71 Lt-1 Ignition Shielding

[Mark A.]

I'm Restoring My 71 Lt-1, Which Was Quite Original To Start With. My Car Had The Lower Chrome V Shielding Which I Was Going To Replace. Paragon Lists This Shielding As Part#'s 5002, And 5003, On Page 87 Of Their Book. According To Their Book, This Was Used On 63-69 Cars. My Shielding Looks Original, And I Have No Reason To Beleive Someone Would Have Added It Later. Is It Possible My Car ( Which Has A July 71 Build Date ) Could Have Come From The Factory With This? I Don't Know Whether To Replace It To Keep It As It Was, Or Not. Any Ideas? Thanks, Mark

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 Lt-1 Ignition Shielding

I'm Restoring My 71 Lt-1, Which Was Quite Original To Start With. My Car Had The Lower Chrome V Shielding Which I Was Going To Replace. Paragon Lists This Shielding As Part#'s 5002, And 5003, On Page 87 Of Their Book. According To Their Book, This Was Used On 63-69 Cars. My Shielding Looks Original, And I Have No Reason To Beleive Someone Would Have Added It Later. Is It Possible My Car ( Which Has A July 71 Build Date ) Could Have Come From The Factory With This? I Don't Know Whether To Replace It To Keep It As It Was, Or Not. Any Ideas? Thanks, Mark

Mark------


The basic difference between the 63-69 and 70+ "V" shields relates to the configuration of the shield near the motor mount. The 63-69 shields are designed for use with the non-locking style engine mount used those years. The 70+ shields are designed for use with the locking style motor mounts originally equipping those year models. Otherwise, there may be nuance differences between years, but the basic difference is as I described. If your shields fit properly with the locking style mounts, they are likely original.

The 63-69 style shields will not fit if locking motor mounts are used unless significant modifications are made to the shields.

[Mark A.]

Re: 71 Lt-1 Ignition Shielding

Joe,
The Only Shields Listed By Paragon That Look Like The Ones I Took Off Are The Ones They List For The 63-69 Engine. Do I Understand You Right That All Small Blocks Used The Chrome V Type Shields? They Don't List A Chrome V Type Shield For A 71. Mark

[Alan S.]

Re: 71 Lt-1 Ignition Shielding

Hi Mark,
Here are a couple of pictures from my 71, 350/270, built mid-January 71. The finish on the shield seemed to be a very poor flash chrome
These parts are as you see from the driver's side.
I hope this helps you determine what shielding you have on your LT-!
Regards,
Alan

I retrieved the pictures from an earlier post. The forward spark-plug heat shield is the wrong one since it doesn't allow space for the temp. gauge sender in the head.

[Edward J.]

Re: 71 Lt-1 Ignition Shielding

Mark, I believe that 69 was the last year for chrome plating on the lower sheilds and that the 70-72 car cars a zinc or cad plating on them.

[Terry M.]

Re: 71 Lt-1 Ignition Shielding

Mark, I believe that 69 was the last year for chrome plating on the lower shields and that the 70-72 car cars a zinc or cad plating on them.

The ones on my 1970 look like chrome -- the usual flash chrome we see on all the ORIGINAL ignition shielding. I am pretty sure all the 1970-1972 V- shields are flash chrome plated. Perhaps we have become too used to the reproduction ignition shielding which is usually "show chrome."

Mark: ALL 1968-1972 small blocks came with the lower V shielding -- so long as we don't quibble about those built without a radio.

[Mark A.]

Re: 71 Lt-1 Ignition Shielding

Thanks to one and all for helping me to clear up the confusion! Merry Christmas. Mark

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 Lt-1 Ignition Shielding

Joe,
The Only Shields Listed By Paragon That Look Like The Ones I Took Off Are The Ones They List For The 63-69 Engine. Do I Understand You Right That All Small Blocks Used The Chrome V Type Shields? They Don't List A Chrome V Type Shield For A 71. Mark

Mark------


The style shown in Alan's photos is exactly the style you need. This style was NOT originally used on any 1963-69, except, possibly, VERY late 1969's ( I doubt this, but I would not completely rule out the possibility).

The lower "V" shields were used for ALL 1963-82 Corvettes with radios. The shield configuration changed at various points over the period, but the "V" shields were always used. The 1971 shields were the same as all 1970-74.

[Edward J.]

Re: 71 Lt-1 Ignition Shielding

Joe, Was Plating On These Lower V Sheilds Flash Chrome On 68-72. My 72 Seems To Have A Cad Or Zinc Plating.

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 Lt-1 Ignition Shielding

Joe, Was Plating On These Lower V Sheilds Flash Chrome On 68-72. My 72 Seems To Have A Cad Or Zinc Plating.

Edward------


Not on ORIGINAL shields that I've seen. However it was very dull and could appear like zinc plating. Later shields, some of which were used for 63-74 SERVICE, were zinc plated, though. Some of these have a "tip-off" inasmuch as they have large rivets configured like pop rivets affixing the brackets and reinforcements to the shield.