C3 distributor shield question.

[Terry F.]

On 68/69 corvette distributor shield...were the little rivets that held the grounding tab in place chrome plated or aluminum. Any opinions out there? Thanks, Terry

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 distributor shield question.

Terry-----

The rivets are NOT chrome plated and they are not steel. They are some sort of soft metal and, likely, aluminum. The lower of the 2 often has a reinforcing washer on theback side of the shield.

[Terry F.]

Re: C3 distributor shield question.

Here is the deal. The shield was missing on my car so I collected a few original shield boxes. The two boxes that I have look original and I believe they are original but one has chrome rivets and the other has aluminum rivets. I was wondering if there was an early version and a later version or something. Both rivets look like they were possibly tubular design but it is hard to tell because of the poor job they did fastening them down. They both have identical washers on the inside as well. They both have the same style lid with the clear/yellow nylon rivets holding the insulator to the under side of the lid. I also have what I think is a reproduction shield and it is totally different (nice chrome, no machine marking noticable under the chrome, chrome rivets that are nicely flared, thin washers). I think, I will stick with the aluminum rivets unless someone else chimes in. Thanks, Terry

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 distributor shield question.

Terry------

I suppose it's very possible that different rivets were used. The ones that I've looked at were as I described. However, that's a very small sampling of the total out there. Also, these clips and rivets were installed at St. Louis. The only rivet specified for the 68-69 period was GM #9418538. I don't have specs on this, particlular, rivet. Regardless of the specs, it is possible that alternate parts were used for an application like this. I don't think that it would have been too difficult to get engineering approval for alternate fastners for something of this sort.

[Terry F.]

Thanks Joe! *NM*

[Terry F.]

Re: C3 distributor shield question.

I am assuming that you have some NOS distributor shield tops/lids in your arsenal...Do you recall if any of them have the white rivets used to hold the insulator to the underside of the lid? I see the reproductions using this style but all the originals I have seen used a clear/yellow nylon rivet and washer. Any opinion on this? Thanks, Terry

[Terry M.]

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 distributor shield question.

Terry-----

I have several NOS examples of the tops. As I recall, all have the white plastic rivets. The originals were definitely a "clear" plastic. I believe that the change to the white rivets happened a long time ago, though, as some of the ones I have are quite old. However, they are, apparently, not old enough to have been part of the original manufacturing run. I vaguely recall that I MAY have one that has the clear plastic rivets. They're too hard to get at tight now for me to confirm.

[Terry F.]

Re: C3 distributor shield question.

No need to look at them. I have original lids that have nice original rivets. I save them just for the sake of the rivets. Some of the rivets are nice and tall and could easily be transfered out and carefully smashed back down with a hot iron. I had someone else contact me and say their rivets on the lower shield were chrome?? I know that most people would think it crazy to persue such an issue but I am trying to get a rough feel for whether there was a production change or if they switched back and forth randomly (chrome steel rivet vs aluminum rivet). Would like to find a few original cars that have there origial box shielding.
Terry