Guys I see that most parts suppliers (Fusick, OPG, Parts Place etc...) Talk about a red cap or black cap option on the alternator of a 69 olds 442. Anyone know the distinction or is it a simple as during production sometimes they used red caps and sometimes they used black?

 

Didn't we just have this discussion on Facebook?

 

not a facebook guy

 

My 1969 has a black one but I have wondered this myself.

 

I looked back at some old threads on the subject (one of which I apparently authored) and surprisingly there is a lot of speculation and logical opinions, but no definitive answer. With all the knowledgeable people on this site you would think this would be easy. feels like its coming down to pick the color you like.

 

There is only one part number listed in the Parts Book and in the Product Information Manuals through 1974. I've never seen anything other than black on original cars. Steve Minore concurs in the FB thread.

 

Black it is. BUT I Still wonder why they would offer red if black is original

 

Why do they offer the plastic grills for the base of the windshield if they aren't original? Aftermarket vendors want to sell as much of their existing product to as large a potential buyer base as possible.

 

Speaking as a current automotive factory guy, if it is not regulated by Federal safety, emissions, or legal stuff, and does not fall out of drawing compliance, it will go together and it will go out the door. The important thing about this stamp is not the color, font, or size, but the data it conveys. Once that gets out of the factory, the stamp has done its job and can fade away. When you're making a car a minute, things that don't matter, don't matter.

Now, I get it, some people are trying to go for points in the engine compartment. Thing is, the engine compartment is a secondary area, the majority of people never see it, so it's not intended to be a work of art. We rank them by surfaces by letters in my company, a door is an A rank, the casting of the transmission is C. Where I am going with this is that, if you're going for points, understand that you may have higher standards than the factory, and your answer may not be as precise as you like because of that. The solution is to confer ahead of time with the body who will judge your car to get their answer and comply with that.