63 plating ign shield ??

[Kevin H.]

I have removed my ignition shielding from the original 340hp.motor early 1963 car.
My plater told me (the 2 horse shoe or lower ignition shield) when he placed them in his tank to determine what plating was originally put on the parts were a zinc plating /irradite process which meant the parts had a slight yellowish rainbow color in the plating process... DO ANY OF YOU CHEMICAL ENGINEERS IN CORVETTE PLATING DEEM THIS TO BE ACURATE. He is a very established family plating company that has been around since the early 1940"s so I believe him on his findings. Just seemed curios to me all the photos I have seen with these parts seem to show them in similar color to the other shields more on the white/blue color of zinc plating not the yellowish tint ...


any impute would greatly be appreciated
THANKS

[William C.]

Re: 63 plating ign shield ??

I take it you are referring to the "J" shaped heat shields that cover the sparkplug porcelin area and the ends of the sparkplug wire boots. Those were indeed zinc plated but with a clear irridite, not the gold colored one. No "rainbow" affect is seen on the originals

[Jean C.]

Re: 63 plating ign shield ??

Kevin,
Or are you referring to the covers that go beneath the exhaust manifolds and hold the wires against the block, one each side? I do not know about the plating, just want to make sure we are all on the same page with regards to the pieces you are asking about.
Best regards,

[Kevin H.]

Re: 63 plating ign shield ??

Charlie that is correct
sorry my mind was saying one thing while my typing said another...

[John D.]

Re: 63 plating ign shield ??

Well old JD is once again confused with nice post Kevin.
How about the plating on the long one piece shield on the passenger side.
Wasn't easy but my pal McFast got me an original at CC a few years ago. Took some hunting to find a plater that could do a crappy chrome job to match the original. Had AC get it done for me at RJ's suggestion.

[William C.]

Re: 63 plating ign shield ??

OK, one last time here, are we talking Radio shields, attached with wing nuts or Heat shields attached with a bolt to the block?

[Tracy C.]

Re: 63 plating ign shield ??

Interesting post Kevin. The parts you describe that I've always seen are flash nickle/chrome. I've never seen zink on this part, but I can't say I've ever looked closely at those on an early 63.

tc

[Kevin H.]

Re: 63 plating ign shield ??

Sorry should have done this from the start here is one side (pictured)
He put some of the plating with that color I was talking about on this part

The 2 good parts he is waiting for my reply on what is deemed correct. I always thought it was zinc /flash chromed is it possable earlier years they used this type of plating. He told me when he dipped the part in his acid tank it foamed drastically with a black color bubbles which he said indicated the process that he told me about.

[Terry M.]

Re: 63 plating ign shield ??

Many years ago (say late 1970 or early 1980s) John Amgwert did a story in The Restorer on small block ignition shielding -- complete with some of the GM Engineering prints, but I am not real sure of the year(s) covered. You might find it worth while trying to look that up.

I can tell you for the early C3s the part you pictured has the riveted mounting brackets zinc plated and the rest of the "boomerang" flash chrome. That of course may be different than 1963.

[William C.]

Re: 63 plating ign shield ??

Now that I know what we are referring to, I believe terry's description is correct '63-up.

[Mike M.]

Re: 63 plating ign shield ??

Guys,
we could have eliminated all the confusion by calling the shields by their real name..."Boomerangs".
HaND

[Page C.]

Re: 63 plating ign shield ??

Hi Kevin,
The article that Terry M. is referring to was in Vol 12 #4. It's 13 pages and covers the 1963-67 Corvette 327 radio shielding. I am planning on using this article Sat at our Mid Atlantic Chapter Judging/Tech Session for a seminar of how to identify the different years of sheilding. If you don't have a copy, send me you address and I will be glad to mail you a copy. The two lower shields were 3819763 (left) and 3819764 (right). They were used on all 1963-67 Corvette 327 engines equipped with a radio. All that I have ever seen were flashed chrome. The brackets have a small AS stamped into them and appear to be zinc plated. They are attached with steel rivets.
Page Campbell