Chromed Oil Filler Spout

[Chuck Lutz]

Currently mine is black. Are they available in chrome? Is it a big deal to change?

Now, there is a possibility that someone painted over the original chrome and I'll check that with a little lacquer thinner but more likely it was rusted and refurbished to black. There are so few parts that are correctly chrome in the engine compartment, I'm always happy to see pictures of engines and see the chrome filler.

[Nick DeSpirito]

Chuck,

If it's original, it should have oil stamped on the top. Both the oil and the tranny dipsticks are also chrome.

[Chuck Lutz]

I seem to have the correct dipsticks but I don't think the cap says "OIL". I'll have to check that.
If I can get it out I know plating companies and could have it done. One of the first steps to chrome plating is a flash copper base. I wonder if the originals were brass which could be plated right over.

[Barry Wolk]

Your draft tube assembly is the wrong color, too, if you're going for authenticity. It's supposed to be engine color with a chrome breather.

I'll bet that cap was used on a bunch of Ford products.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg18/barry2952/_N4U1875_1-001copy.jpg

[Chuck Lutz]

Oh, so the cap is the only thing chrome? The tube is painted. I thought the whole thing was chromed.
Thanks, that's easier to do. Now all I need is to find the cap.

[Barry Wolk]

I'm thinking about blocking off the draft tube at the bottom and using a PCV-type cap and installing a vent to the air cleaner. That should eliminate the oily spray on the underside of the car and drips on my garage floor.

Couldn't hurt to vent bypass gasses into the intake rather than the atmosphere.

[Shawn Newcomb]

Is the draft tube the 3/4" or 1" round angle cut tubing that exits below/beside the engine and looks like it came from a mini bike blowing 2 stroke exhaust?

[Barry Wolk]

Exactly! What a mess.

I don't think there's room for an EGR plate-type of arrangement, but the vacuum within the air cleaner should draw fumes from the crankcase.

I wonder how that would affect the extremely low idle speed?

[Shawn Newcomb]

I have no answer for you, but now I know why I have "an extra exhaust pipe under your car" as someone once commented to me

[Barry Wolk]

If a lot of smoke is coming out your oil rings are shot and probably have poor compression.

[0bird2]

Chuck,
From the picture Barry posted, the oil filler/breather cap looks just like the one that is used on '55-'57 T-Birds with the dress up kit. I just checked online at concoursparts.com for the one they have available and it is about $30. There are several T-Bird parts vendors with online catalogs. I'd check price at several. Others are Larry's t-bird parts, CASCO, NPD, Hill's, and others I just can't think of them all.

[Chuck Lutz]

Thanks. I'll check that out. :)

[0bird2]

Chuck,
I was out in the T-Bird and while checking fluids I noticed that the oil breather cap is marked with 'front' not 'oil'. I haven't checked my Mark to see what is on it.

[Chuck Lutz]

Thanks, I just got one from Jack this week. It's black but I talked to Jack about that and he said the chrome ones he doesn't stock anymore due to plater problems. I checked with my local guy who does plating and he's going to do it for me. It would be cheaper by the dozen so if anyone wants to get in on the action, order the cap and get it to me.

[George]

Hi Chuck I do need one of those crome caps so maybe we can talk about that. I also am starting to look for someone to do some plating for me, there aren't many options here in Sacramento. I know that you live close by in the Bay Area, any suggestions?

Thanks

George Procida

[Chuck Lutz]

Hi Chuck I do need one of those crome caps so maybe we can talk about that. I also am starting to look for someone to do some plating for me, there aren't many options here in Sacramento. I know that you live close by in the Bay Area, any suggestions?

Thanks

George Procida

I'm not sure there are many options these days. It's an environmentally undesirable industry. On straight-forward stuff we can usually talk the customer into stainless and high polish it but these caps are stampings and fairly thin. I just use a local plating shop from time to time for some for my metal shop needs. He told me he’d do a dozen for about $21 each (which I figure is his minimum [$250]). They are in San Carlos, The name says it all…Industrial Plating. The process is pretty simple (with the proper equipment and chemicals). Usually, there is a “flash copper” plating that goes first to which the chrome sticks. Then it’s polished out. On the more delicate pieces, this becomes the tricky part. Not too much friction heat to warp the metal and a sincere desire to NOT get the part caught in the buffer :eek: