C2 fender skirt and shields

[Randy S.]

Reference UPC 11-13 sheet A2

While changing out my battery (C60 on drivers side) I noticed I do not have any seals between the firewall and the fender, part #9 shown in drawing. Would hot engine air enter a plenum that could enter the cockpit thru the floor vents ?

Also it appears the lower splash shields are supposed to have seals (#2)stapled to the edge. My splash shields (#3) are steel. Incorrect??? How do you staple seal to steel?

Randy

[Steve Wallach]

Re: C2 fender skirt and shields

The splash shields should be steel. The originals have rubber seals stapled to them. Yours have been replaced at sometime it sounds like.

You can get close to original rubber seals from Dr. Rebuild and "staple wire".

you will need to drill small holes and make "staples" out of the wire. Use needle nosed pliers to bend the wire over. That's as close as I have seen to original.

Look at the rubber flaps over the upper A Arms for staple dimensions.

Regards,

Steve

[John C.]

Re: C2 fender skirt and shields

If you have under car exhaust you should have the rubber seals stapled to the splash shields. If it is a side exhaust car it should not have the rubber seals.

[Michael H.]

Re: C2 fender skirt and shields

Randy,

The rubber seal strip that was used on the triangular shaped shield, #3797276, was not used on the right side shield on A/C equipped cars. Instead, there was a small piece of metal spot welded in the center of the edge that the rubber seal would normally be attached to. Starting in mid production 63 for the newly released A/C option, the rubber strip was deleted, along with the holes for the staples, and the small metal filler added. A new part number, 3833398, was assigned to the redesigned shield. I don't know exactly why this change occured for A/C cars, but I know it did. If you search the C60 section of the AIM, you will eventually find the 3833398 part number hidden in the attached parts list. Most of these A/C unique shields have been replaced during restoration as the added filler section looks home grown, not factory. However, it is genuine.

This same 3833398 shield was later used on 65 and early 66 cars equipped with side exhaust. Same deal. The rubber and staples were deleted and the small plate spot welded in position.

The #9 seal that you refer to is actually a seal between the rear upper edge of the fender skirt and the underside of the fender, not the firewall. The drawing is deceiving. Every 64-67 has this seal and I'm sure it's in place on your car. Hope this helps.

[Randy S.]

Re: C2 fender skirt and shields

Mike,

FYI I have a 66 with C60 and undercar exhaust.Forgot to mention that first time

I believe I am missing the seal #9 on the drivers side. I don't show the car but am wondering whether this would add to the heat that is in the cockpit. In your opinion would most engine heat exit thru the grills or is the function of the seal to keep heat from entering the footwell thru the floor vent?

UPC C60 B3 shows the drivers side splash shield with a seal. I can add the rubber seal. However my pass side does have the rubber seal. As you say probably changed out long ago.

Thanks for the response

Randy

[Michael H.]

Re: C2 fender skirt and shields

Randy,

As mentioned in my previous post above, the seal, item #9 on sheet 11-13, is not a seal for the firewall. It's a seal that runs alont the top of the fender skirt/wheel house, and seals to the underside of the fender. Item #9 is at least 15" forward of the firewall. There isn't supposed to be a seal between the firewall and fender underside.

UPC C60 Sheet B3 is a drawing of the vertical battery access panel, not the splash shields that we were refering to in our previous posts. There is a seal strip shown at the top edge of this panel. However, you also refer to a "passenger side", but this removeable panel is only on the drivers side.

The drawings on 11-13 sheet A2 show the two triangular splash pans that are mounted horizontally at the lower edge of the frame. The drivers side is supposed to have the rubber strip attached to the shield, item #2, as shown on sheet A3. The pass side does not use this strip on an A/C equipped car. A different part number shield, part # 3833398, is used for the pass side with A/C.

I would assume that the seal strip that you are looking for, item #9 on sheet C60 B3, has been reproduced by someone, but I don't know who. The seal is designed to prevent water that is thrown up by wheel/tire from entering the engine compartment.

[Michael H.]

C2 fender skirt and shields

Randy,

Here's a pic of the two different shields used for the passenger side. The shield on the left is the regular production 3797275 for cars without A/C. It's new, never installed, so the rubber strip has never been installed as it would have been for production.

The shield on the right is a used original, part number 3833398, for cars with A/C or side exhaust. (to early 66) Note the small piece of metal spot welded in the depressed area and also the fact that there are no holes from attaching the rubber strip. This is the correct shield for your 66 A/c car.

Still looking for info on the battery access door rubber sealing strip. I'm surprised no one has posted with info about this.

[Michael H.]

Close-up

This closeup shows the piece of sheet steel spot welded in. This modification makes a 3833398 A/C or side exhaust part out of a 3797276 standard non A/C or side exhaust part.

[Wayne M.]

From my very late 396

Michael -- here's the one from my unrestored L78. Also check out two additional close-up views of the filler tab (top and bottom). In the RESTORER, way back, Roger Gibson did an article on a '66 L72 he was restoring that had this distinctive RH outboard splash shield (although it had the passenger side battery location). He went on to say he had only seen this previously on L78's.

Top view, close-up:

Bottom, close-up:

Notice the factory staples and what's left of the bits of weatherstrip/seal (non-sidepipe car). I can make out at least 3 very neat spot welds on the tab -- probably more if I removed the rust.

Thanks for the finding the part # (3833398) in the C60 section of (my '65) AIM -- I missed that one. But it must have been production-only, as I can't locate it in my parts books or parts history lists.

I get the feeling that these things are much less common than would be expected with LH battery cars. Eg: my early '65 C60 has its original seals and there is no indent-filler tab.

I'll bet that many owners have thrown this part in the trash to install a brand new shiny GM or repro. Would be interested to hear from others on the board who have seen/had one, and if they were from a C60 car or L78.

[Michael H.]

Re: From my very late 396

Wayne,

Thanks for the pix, they're excellent. Your shield is in much better condition than the one I have. Mine came off of an early 66 425 HP car (#5644) with side exhaust, which explains the lack of the rubber strip and staple holes.

So, in all, there would be three different combinations of LH & RH shields for all 63-67 cars, depending on the following option combinations.

#1-- No C60, no N14. Both shields have the rubber strip and no added filler.

#2-- C60 or L78 W/O N14. Both shields have the rubber strip but RH shield has filler.

#3-- N14 W or W/O C60. RH shield has filler. Both L & R are without rubber strip.

I found the part number about 25 years ago but I don't remember how I found it. I agree, I don't think it was ever available in service but I'm not 100% sure of that.

I know this part originally entered production in 1963. The C60/N03 car (#17307) I had back in the 80's had the 3833398.

Funny that you should mention people throwing these in the trash. When I removed the shield from #5644, a friend kept telling me to "throw it away" because "that can't possibly be original".

[Jack H.]

Re: From my very late 396

There are more combinations depending on the car and when it was built. Side exhaust 'cooks' the rubber insulation and early N14 owners complained of an engine compartment odor. If you compare the '65 and '66 AIM books you'll find a running change made LATE in '65 to removed (or not install) the splash shield rubber insulation.

So, there'll be early N14 with the rubber installed, deteriorated and perhaps melted in the area where the exhaust pipe crossed under. Then, there should be some late '65 cars without rubber but with the staple holes drilled (perhaps running into early '66) and finally splash shields for N14 without the staple holes or insulating rubber...

[Michael H.]

Re: From my very late 396

That makes sense Jack. I never noticed that notation in my 66 AIM. Must just be the 65? What sheet was that on?

[John H.]

Re: From my very late 396

Jack -

There shouldn't be any staple holes on the N14 panels without the rubber seal; they weren't drilled - the staples made their own holes when the operator hit the button on the big Bostitch machine.

[Art A.]

Re: From my very late 396

Michael, It's in section 11-13 sheet A3 of the 65 AIM, it should be in that same general location in the 66 AIM.

Art

[Michael H.]

Re: From my very late 396

Thanks Art. I just looked at 11-13 A3 in the 66 AIM and the change info isn't there. It's the sheet showing the 3797275-6 shields. I suppose that makes sense as the change occured before the 66 run began.

I did just discover something that I've never noticed before though. In the revision box dated 6-17-65, it states;

"3797275-6 was 3797275 LH & 3878876 RH".

This means there's yet another part number for the RH shield. Original part numbers released for SOP of 63 were the 3797275-6. The 3833389 was added for A/C in mid prod 63 and supposedly continued throught the end of 67 production. Now we have a new part that must have been added some time during the 65 run and then deleted shortly after it's release.

Because this new 3878876 is listed in the regular production section and not in the option section, I have to think that it was scheduled for all 65's, not just C60 or N14. Wonder how long it was used and how it differs from the std prod 3797276 shield. This is getting complicated.