68 under body heat shields.

[Terry]

Can anybody shed any light on the 68 corvette under body heat shields. I have a May 13th build date (as I recall). My car appears to have left the factory with the foil covered insulation only. It also has the two large steel triangluar splash shield on the inside of the frame near the left and right side of the engine. At some point of production, Cheverolet started to install steel under body pan shields and plastic fire wall shields over the foil insulation. Any body have dates for this? Also, there were complaints from owners about the heat problem and the insulation falling off the underside of the car. There was a service bullitin that came out some time late in production to instruct dealers on retro fitting cars with the later splash shields. The service bullitin had info on what parts to order and how to install. I would like to get a copy of the service bullitin. Can anyone help? Thanks in advance, Terry

[Jim T.]

Re: 68 under body heat shields.

Terry my original owner 68 was a Feb built and it came with the same foil covered insulation and steel sheilding as yours. I would also be interested in seeing the service bulletin you mention. If this add on plastic protection and shielding was available, it probably was not available to long.

[Terry]

Re: 68 under body heat shields.

Jim, the white plastic shielding attached to the firewall (one on each side) and the floorpan shields were located under the body just in front of the driver and passenger seat. I saw one service bulletin on e-bay for it. It was esentially the same as what was used on 69 and later cars. But, the plastic parts had part numbers on them that helped ID them to 68. The assembly manual shows some of it but not the whole picture. Thanks for the responce, Terry

PS, I am looking for a passenger door window for my 68 coupe, tinted, dated LX or GX. If you can help out or know of someone that can, let me know. Regards, Terry

[Jim T.]

Re: 68 under body heat shields.

Reference the 68 coupe door glass, Contempary Corvette Parts might have one.

[Terry]

Re: 68 under body heat shields.

Thanks, Terry

[Jim T.]

Re: 68 under body heat shields.

Correct spelling is Contemporary Corvette. www.contemporarycorvette.com. Phone 800-367-8388

[Reba Whittington]

Re: 68 under body heat shields.

Look on page 86 in the 3rd edition of the Judging Guide, different heat shields are discussed along with date of TSBs and VIN of changes.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: 68 under body heat shields.

Terry
According to the Tech. Service Bulletin #68-T-43 dated Apr. 22, 1968 the insulation pads were added to '68 production with serial # S409939 which makes it in Jan '68. The follow up TSB Supplement dated Dec. 17, 1968 (during the '69 model year) refers to retrofitting the '68 with both Toe Pan shields #3947977/8 and Underbody shields #3958019. The part #'s for the Underbody shields are the same as listed in the '69 AIM and the left hand splash shield is also the same. The right hand shield is, however, different. It is unclear from the TSB's if any '68's left the factory with the shields. If they had developed these shields during the model run and installed them, it would seem to me that they would have offered the retrofit much earlier than December '68. Perhaps this is not what happened but it seems logical. Hope this helps.
Contact me off line and I will arrange to send you copies of the TSB's.
Jeff Salz

[Terry]

Re: 68 under body heat shields.

I have seen two late 68's that had the splash shields installed on them over the insulation. Thanks for the feedback. I will contact you soon. Thanks, Terry

[Terry F.]

Re: 68 under body heat shields.

Thanks, Terry

[Jim B.]

Re: 68 under body heat shields.

I am the original owner of a 68 convertible and mine has the both the toe pan shields (plastic) and the underbody shields, metal. I bought my car in August of 1968 so at that time they were putting them on from the factory.

[Terry F.]

Re: 68 under body heat shields.

Was the fiber insulation there also? Thanks, Terry

[Jim B.]

Re: 68 under body heat shields.

Yes. I have had to remove it and it sure was a pain to get it all out without damaging the fasteners riveted to the pan. Of course the shields had to be removed first. My car was bought and used in the Northeast so I am removing all future sources of corrosion.