'71 nose clip

[John Peeling]

my name is John & I have your C3 Corvette book, but I could not find a picture of how the A/C hoses run to A/C condensor from the compressor. More specifically, I have a 1971 car with a 1970 nose clip. This is a small block car with A/C. Two questions: 1. is there a difference between a 1971 factory nose clip and a 1970 factory nose clip? 2. My A/C hoses run into the fender well through a channel (which can be seen with ones head under the wheel well)then they come backthrough the fender well (front) and attach to condenser.Is this factory correct? Thank you very much John Peeling

[Terry M.]

Re: '71 nose clip

To the best of my knowledge there is no difference between a 1970 and a 1971 nose in the fiberglass. There may be in the metal front and side grilles though. depending on when in 1971 the car was built and when in 1970 the nose was built.
Your description of the channel sounds like the way the factory did it.

[Chuck S.]

Re: '71 nose clip

There is a "shield" that makes a tunnel for the AC hoses in the wheelwell on factory correct cars. If you have the Assembly Instruction Manual (AIM), this detail is shown in the 70 AIM on page UPC C60, page B2...it should be on that same page or near that page in the 71 AIM.

There is some interesting info/questions about that "shield"...the AIM shows it being riveted into place with aluminum body rivets, but mine is bonded with body adhesive. This change from rivets to adhesive was probably made sometime between 68 and 70, and the AIM drawing never updated to reflect the change.

However, if that shield was bonded in place when the body was built (radiator support would have been in position), that makes the right upper radiator support bolt unremoveable. This means that the radiator support can not be tilted forward to remove the radiator as per the service manual, and the support can not be removed from the car without removing that bonded shield...not a good idea, you would probably tear up the inner fender somewhat.

[john peeling]

Re: '71 nose clip

Thank you Chuck I was told or misinformed that this channel was only for big block cars ,however , the facts are clear on pg60 b2 in the 71 manual

[Gerard Q.]

Re: '71 nose clip

Now I'm not sure what the question is but the 1971 AIM C60/A1 clearly shows the AC lines running on the outside of the inner fender and not going through any channel in the wheel well. There is a sheild that they pass through C60/B1,B2 to get around to the front of the rad. Attached is a picture of this from my car. This is how my 71 s/b w/ac is configured and judged correct at 2 NCRS judged shows.

[Terry M.]

Re: '71 nose clip

Jerry,
Look behind the passenger side wheel, in the wheel house, and you will see the channel referred to. That fiberglass channel is there to protect the aluminum AC tubes from damage from road debris kicked up by the tires.

[Gerard Q.]

Re: '71 nose clip

Terry, if you mean this (pic attached) it is referred to as a sheild in the 71 AIM. If this is the same configuration on a 70 (both of my pics) then I'm mixing up the terms channels and sheilds.

[Terry M.]

channel = shield, shield = channel

I stuck with channel because that was the term used by the original poster, but Chevrolet gets to name it because they made it. Shield it is.
BTW -- nice pictures

[Gerard Q.]

Got it....Thanks *NM*