VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Radiator cap/mascot

Hi All, I am looking to get a radiator cap/mascot for my 1932 Chevrolet (Eagle/bird type). How do these attach to the radiator. The cap I have now is a screw on type but it seems that all of the mascots I find do not have any threads on the inside diameter to screw on. Any help on this would be great. Thanks!

I may have answered my own question. I think my father had replace the radiator many years ago with one from an earlier model year. IT has a screw on neck. Did this change to a different style in '32?

I believe the last year for a screw on cap was 1930. The 32 is definitely a bayonet style. You could possibly have the radiator inlet from a later radiator that accepts the "bird" retrofitted to the radiator you have.

Yes, the last screw on radiator cap was in 1930. In 1931, the bayonet radiator cap was introduced.

My 31 Coach has a screw on type cap---I never gave a thought to it and did not know that it was not the original !! Can someone enlighten me as to what exactly a "bayonnet style" cap is,how it attaches,etc please.My cap is flat on top,no "mascot",chromed & fine threads...Thanks all,Jay

Check out this site under accessories for the Eagle and Viking caps.You can see the the attachment under the caps. The bayonnet style is similar to a more modern cap but not pressure.

http://1931chevrolet.com/

If someone has a earlier screw on 1929-30 neck there is another Viking cap with screw on base that probably could be used.

Hello jay32249,
The bayonet radiator cap uses two tabs opposite each other to hold the cap into the neck using friction. They are not prone to cross-threading, no threads. As with the thread on type, I believe that both could be removed completely without any safety catch. Scalding could result from both styles if removed while radiator was boiling over. Check out the radiator caps offered by the Filling Station for a description. Over time, sometime, the cap and neck were made with a spring loaded seal in the middle and safety catch tabs and notches around the outside underneath lip surfaces to provide a safety stop and controlled pressure relief for pressurized systems. I think.

My 1931 pickup has the screw on neck. Would the bayonet style work on it somehow?
Thanks, Arky

No. You would have to replace your radiator filler neck with a bayonet type.

Thanks, does anyone offer a repro screw on eagle?

I never heard of threaded cap Eagle being made. I am sure that a few have taken the Eagle off a bayonet cap and screwed to a screw on cap in the past. Getting the cap to seal to the top of the radiator and have the Eagle pointing forward could be a chore. Just after that was done the gasket would shrink a bit and then the Eagle pointed toward the passenger headlight. If you do it would like a photo of a tight cap and forward facing Eagle.

It would probably be easier to put the correct filler neck on your radiator.

It might be worth looking at a Viking radiator cap that was a genuine accessory for 1929 to 1931 and is available from The Filling Station as either a bayonet fitting or screw on fitting and would fit straight on to your filler neck.

The Viking radiator cap with a bayonet base was used in 1931. The Viking radiator cap with a screw-on base was used for both 1929 and 1930.

I had wondered how one would make the Eagle fly straight with a screw on. I wonder the same thing about the Viking. It sounds like the safer bet would be to stick with the flat top screw on.
Thanks, guys
Arky