1970 ignition shield
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 969
Likes: 1
From: NJ
1970 ignition shield
3 questions:
1. The plaque on my door says "3-1970". Can I assume this means March 1970 production?
2. Ignition shield kits are sold in different sets for early 1970 cars and later 1970-1972 and is about $200 difference. Can I assume that my "3-1970" is an early 1970?
3. Ignition shields......should I bother if Im not getting judged? Does the set really help with anything? Protects anything? Right now I only have the top distributor cover, I do not have any of the side shields and spark plug shields.
Thanks!!!
1. The plaque on my door says "3-1970". Can I assume this means March 1970 production?
2. Ignition shield kits are sold in different sets for early 1970 cars and later 1970-1972 and is about $200 difference. Can I assume that my "3-1970" is an early 1970?
3. Ignition shields......should I bother if Im not getting judged? Does the set really help with anything? Protects anything? Right now I only have the top distributor cover, I do not have any of the side shields and spark plug shields.
Thanks!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,112
From: Crossville TN
Heat shields are for dissipating heat away from the plugs/caps; ignition shielding is to keep the 'noise' out of the radio signal. If you don't have radio noise, you don't need the ignition shielding. But, I would keep the heat shields around the plugs.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,109
Likes: 4,170
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi r,
I believe a 70 model year car built in March would be considered 'early' in regards to the distributor shielding.
The distributor shielding for 'early' 70 cars was a 2 piece 'box'. For later 70, and 71-72 cars. it was a one piece 'cover'. The 'box' is more complicated to reproduce and thus the difference in price. The change occurred around serial number 14,000.
Also there was a change in the number of shields for the spark plugs. (Not the 'heat' shields, just the 'radio' shields.) The 70 model year cars up to about serial number 11,000 had 4 shields while after that and through 71-72 there were just 2 shields. Again, a reason for the price difference.
Regards,
Alan
I believe a 70 model year car built in March would be considered 'early' in regards to the distributor shielding.
The distributor shielding for 'early' 70 cars was a 2 piece 'box'. For later 70, and 71-72 cars. it was a one piece 'cover'. The 'box' is more complicated to reproduce and thus the difference in price. The change occurred around serial number 14,000.
Also there was a change in the number of shields for the spark plugs. (Not the 'heat' shields, just the 'radio' shields.) The 70 model year cars up to about serial number 11,000 had 4 shields while after that and through 71-72 there were just 2 shields. Again, a reason for the price difference.
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Oct 20, 2012 at 08:51 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
That's up to you.
The shielding eliminates engine electrical interference with the radio, usually in the AM band (most noticeable) and sometimes in the FM band.
If you are not concerned with judging, and if you want to use the stock shielding, early or late becomes unimportant. You could use what you want
...Does the set really help with anything?...
If you are not concerned with judging, and if you want to use the stock shielding, early or late becomes unimportant. You could use what you want
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 969
Likes: 1
From: NJ
Double checked my engine compartment.... I have the distributor box over it and I have the V shaped spark plug wire rails all the way on the bottom. Nothing else.
Should I be concerned with overheating wires or plugs without the other shielding?
Should I be concerned with overheating wires or plugs without the other shielding?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,109
Likes: 4,170
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi r,
I believe that if the 4 spark plug heat shields weren't needed, GM would not have installed them. I'm sure they were looking at every dollar spent to build the car.
Might you get away without using them? Sure, but...
Regards,
Alan
I believe that if the 4 spark plug heat shields weren't needed, GM would not have installed them. I'm sure they were looking at every dollar spent to build the car.
Might you get away without using them? Sure, but...
Regards,
Alan
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