Now to find them so I can have early retirement.
Meanwhile what makes a cap FI? Thanks old friend. JD

[Peter L.]

Re: 59 radiator cap

John - The RC-6 is a 13 lb pressure cap for 58-59 Corvette w/ F.I. and the originals had brass components under the cover.

The other radiator pressure cap listed for those year Corvettes in the 1966 P&A 30 is

55-61 CORVETTE (8 cyl.)(1st design)(exc. F.I.).....pressure type (7 lb.)(RC-1) ........... 3852238

The original RC-1s also had brass components under the cover.

Pete

[Ralph P.]

Re: 59 radiator cap

I have a cap in an old AC box that's labled on the box for 54-59 Corvette ( + others ) . Box shows RC 2 # 850796 . Cap is stamped above the "AC" with 13 above the slash & what looks like 7# below.... all brass components under the cap. Anyone know about this one ?

[Peter L.]

Re: 59 radiator cap

Ralph - According to the box, the cap should be a RC-2 which is a 4 lb pressure cap. I'm not sure but it doesn't sound like the cap in the box is a RC-2. Can you send a picture? Pete

[Ralph P.]

Re: 59 radiator cap

Ralph - According to the box, the cap should be a RC-2 which is a 4 lb pressure cap. I'm not sure but it doesn't sound like the cap in the box is a RC-2. Can you send a picture? Pete

I'll have to figure out how to send a picture... but, the box was open & that cap probably was not in it's original container... The cap definately has a 13 stamped above the line & 7# stamped under.

[David L.]

Re: 59 radiator cap

I have a cap in an old AC box that's labled on the box for 54-59 Corvette ( + others ) . Box shows RC 2 # 850796 . Cap is stamped above the "AC" with 13 above the slash & what looks like 7# below.... all brass components under the cap. Anyone know about this one ?

Ralph,

Does you cap look like the one in my photo on the left?
My cap is stamped "13" above a line with "7#" on the bottom. This stamping is on the "ear" on the right side in photo. It is a RC-3 AC radiator cap, GM # 850797.
The code on the flap of the box is "5410-ACE-15" (1954, Oct., I believe).
Applications on chart:
1940-46 Buick
1939-40 Cadillac
1952-53 8 cyl. Ford
1937-1952 Hudson, 1953 exc. Jet
1949-1951 Mercury
1940 Packard 1800
1941 Packard 1904-04-05-06
1942-1952 Packard
I don't think there in much demand for this cap.

Pictured on the right is a used AC RC-6 13# radiator cap. There is a circle around the "AC" and the "13# RC-6" stampings. I don't think that it is 1958-1959 vintage but more like 1963 or so. I believe that the 1958-1959 version of the RC-6 13# 850800 cap was stamped WITHOUT the circle around the "AC" and the "13# RC-6" stampings .

Dave

[Ralph P.]

Re: 59 radiator cap

Ralph,

Does you cap look like the one in my photo on the left?
My cap is stamped "13" above a line with "7#" on the bottom. This stamping is on the "ear" on the right side in photo. It is a RC-3 AC radiator cap, GM # 850797.
The code on the flap of the box is "5410-ACE-15" (1954, Oct., I believe).
Applications on chart:
1940-46 Buick
1939-40 Cadillac
1952-53 8 cyl. Ford
1937-1952 Hudson, 1953 exc. Jet
1949-1951 Mercury
1940 Packard 1800
1941 Packard 1904-04-05-06
1942-1952 Packard
I don't think there in much demand for this cap.

Pictured on the right is a used AC RC-6 13# radiator cap. There is a circle around the "AC" and the "13# RC-6" stampings. I don't think that it is 1958-1959 vintage but more like 1963 or so. I believe that the 1958-1959 version of the RC-6 13# 850800 cap was stamped WITHOUT the circle around the "AC" and the "13# RC-6" stampings .

Dave

Thanks, David.... Actually, my cap is the same with the exception of the "13 & 7#" stamping being on the opposite ear ( next to the AC stamp ) .

[David L.]

Re: 59 radiator cap

John,

Pictured is what I believe to be an original 58-59 Corvette w/F.I. radiator cap. It is stamped "AC" without the circle, "13#", and "RC-6" all in the same vicinity. The other side is stamped "MADE IN U.S.A." and "PAT'D". The components under the cover are brass with a black hard rubber seal. I cleaned the cap with a Brillo pad.
I believe my used cap is the same as the NOS cap on currently on Ebay for $595. I guess the rocket ship from Pluto with the rich radiator cap buyer has yet to come in.

Dave

[Peter L.]

Re: 59 radiator cap

Dave - The AC in the circle appeared on radiator caps used on cars in the 1966 production year. The cap in the right hand picture appears to have the "flat" top configuration of the end of the center support piece rather than the "countersunk" configuration so it is probably a cap manufactured in 1969/1970 or newer. Pete

[David L.]

Re: 59 radiator cap

Dave - The AC in the circle appeared on radiator caps used on cars in the 1966 production year. The cap in the right hand picture appears to have the "flat" top configuration of the end of the center support piece rather than the "countersunk" configuration so it is probably a cap manufactured in 1969/1970 or newer. Pete

Pete,

Yesterday I found some of my research about the 861307 radiator caps. The "early" version WITHOUT any circles ended about August 1963, the "mid" version WITH circles around BOTH the "AC" and the "13# "307" was used from about August 1963 to March 1966, and the "late" version with ONLY the circle around the "AC" was used after March 1966 (see photo below). Is this research still valid? I believe it was from the Corvette Restorer from years ago.

ALSO, check out the photo that I posted yesterday (02/07/2011) of what I believe to be an original 58-59 Corvette w/FI radiator cap. I would appreciate your comments.

By the way, didn't I sell you a NOS??? 58-59 Corvette w/ FI AC radiator cap a couple of years ago without the AC box? I assume that it was the 1958-1959 version.

Thanks for the info about the rivet types.

Are you going to Corvette Carlisle this summer?

Dave

[Loren S.]

Re: 59 radiator cap

The 58-60 Judging Guide says the brass radiators used the 7# cap, and the aluminum radiators (starting in 1960) used the 13# cap. David - is it possible the 13# cap in your picture is correct for 1960, but not 58-59?

[Jeff A.]

Re: 59 radiator cap

this must be a pretty common cap.
I found 2 NOS ones and 9 used ones in my closet at home.

there were 2 different versions -
Most are: 13# RC-6
a few others are: 559-13# RC-6

I know I did not pull these off of Corvettes???
Edit - bet these came off of 58 59 Impalas - I remember a yard with a bunch of those - way back when.

[David L.]

Re: 59 radiator cap

The 58-60 Judging Guide says the brass radiators used the 7# cap, and the aluminum radiators (starting in 1960) used the 13# cap. David - is it possible the 13# cap in your picture is correct for 1960, but not 58-59?

Loren,

According to the 1960 Chevrolet Parts Catalog (effective April 1960) radiator cap # 850800 (15 lb. RC-6) was used on 58-59 Corvettes w/ F.I.

and

radiator cap # 850795 (7 lb. RC-1) was used on 55-60 Corvettes (exc. F.I.).

My 1955 Corvette parts catalog list GM # 850549 as the cap for 55 Corvettes w/V8 engines.
My 1957 Chevrolet parts catalog list GM # 850795 (RC-1) as the cap for 55-57 Corvettes w/V8 engines.

I tend to believe the 1960 Chevrolet parts catalog before a judging guide published in modern times.

Dave