63 Ignition Shielding Clarification

[Mel H.]

Trying to clarify the proper top ignition shielding cover for my Jan 63 car. I know there are 'early' and 'late' designs. Early has no cut-outs in back side for clips.. Later has cut-outs for "CARB" and "FI".

JM says 'early' up to 7500.. then 'late'. Nolan Adams Restoration Guide Vol 2 pg 163 says 'late' shows up at 6412... then mixed til 6573.. then all had 'late' til 7500... then mixed again til 8500.. then all were 'late' with an occasional 'early'.

Mine is 7217, so which is correct for judging? Do judges go strictly by JM.. or will Nolan's more detailed reference prevail?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can clarify.

Mel

[Timothy B.]

Re: 63 Ignition Shielding Clarification

Mel,

Sounds like you can flip a coin to decide, if I had to get one for #7217, I would probably get the early shield but that's just my opinion FWIW.

[Mel H.]

Re: 63 Ignition Shielding Clarification

Thanks Tim. Guess it depends on which reference guide the judges will go by. I presume the official manual, but not sure it would make a difference in this case. Hoping some of the judges on here can chime in to give some direction.

Mel

[John D.]

Re: 63 Ignition Shielding Clarification

Mel, Your car needs the early style. My 9900 plus 63 came with the early style.
To repeat your car takes the early style. John

[Tom H.]

Re: 63 Ignition Shielding Clarification

That is a hard one. I've read it both ways. I'd go with the way John states. His car came that way. Hard to argue with real !!!

[Loren L.]

Re: 63 Ignition Shielding Clarification

Forty years ago when I bought #10706, it came with the AM only, NO CLIP, top shield. The clip was NOT needed as an additional ground UNTIL the AM-FM radio came into being.

[Tim S.]

Re: 63 Ignition Shielding Clarification

Does anyone have good photos of each? I am interested in the topic.

Tim

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 Ignition Shielding Clarification

Forty years ago when I bought #10706, it came with the AM only, NO CLIP, top shield. The clip was NOT needed as an additional ground UNTIL the AM-FM radio came into being.

I agree with Loren. The shield with the CARB/FI slots in the rear panel wouldn't show up until around the same time that the new AM/FM radio was released/installed. Probably somewhere around the mid 10,000 VIN range.
The new design shield was part of the U69 AM/FM radio package.

[Mel H.]

Re: 63 Ignition Shielding Clarification

Agree Mike. Seems reasonable they'd show up about same time. But, we know new parts often showed up earlier than plan. And what do you make of Nolan Adams book saying 'late' style started showing up around 6400? By reading his book, it kinda sounds like he gathered survey info broadly and may not have been verified/validated? Seems like these reported early/late styles could have been replacements?

Anyway, am assuming the official 'Judging Guide' would govern such questions? It says 'early' until 7500.. then 'late'. Doesnt mention the 'mixing' referenced by NA.

[Loren L.]

Re: 63 Ignition Shielding Clarification

For further clarification, let me cite a 2/11/81 letter from Delco that states that the FIRST shipment of 73 AM-FM radios occurred in the LAST week of February; the letter also states that NO AM radios were shipped to St Louis after February.

[Edward J.]

Re: 63 Ignition Shielding Clarification

Mel, I think Mike and Loren hit the nail on the head, the AM radio cars had the earlier shielding, As my 10674 had the early shield and has a AM radio I f this is so the judging manuel may be incorrect, as I think that there are many statements in the current 63/64 edition which seem to conflict.

[John D.]

Re: 63 Ignition Shielding Clarification

I was ashamed to tell you guys what I did concerning the distributor shield. My 63 was only judged three times and most likely won't be judged again. Meanwhile twice I was told the distributor shield was suspicious or questionable. One of the gang here said if I was serious about having the car judged I had better get the later style cover. So I went out and got one and stuck it behind the seat along with the original. My plans were to give nice judges the option (before the show started ) on which distributor shield was to their liking. Sounded like the logical thing to do especially when you are chasing the points.
Then Bill Clupper came along at a Pittsburgh chapter show and told me what Loren said. Bill said AM radio-no cutout, etc. AM-FM radio cutout-FI.

Anyhow my 63, the LWC has two shields behind the seat. Nice to have a spare.

[Loren L.]

Re: 63 Ignition Shielding Clarification

Yes, but behind the seat is a piss-poor location for either a radio or a distributor! JD, you were NOT the first guy making a sacrifice to bad information.

[Bruce D.]

Re: 63 Ignition Shielding Clarification

Does putting the extra shield behind help much with the radio? You guys are a hoot......

[Monte M.]

Re: 63 Ignition Shielding Clarification

Did you ever get the pictures you requested.
If not, PM me with your personal e-mail, and I will send over some pictures