70 Shielding and Plug Wire Routing

[Bill L.]

Mine is a 70 L46 4 speed vert with headers from previous owner. I am planning to replace headers and install all new exhaust. I am also planning to reinstall shielding and install new plug wires.

Does anyone have suggestions regarding good detailed pictures and/or diagrams showing location and routing? The AIM is not real detailed.

If there are any suggestiosn regarding the installation of the exhaust system fire away too.

Thank you!

Bill Lennox

[Jack H.]

Re: 70 Shielding and Plug Wire Routing

On the exhaust, the AIM is about as clear as things get EXCEPT for details on how to actually 'center' the pipes inside the cross member cutouts. There you have to push/shove and maybe deflect the tranny's hanger straps to get the job done.

On the ignition shielding, remember there were early and late versions of the shielding in '70 with early cars having the 'full' shield box over the distributor and four (front and aft) shields on the spark plug banks while later cars used the simplified shielding system of '71 and later cars with L-shaped shield on the distributor and shields on only the rear spark plug banks. So, you want to study the AIM book for the effective date of the change and buy the correct version of the shielding kit.

When it comes to installation of the shielding, while the AIM doesn't look too clear, it's actually pretty faithful regarding the specifics of what goes where (bolt, washer French lock orientation). Follow it and you'll be OK. Here's a tip...

With the engine in the car, some of the clips and wing nuts are hard to reach. Be patient, take your time and you'll get there! The one that's especially tricky is the wing nut at the bottom of the LH side upright shielding because you're essentially smack dab against the firewall when you go to install it...

Next, install ALL the parts LOOSELY so you have 'wiggle' room to move them to their proper orientation before you commit to final torque down. Last, getting the electrical connector on the RH cylinder head's temperature switch can be a tough move once the rear spark plug shield is installed (fishing through a hole). The trick is to thread the green wire + connector through the hole in the shield and make the connection to the temp switch before you jockey the rear shield into position for attachment.

Once you're done, you'll understand why so many original Corvettes 'lost' their factory original shielding over the years!

[Bill L.]

Re: 70 Shielding and Plug Wire Routing

Thank you for your response.

Mine has a 1st week in June build date and falls right in that time of switch over. I have ordered th JM but it is being updated and I have been waiting 3 or 4 months.

Does anyone know at approximately what serial number the switch went in to effect.

Thanks,

Bill

[Tony H.]

Re: 70 Shielding and Plug Wire Routing

Bill,
If that is true that the date falls right at the time of switch over, either design would be fine. Sorry, I cannot give you the information you are looking for as I don't have it here at the office.
Tony

[Paul M.]

Re: 70 Shielding and Plug Wire Routing

I recently re-installed all the shielding on my '71 LT-1. The configuration would be the same as the late '70 models. The one piece of advice I would like to add is to not be shy about going under the car. With the car on jack stands I made several trips "down under" and it saved me a lot of time and agravation because the things that are hardest to reach from the top are often in plain sight when viewed from the bottom like installing the wing screws where the vertical down legs meet the side shields over the back plug covers. Also, properly routing the spark plug wire requires some work from the bottom.