Hmm. 1961 was the first year for Autolite. My truck was an early '61 model, February, I think, built in Dallas. So far I have found no Autolite parts on the truck, so I'm assuming that it was built just before the introduction of Autolite parts. If I'm correct, then either yours was built with Autolite parts at a later date or the cap was replaced later. Maybe Autolite was used at some plants before others. When and where was yours built? Does yours have other Autolite parts?

Any knowledgeable experts have some input on the use of Autolite in 1961?

I'll see y'all Tuesday. Have a fun weekend!

 

Mine is a 1962. So it has Autolite parts, shocks, voltage regulator, battery cables are FoMoCo though. Not sure dates on FoMoCo and Autolite, what got what. Mine seams to be a mix of both.

 

Yeah, I got my wires crossed when I was writing and forgot that yours wasn't a '61. Thought about that a of couple hours later but nothing I could do about it.

 

No biggie, all good. I have purchased an NOS Autolite 7 lb cap. I have read and talked to my radiator guy that the old caps were not ment to last forever. The issue is the rubber flat washer that you see can either get brittle or swell out a bit to where it completely covers the back round face it covers. There should be a slight bit of the backing face showing. If it is completely coveted the cap evidently will not work properly and can blow your radiator. Mine is the original unit. Can't have anything happen to it so I will be safe, put the NOS one on and save the original.

 

22truckie, as close as your truck is to be all original, I just couldn't help myself if it were mine: I'd be scouring the Internet for original parts and doing everything I could to make it 100%. I love a true restoration and OE parts. Dad used to say I was taking the fun out of things with all of my attention to detail. The truth is, for me, details are the fun. But that's just me. To each his own.

 

The caps can be taken apart by removing the center rivet. Then you can replace the rubber washer and rivet them back together. Take the cap that was original to your truck or find one you think it spot on and restore it. Otherwise, they are only original once and that ship sailed long ago.

@TxKnuckleBuster - any pics of your truck? What are we working on that is deserving of such detail? You've gotta share pics with us.

 

I agree and I am the same, but, I also like the interesting personal period changes that are done that make the vehicle unique. They tell the story that the vehicle has traveled and its owner. Like the Franz toilet paper oil filter, the vintage aircraft gauges, all his writings, the vintage decals ( just found a 1962 Seattle worlds Fair decal under the gas tank. I was able to carefully transfer it on the back windown with his other 1962 decals.) They tell a story. Make the vehicle unique. But it is still extremely factory original and correct. Like you say. To each there own!

 

@TA455HO The old truck is one my son recently rescued from a farmer's field. It's a 1961 F250 Unibody, as shown in my icon. I just got it running. It's going to need a lot before it'll be road worthy again. I don't know that he'll ever paint it, but he likes things to be original almost as much as I do. And he enjoys driving old vehicles. I don't know that it's any more "deserving" than anything else, but it's fun. Someday it'll look like any other old truck on the road, but it'll also look all original.

 

@22truckie I would've done the same thing with that sticker!

 

Scott Drake reproduces a cap for 1964-1966 Mustangs under numbers C5ZZ-8100-A (Zinc) and C5ZZ-8100-AC (Chrome). Note the chrome is not particularly shiny. It's 14 lbs. so the specs are off for most of our trucks but the stamping in the top of S.M. CO. and the patent number on each style is probably no mistake.

Combine that with other caps like this one on eBay from the 1951 era and it's about a sure thing that the S.M. CO. stamped caps should be a fine replacement for one of the original caps for 1961-1966 trucks - 7 lbs pressure and correct size being considerations of course. It's definitely not the only game in town, there were other vendors that supplied caps for Ford. But if a truck was missing its original radiator cap, how would you ever know which vendors cap your truck had originally? Rhetorical question. The answer is buried in history.

Nos 1951-1953 Ford Radiator Cap 7 Lbs 239 V8 1M-8100-A | eBay

 

Thought I'd work on that radiator cap a little today. Went back and took another look at this guy and found another problem with him: the part numbers he has listed for these caps are for caps with a pressure release lever, which these don't have. This guy misses the mark just about everywhere I look.

 

I bought one of these and it is spot on. No pressure release lever, it's not chrome and to me it is the correct number, but it originates as a 1952 part number and Ford was famous for obsoleting parts. The seller is no gem, but I've worked with him for 20 years or more myself. He's sold over a half million items on eBay. And it's just a family business as far as I can tell. If nothing else, you can get your money back as I had to do with him on another item since the radiator cap. The google maps link shows what I believe to be the business address. It's called Perogie Enterprises.

NOS 1952 - 1960'S FORD MERCURY PRODUCTION LINE RADIATOR CAP 7LB CHROME B2AZ8100B | eBay

Perogie Home

 

I have no problem with the part number being correct for the truck. But the number does not match the part. The Ford catalog shows the number to be pressure release, and all the legitimate photos I've found show a pressure release lever. So, I have to wonder where he got the number. Did it come in a Ford box with that number on it? I like the looks of this cap better than the pressure release. I'd buy one if I were convinced about it. I've looked all over for info on "S.M. Co.", such as who it was and which years used it. Nothing yet. Details, details.

 

Can you share any pictures of what you have found yet? Try this thread for another example. I asked on purpose so there is another data point. Granted, it may not be original either but read the decode of his radiator. There is a pattern of what some trucks used. If you feel your 1961 was significantly different then maybe it was.

My 1963 F250 4x4. - Page 3 - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums (ford-trucks.com)

That seller on eBay says they were from the assembly line. They didn't use boxes for individual parts on the assembly line. They got them in huge bulk quantities. I've shown you one of the correct Mustang reproductions that has that same S.M. CO. as surely does the 1963 in the link above.

The “S.M. CO.” stamp on the 1964-1966 Mustang radiator caps is a reproduction of the original stamp that many Ford and Mercury vehicles had. It’s an exact duplicate of the original and meets MCA (Mustang Club of America) judging standards.

 

Never claimed mine is "significantly different" and have no reason to believe that it is. I'm just looking to fill in the gaps in the info I've found thus far.

Yep, I saw read his description of the caps and I saw his claim that they were "from the production line". Maybe they were, but I usually question claims like this, esp. from eBay. My question was actually this: Where did he get the part number? As far as I can tell, the number he uses is for a cap with a release lever (see previously posted catalog photos). I'm not saying he and the part are not legit. I'm saying I have questions that remain unanswered. I think I've already mentioned that I think this is basically what my original cap would have looked like and unless I find differently, I may end up with one of these.

By the way, I understand that various vendors of the same part will have subtle differences, but I think the release lever is more than a vendor difference. It's an entirely different cap.

You raised several points that I can't comment on without going back and re-reading prior posts, other threads, or doing some other research. I will do so, but can't at the moment. Could be that this is just one of those rare things we're going to disagree on.

On to another point. You've been a big help with literature so maybe you can point me somewhere with this: What do judges use as a reference when judging these old trucks at a real show? Is there not a book available? There must be a standard but I've not been able to find one. Maybe using the wrong wording. As you know, I don't do full restoration or shows, but I'm very interested in the info.