Early Valve Stem Cap?

[Carl Beck]

Noticed this over the weekend on MSA's Site. They are offering the correct caps now.

Now that I look at them more closely.

Are they really "correct"? I don't know - but they are not exactly the same as pictured in the 1st Post to this thread.

Some reproduced items are very hard to distinguish from the originals. The caps at Motorsports may be from the OEM - but they aren't exactly like the originals supplied at the time, so it would be easy to tell the difference..

FWIW,

Carl B.

[Arne]

Now that I look at them more closely.

Are they really "correct"? I don't know - but they are not exactly the same as pictured in the 1st Post to this thread.

Some reproduced items are very hard to distinguish from the originals. The caps at Motorsports may be from the OEM - but they aren't exactly like the originals supplied at the time, so it would be easy to tell the difference..

FWIW,

Carl B.

Yes, Carl, you are correct. Pacific updated the design of those caps years ago, in the '90s maybe? So the current ones are close, but not exact.

But the best part is that the originals are quite durable, other than the rubber tip cap. And the later rubber caps are either the same, or so close as to be indistinguishable. So find a set of the originals, even if the rubber is perished or gone, and use the rubber cap from the new ones as a replacement.

[Taz0162]

I Like Arnie's thought here. I'm still going to search for Original brass to use with the plastic on my new caps that are on order. But until then I'm not going let my Z sport the updated ones from MSA. Better then plain Plastic or this ones that Say Datsun or Z that look so bulky.

[redzedsled]

Banzai Motorworks mentioned to me a couple of months back that he was developing this product. For what it is worth please see attached an original valve stem cap from a 7/72 car.

[TomoHawk]

For the common vintage stuff, the Hemmings catalog and periodicals are very useful. Otherwise, I commonly see the metal valve-extractor caps at the AP store, which is why the suggestion for buying "valve caps" a the AP store was made (because the person replying didn't really understand you wanted the OLD-style ones.) I usually buy the ones with the chrome sleeve and the dinky hromed cap for local use/show. FWIW, I remember seeing these all the time way back in the 70s. I remember the guys tossing the rubber parts because they were annoying and occasionally fell off anyway, so the other 2 or 3 came off so they all matched. Back then, if you had a few of the valve-extrator caps, they weren't there for long, if you parked the car much in public places...

[mgood]

Here is a combo picture for comparison. Close but not the same.

[Zulaytr]

I could only find nickel plated caps so here is another solution but it requires some ingenuity.Here is a photo of what I found to be very close to the original design. I found these at Coker Tire for a $1 each. I lightly sprayed some Eastwood Bronze Carb Renew and this is how it turned out.

[AZ-240z]

Bob,

Nice, inovative, solution. Well done! Did the black plastic/rubber protective cap come with it, or where did you source those?

Dan

[Zulaytr]

Dan,

I have had these now for awhile. Both caps are sold as one for a $1.00 each. Coker has them on their web site under valve stem accessories. I had checked all around including local bike shops when I came across them.

[motorman7]

Dan,

Both caps are sold as one for a $1.00 each. Coker has them on their web site under valve stem accessories..

Do you mean the rubber piece is also included? Only the metal part is diplayed on the Coker site.

[Zulaytr]

Yes the black cap comes with the metal cap. You are correct that on the web site they only show the metal part.

[motorman7]

Very Cool, Thanks! Will order mine now