Carb Heat Shield

[John Feiter]

I am hoping someone can answer a simple question for me regarding the installation of a carb heat shield for a 69 350. I've only had the car for a short time and pulled the carb. The previous owner had the stainless steel heat shield sandwiched between 2 carb gaskets. When I put the carb back on I want to make sure I do it right, and from looking at the AIM and from what I recall, I think I'm only supposed to use one carb gasket directly on the manifold, with the heat shield on top, and then the carb goes directly over the shield. Is that correct, or do you get a better seal the way the previous owner had it?

Thanks!

[James F.]

Re: Carb Heat Shield

John,
I saved a clipping regarding a Chevy carb heat shield for a WCFB carb. The clipping stated the shield must go against the carb base. Regards,

[James F.]

Re: Carb Heat Shield

John,
I saved a clipping regarding a Chevy carb heat shield for a WCFB carb. The clipping stated the shield must go against the carb base. Regards,

[Joe L.]

Re: Carb Heat Shield

John and Jim-----

Yes, the order is from the bottom up: manifold, carb gasket, stainless steel shield, and carburetor. There is no second gasket. Some folks think that there "just has to be a gasket between metal surfaces" and that's likely why yours has 2 gaskets. GM didn't engineer it or originally build it that way, though.

Actually, I always recommend diablement of the carb pre-heat groove of which "system" the stainless steel shield is, essentially, part. This heat groove, even with the stainless steel shield, is a major destroyer of carburetors, causing warpage of the throttle body assembly and, even, damage to the float bowl. I recommend drilling and tapping the holes in the end of the manifold groove for 1/4" NPT recessed allen head pipe plugs. However, I still recommend installing the gasket and heat shield as above for the dual purposes of maintaining proper choke rod operation and originality.

By the way, Chevrolet eliminated the heat grooves after the 1969 model year in all engines.

[Joe L.]

Re: Carb Heat Shield

John and Jim-----

Yes, the order is from the bottom up: manifold, carb gasket, stainless steel shield, and carburetor. There is no second gasket. Some folks think that there "just has to be a gasket between metal surfaces" and that's likely why yours has 2 gaskets. GM didn't engineer it or originally build it that way, though.

Actually, I always recommend diablement of the carb pre-heat groove of which "system" the stainless steel shield is, essentially, part. This heat groove, even with the stainless steel shield, is a major destroyer of carburetors, causing warpage of the throttle body assembly and, even, damage to the float bowl. I recommend drilling and tapping the holes in the end of the manifold groove for 1/4" NPT recessed allen head pipe plugs. However, I still recommend installing the gasket and heat shield as above for the dual purposes of maintaining proper choke rod operation and originality.

By the way, Chevrolet eliminated the heat grooves after the 1969 model year in all engines.

[John Feiter]

Thanks, guys *NM*

[John Feiter]

Thanks, guys *NM*

[Clem Z.]

Re: Carb Heat Shield

do not drill and tap the manifold on the engine as chips could get into the cly head. i would use prss in steel cup type soft plugs.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Carb Heat Shield

do not drill and tap the manifold on the engine as chips could get into the cly head. i would use prss in steel cup type soft plugs.