VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 48 engine bay

There were no part number changes from 1942 right through 1948. That dosen't mean too much but usually there is a number change if there is a significant part change.

I still think it was a "factory" dicision on weather they wanted to bother or not...These post-war cars had to get out the door...There was a waiting list a mile long...Who gave a poopoop about "caps"... Folks wanted cars...Some factory's might have had them "instock", other's had to get them out the door...

Now, wasn't this also a Fisher body issue...?

Dens41...You don't mention the place of manufacture...

I would think there was a stocking issue as Kevin has stated...but to leave a very noticable part off a car...and to produce supports without pre-drilled holes...I still think there is an answer out there

Funny, I'd never given it a second thought 'till someone brought it up...

"Core Support"...I find it hard to believe that it actually supports anything...I think it's just there for "looks"...

A little "title" clarification.

"core" is in reference to the radiator (1.219).

"support" is radiator core support (1.270). The support does just that. Can't have one without the other.

The items (caps), we really have no idea what they would have been listed as, caps, covers, plates, etc, etc..

Another set of caps

And the mystery continues - - -

This could get very interesting. In a show atmosphere, if you find a car with "caps" or if you find one with no "caps" and no holes, either car should pose no problem. However, should you find one without "caps" but that has the holes, do you knock off points assuming that the "caps" have been omitted but should be installed on the car?

If the holes are present, is it not logical to assume the Chevy left assembly line with the caps in place? In such case/s, you would be short two original items under the hood, presenting two infractions (point deductions). Or, if such is not true in every case, who should be allowed to decide whether the "caps" are actually missing or were in fact omitted at the factory and therefore not required to be installed? In reality, who can know for certain?

In close competion, those screw holes without "caps" installed could actually cost someone a nice trophy!

OK, just having a bit of humor.

However, I've seen it get that bad in some Ford shows.

There are probably only four people in the VCCA that would notice the caps (or their absense) excepting the folks that have been following this thread.
When juding you have less than five minutes to do your catagory so some things get missed unless you are an exoert on that year car.

Bruce; I'm back in Western PA and finally got a chance to get back on this chat. Wow was I surprised to see how the comments on the support caps has exploded. Very interesting. Actually my 47 Fleetline 4-dr has the caps also.
Thanks for showing me your mighty fine looking car.

Russ,(pg 6 comment):You are closer than you think about getting turned around. I missed the turn at the SeaTac airport to return my rental car and thought I was never going to find my way back to the return location.

Charlie,(pg 7 comment): My caps fit very snug and I simply held the cap vertically with one hand, slid it down until the hole line up, then started the screw with fingers and before fully tightened, I rotated the cap with the screw being the pivot until the cap was flush with the top of the support.

Great discussion

On another note: I was at a swap meet today in Eastern Ohio and ran into VCCA Dave Miner. Had a nice chat with him.

Dick

Dale thank you once again...no pitting on the top side and good paint,a very nice snug fit and a #8 screw fits perfectly..The missing caps have found a home..And yes I dropped them down the hole a couple of times.Kinda look like a rear ash tray cover cut in half

Glad to help!

From CC ..."..And yes I dropped them down the hole a couple of times.

Dick,

Just like I done told ya, some of us are all fingers. You see now?

Charlie

Charlie; I guess I neglected to mention putting molasses on your fingers helps and afterwards it tastes good when licking it off.
Seriously, maybe I was just lucky or maybe CC dropped them on purpose not wanting to make you look bad. Either way, I'm glad he got them installed and we can still joke about it (not the car Bruce).

Dick

It is a wonder that CC didn't see fit to go to a jobber and get some of those things reproduced. Make some money. Make big bucks. Fifty bucks a pop.

What a market for them! Then everyone who has a 47 or 48 could cover that unsightly "well" and claim that their car came with them. Who would know the difference? One would only have to drill a small hole. Job done. Claim of correctness unchallengeable.

Why couldn't one make them out of cardboard or wood? Paint 'em black. Judge would have to carry a magnet or an ice pick on them to tell the difference. Hmmm?

Charlie

You hold on to them with a magnet while installing...

Ater beating this topic HARD,and talking about the screw hole for the cap...What is the other hole for (about 6"down the support)

I'm sure our "metalman" Kevin has taken a good look at the bottom side of cap and is fabbing up a jig to press out these caps as we speak

I had not looked at my '48 Fleetmaster coupe to see if it had the "caps" or not until I was working on it yesterday. If I had to bet whether or not it had them I would say no because my car has had it's engine replaced with a '57 but, when I looked, there they were!! I guess whoever replaced the engine kept the '48 radiator and was a little careful after all. Beamer

Once we determine what years had the caps maybe we need to take a poll on who has and who doesnot have the caps??

Sorry, to say Bruce...I'm pulling the plugs on everything and making that long haul ( finally ) across the "valley..." Oooo, looky I'll have to change my "Loc."

Just to keep the ball rolling. I have a 47 and a 48 that came into Australia as ckd kits with the bodies built here. The kits came from the Canadian plant. Neither of them have the caps but I like the look of them, so I intend to make two and install them.

Looks quite simple to make and yes its a cleaner look