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

BTW,got the radiator cap off e-bay $19.free shipping

That is one heck of a nice wagon.
Does it have the fillers? I can't tell for sure on my screen.
Perhaps they were uded to keep the mice out.

As far as I can tell it does have the fillers Gene.
And yes, I wouldn't mind having that wagon in my garage.
Love those woodies.....like being in a vintage boat.

Mouse stoppers huh? Must work.....I haven't seen any mice around my radiator for quite a while

The edge that goes toward the radiator in not bent down.

The original was "stamped".

Would be nice if someone would post a pic of the bottom side.
The side that the screw goes in is longer.

Keep plugging, you'll get there!

Oh, so they fit on the inside...So are there two screws holding it on from the outer (same) edge...? I seem to see one...Thanks for the pic's....

Yeah, stamping would be the way the go...Even if one was to make a "die" the remanufacture some today...Not difficult...But what would be the interest...?

Wait a second...I can just go out and look at where my holes are, sorry....

Thanks for all the comments on the radiator support caps. Being nothing has yet been found in the parts books, I'm going with Gene's opinion until proven otherwise. Alan

It sound like there is a big market out there for those caps...Yes 360 deg. pics would be a great source..I wonder how much the interior dia.changed over through the years...

I'm lost?

Sorry Russell,what I ment is:the interior diameter of the top of the radiator support.Could the same caps be used for different years?

I would imagine for the 3 years ( '46,'47',& '48 ) there all the same size...From what I can see the "rolled edge is only on 3 sides...And not on the Radiator edge...Anyone have some for comment...? Oh and what's the depth of the "edge"...If anyone has some for our size measurements...Oh. and if you could measure the "guage" thickness...

After close examination...I find It hard to believe my "47 had them...For one, the overflow tube is in the way on the one side...There are no screw holes ...The bolt holes for the cross radiator support tube and that's an inch and 1/2 down inside...Now, I'm thinking theses were a '48 deal only...Unless they just tapped on the top without much wholeding them in place...

Your best bet is going to be good olé Ken. As he is the only one that has a original. I believe!

He was a "bullfighter", too....? lol Just messing with ya Russell, ( It's 'ol Ken )...Yes, we'll have to ask him...I have doubts about the '47, thought...

Like I'm one too talk...I still can't even "post" a photo after all these years...! Just be glad I can't, either

NO, NO, NO! Go up and read my post with the three pic. The black car is a '47. You're telling me you don't have a hole about 1/4' down from the top on the outside edge toward the front (one screw only). As in my other two pic's of the ones I made. Yes the side with the overflow tube has a notch.

OK, take a deep breath. Counting 1, 2, ......

Kens other side

Yes, there's a "stamping" in the steel ( it's two layers ) where a 1/4 hole is one the outside "sheet", 1 inch down from the top... But doesn't go thru...Now, I am stating to believe this might be something that the Oakland, Ca. plant deceided eliminate to save time and money...(?) This "extra sheet" is "spot welded" and only goes half way around the support to the back...

Okay, I see the "stamping/hole I was referring, too. In Ken's ( horn ) photo...But those screw holes for that top cover do not exist on my car...I told you us Californians were slackers

As you might recall, here in Oakland, anyway, there was a 6 month wait to get a new 1947...The date of manufacture and the month of registration relfex this...

My car was made in March...Sold a few blocks down the street at "Val Stough" Chevrolet in September...At an increase in price, of course...

I guess maybe they were "cutting corners" to get them "out the door", maybe...?

I've noticed that the support caps/fillers, whatever, are not seen in the 1947 explosion of the radiator, etc, in the front of the parts books. All my parts books show the front of a 1947 but not 1948. i wonder why that is. I'm convinced that they did exist and not something just made up.

Seems that, as suggested, that they may have been either a 1948 item or merely some, but not all, plant item. Or after a short run, a discontinued item. With this last proposition, CC car's serial number may have been after they were discontinued. Wouldn't it be hoot to find them, install them, and then get points off on account the serial number didn't match up.

I don't remember removing them or even seeing them on radiators i've removed back in the day. Could be I've forgotten. Those sure are head scratchers.

I think that is the most elusive item we have come up with in some time for an exact and definitive explanation, part number, etc. Those things really do pose an interesting question.

Charlie

My 48 Aero September,Oakland CA...What a coincidence!!

Well that's interesting.......two left coast plant cars without caps.

My aero was built in Tarrytown, NY.

Here are a few additional pictures of mine when I first got it in 2003. The quality of the photos isn't that good because they were taken with a disposable 35mm camera, but from the appearance in the photos, I'd say the engine bay is pretty much original (including those elusive radiator support caps)....







I have to agree though, that it's strange that no one can find them in the parts books.

I think Charlie's Right...Your '48 was probably in a slower time, operation-wise...Post-war...'47's...Had to get them out to the show-room floor...I'll have to take a look in my book...

Ken...I hope your not still driving around with that "air" filter...

No Kevin, that "air" filter is long gone. Strange thing was that the car came with several boxes of parts and "stuff". And lo and behold a correct 1948 air filter with copper mesh filter media was in one of the boxes. That's what is on the aero now. The one in the picture is actually a truck air filter of the era.

I had a visitor tody from PA. VCCA member XLVIIdriver"Dick"He owns a 47 Aero and he said he has the support caps on his car!

Daryl Scott, you have a '47. Does yours have these caps in question?????