Was wondering if an early '71 LS5 454(serial# 3322, Dec.7,1970 body build)would be correct without them. Car does not have them now, but appears exhaust manifolds have been off in the past. Radiator fan also does not have the "tips" at the edge of the blades that is typical of LS5 A/C cars. This is an A/C car and the fan is dated H70. Also the thermostat housing has a tapped hole with an indented hex plug. TVS switch??? Thanks, Paul Borowski
-
-
Re: Early '71 LS5 454 Spark Plug Barrel Shields
Paul----
I believe that your car is correct without the heat shields. As far as the fan goes, I always thought that 70 and 71 A/C cars used the "spiked" tip fan blades, GM #3969926 and GM# 3992095, respectively. However, your date coding sounds "suspiciously original". The factory could have substituted the non A/C blade if they ran out of the A/C.
As far as the thermostat housing goes, I don't believe that '71s used a fitting in the housing. The correct housing should be GM #3877660. Later versions of this housing are configured slightly differently than originals. Originals had casting "indentions" around the upper surface of the flange base. Later replacements are solid.In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: Early '71 LS5 454 Spark Plug Barrel Shields
Paul----
I believe that your car is correct without the heat shields. As far as the fan goes, I always thought that 70 and 71 A/C cars used the "spiked" tip fan blades, GM #3969926 and GM# 3992095, respectively. However, your date coding sounds "suspiciously original". The factory could have substituted the non A/C blade if they ran out of the A/C.
As far as the thermostat housing goes, I don't believe that '71s used a fitting in the housing. The correct housing should be GM #3877660. Later versions of this housing are configured slightly differently than originals. Originals had casting "indentions" around the upper surface of the flange base. Later replacements are solid.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
-
Re: Early '71 LS5 454 Spark Plug Barrel Shields
Joe, as always, Thanks. This is my friend's car that I've wrote about here before having that #3322 vin with chrome valve covers. The other wild thing about this car and that is the dating of the block/stamping pad/build date of car. Block is 0D8(1970,April 8), intake 0D28(1970,April 28), stamping is TO 909 CPJ(Sept.9) and the car body build December 7, 1970. I've never seen so much time inbetween all these dates on a Corvette yet! Strange??? Stranger yet, at the Pittsburgh meet we saw a late '70 LS5 car vin about #15,7xx that the engine was cast only two weeks before this one!!! Also the serial number on my friend's car is also correct, I just can't remember that one yet. Paul BorowskiComment
-
Re: Early '71 LS5 454 Spark Plug Barrel Shields
Joe, as always, Thanks. This is my friend's car that I've wrote about here before having that #3322 vin with chrome valve covers. The other wild thing about this car and that is the dating of the block/stamping pad/build date of car. Block is 0D8(1970,April 8), intake 0D28(1970,April 28), stamping is TO 909 CPJ(Sept.9) and the car body build December 7, 1970. I've never seen so much time inbetween all these dates on a Corvette yet! Strange??? Stranger yet, at the Pittsburgh meet we saw a late '70 LS5 car vin about #15,7xx that the engine was cast only two weeks before this one!!! Also the serial number on my friend's car is also correct, I just can't remember that one yet. Paul BorowskiComment
-
Re: Early '71 LS5 454 Spark Plug Barrel Shields
Paul:
1. Useage of Spark Plug Heat Shields was very inconsistent on 1971 Big Block Corvettes. Most cars did not have them, but a few did. My 1971 LS5 is VIN 09222, Feb 1971 and I believe it originally had the spark plug shields. The shields were not there when I got the car (many years later but still very original) but the attach tabs were still underneath the manifold bolts. Apparently they were broken off or simply rusted off. The BB spark plug heat shields used on 1971 Corvettes were of an oddball, little used design that is not currently sold or reproduced. The closest you can come today are reproductions of the ones used on 70-71 Camaro or Chevelle.
2. I have never seen an original 1971 LS5 with C60 AC that did not have the fan with the tips on the blades. I suppose it is always possible that one was so built at St. Louis, but I doubt it because of the known cooling difficulties with that configuration. My 1971 LS5 with C60 (VIN 09222, Feb 71) did have the fan blade with the tips, P/N 3992095, date code H70.
3. The thermostat housing with the tapped hole and plug is not factory original to a 1971 LS5 (or LS6) Corvette. Those did not appear until later years.Comment
-
Re: Early '71 LS5 454 Spark Plug Barrel Shields
Paul:
1. Useage of Spark Plug Heat Shields was very inconsistent on 1971 Big Block Corvettes. Most cars did not have them, but a few did. My 1971 LS5 is VIN 09222, Feb 1971 and I believe it originally had the spark plug shields. The shields were not there when I got the car (many years later but still very original) but the attach tabs were still underneath the manifold bolts. Apparently they were broken off or simply rusted off. The BB spark plug heat shields used on 1971 Corvettes were of an oddball, little used design that is not currently sold or reproduced. The closest you can come today are reproductions of the ones used on 70-71 Camaro or Chevelle.
2. I have never seen an original 1971 LS5 with C60 AC that did not have the fan with the tips on the blades. I suppose it is always possible that one was so built at St. Louis, but I doubt it because of the known cooling difficulties with that configuration. My 1971 LS5 with C60 (VIN 09222, Feb 71) did have the fan blade with the tips, P/N 3992095, date code H70.
3. The thermostat housing with the tapped hole and plug is not factory original to a 1971 LS5 (or LS6) Corvette. Those did not appear until later years.Comment
Comment