1929 Tudor barn find

[Ordsgt]

I had this dropped off for me to get it running. It was driven into a barn 20 years ago in Indiana and has not been touched since. Going through the normal items to get to the possible run I came across an issue. Both the radiator cap and gas cap will not come off. I have spayed PB Blast on the base of caps and have used a heat gun on the radiator cap. Neither will turn even when using a large strap wrench.. No I did not use the heat on the gas tank cap.
My next option is to grind the caps off. I would have to back fill the gas tank with water assuming the tank vent works.


Any ideas?


Also the car appears to be nice upholstery good , all vinyl, roof good and paint job very presentable

[Keith True]

I've seen this before with the threaded caps.Take a pair of good water pump pliers,not the wimpy 12 inch ones,and start working your way around the caps.Squeeze the cap,then squeeze the cap somewhere else.Squeeze low on the cap,you are trying to work the threads.Work it round and round,always squeezing a different spot.If it is a dry corrosion it will start crumbling it's way out,and whatever you are squirting on it will start to wick it's way up there.Even if it's old fuel varnish,not corrosion it should be hard and not a gum anymore.

[nkaminar]

I have a 6 foot pipe wrench that I use for really stuck things. i also have the large, good quality water pump pliers that Keith talks about. Also very handy.

[Ordsgt]

the strap wrench I am using is an 20 inch. It grabs good but I can see the radiator attempting to turn and was cautious to continue. As it is not my car I am probably being overly cautious

[Gene F]

Be careful, to some degree. You can rip the neck right off the radiator. Don't get impatient. This may take you a couple of weeks. Someone tried to steam my moto-meter, and ripped the neck off my radiator. The lady that answers the telephone at Snyders tells me she hears about broken radiators due to attempted moto-meter theft more often than you would think.

Meanwhile keep working on the gas tank cap. I tend to dress those threads every year or two with anti-seze. Maybe it does good, maybe it does not, but I do it.

[rotorwrench]

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I have a very large pliers of the multiple slip joint style that I put formed wood blocks in the jaws to grab stuck parts like this. I was pulling on a 1929 gas cap with it and the top separated from the bottom half. It was a reproduction so I just replaced it with another but at least I got the whole cap off even if it was in two pieces.

[Ordsgt]

Tried to post pictures of the car but unsuccessful

[nkaminar]

Keith, Post #2, is describing deforming the threads to loosen the rust or tar. He works the waterpump pliers around the caps to loosen the treads in multiple places. The pliers are expanding the caps by doing that. Buy the largest waterpump pliers you can find. Go back and re read his post.

[ModelA29]

You might end up cutting into the tops of the caps so penetrating oil can migrate down rather than it trying to wick up the threads. I think the caps are brass so no sparks (unless you hit the steel tank). The goal is not to damage the expensive hard to change parts.

[1crosscut]

Maybe worth a shot...
Wrap a thick towel around the cap and slowly pour boiling water onto the towel keeping it soaked with the hot water to allow the heat and moisture work into it.

[Brentwood Bob]

No sparks around the gas tank.

[ronn]

heavy rag and pipe wrench will take it right off.

[Fullraceflathead]

I use a pair of 16" long channel lock pliers they give you plenty of leverage.

[Richard Knight]

Do what Kieth says. Deform the cap some in the area of the threads. Go around and round. Normally there is space between inner and outer threads which is now full of petrified crap. I use the same method to get shocks apart. Only my tool is a hammer but the goal is the same, tenderize the corrosion.

[Planojc]

Rock the cap back and forth in both directions until you start to get movement. Tightening and loosening can sometimes break the seal.

[Ordsgt]

Problem solved! 36 inch pipe wrench and double rag over cap and both came off. Hard turning for about 2 turns