70 454 Q-Jet heat insulator

[Chris H.]

I'm going to be removing the non original California heat sheild. I have a new carb/manifold gasket, but also think I need a "heat insulator".

Does the heat insulator go between the gasket and the carb? What is it made out of?

Thanks, Chris

[Joe L.]

Re: 70 454 Q-Jet heat insulator

Chris-----

No heat insulator was used on non-California 1970 LS-5. There was just a gasket of GM #3967470. This gasket had one large opening rather than the 4 venturi holes used on 68-69 Q-Jet applications. The GM #3967470 is discontinued, but available in reproduction.

[Chris H.]

Re: 70 454 Q-Jet heat insulator

Joe, I guess I'm confused. The JG says all 454s had a "heat insulator". The 49 state cars had one that is 1/16th inches thick, and the California motor had one that is 3/16th inches thick.

Is the insulator also the gasket?

Thanks, Chris

[Joe L.]

Re: 70 454 Q-Jet heat insulator

Chris-----

The judging guide may call it a "heat insulator", but that's not what GM called it and that's not what it's called in the automotive vernacular. ALL 1970 non-California applications used a simple gasket. Now, as I recall, this gasket MAY have been made of an asbestos-steel composition material and, in any event, undoubtedly had some insulating properties, but it was not an insulator, per se. I've got several of these in my collection [none for sale], but I'm not prepared to retrieve them to inspect for exact configuration.