There is a 2 piece shield underneath both side of the floorboards on our car but one of them is broken. Are these stock and, if so, what are they called? I tried to search for them by all kinds of different names but I'm not having any luck.

 

The heat shields?

 

You don't say what year your dealing with, but from your name I'm hoping it's a 69.

On 69's, there were 2 sets of shields. The first set were splash shields, that were attached to the front lower portion of the firewall. The second set are heat shields, and attach to the floors, on either side of the trans.

68's and some 69's, had white plastic firewall splash shields. Later 69's, and all 70-75's, had metal firewall splash shields.

The under floor heat shields, were only used on 68's and 69's. They consisted of two pieces each, a metal shield, and a fiberglass insulation blanket. The fiberglass blanket was sandwiched between the metal panel, and the fiberglass floor.

 

Thanks, I'll see what I can find

 

Yes, we have a Can-Am white '69 convertible.
Thank you for that information, that is very helpful, now I at least know what I'm looking for and what to call it.

 

They are rock/stone shields that protect the fiberglass floorpan from stone-flinging tires. I don't think they do much for shielding heat.

 

Thank you. I think I found replacements in the CC catalog so I'll be ordering what I need tomorrow.

 

I have a pair of original white plastic shields that I am getting ready to sell. Nothing fits like the originals! Let me know if you are interested.

Thanks,
George

 

Some early 70's had them as well.
http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/...e/1632461.html

 

Hi George......yes, I am interested, please PM me.

 

Hi Ca,
I'm thinking about your other thread concerning what 'books' you might first purchase…..
This information about the 'shields' is exactly the sort of information that's illustrated in the AIM since the AIM was the reference used to assemble the cars on the production line!
Sometimes the drawings, there are hundreds and hundreds of them, are difficult to understand, but as you get to know your car better the AIM becomes easier to use as a reliable tool.
Regards,
Alan

 

 

Alan,

Agreed, but Revi also points out the importance of looking at a lot of cars too.

I know the car in the Hemmings add the Revi referenced (I judged that car years ago at an NCRS meet). Mark's very early (#00028) 1970 has the horizontal shields (like 1969s), but my old 1970 coupe (#00538) did not... Mark's car was built the first day of 1970 production (Monday, January 5) and mine was built the fifth day (Friday, January 9).

In a matter of five days, the shields were gone.

This holds true for every model year. Running changes were constantly made during production. The AIM gives a great snapshot, but it's only a moment in the production cycle.

Get the AIM. Get the NCRS TIM&JG. Get out and look at a lot of cars and talk to people. Great ways to educate yourself!

Regards,

Stan Falenski


P.S. Talking about learning tools Alan... I'm always impressed with the photos of your 1971 restoration. I've saved many of them and refer back to them all the time. Thanks for taking the time to post them!

 

The Corvette parts book refers to both the firewall and floor shields as "Underbody Splash Shields". They can be found in Group 12.980.

The floor mounted shields, were part of the floor insulation. On 68 & 69's, there was a piece of insulation, placed between the shields and the floors. The shields were there to protect the insulation. The hobby has taken to referring to the floor ones as heat shields, probably to differentiate them from the firewall shields.


The 1970's use of the heat shield, is a little strange.

My 1972 Corvette parts book, lists the heat shields as part # 3958019, and for use on 68-70's. Strangely, the 1970 Assembly Manual does not show them, and on sheet B6 has the following notation "12-18-69...3958019...SHIELD RMVD" (RMVD is their abbreviation of removed). The brackets and hardware associated with the shield, are also listed as removed.

1970 production began on January 5, 1970. It seems strange that any 1970 Corvettes, could come with the floor pan shields, when according to the Assembly Manual, they were cancelled on December 18, 1969. Like I said, the Parts Book does list them for use on 68-70, so this somewhat confusing, and contradictory.

I know the seller of the car in your link. That car is a very original car, and it clearly has the shields, so who knows? That car is VIN #28, so the cancellation of the shields, may not have gotten through to the plant by then?

Even if the shields found their way onto some 70's, I don't think they used the insulation pads, on the 70's. The Corvette Parts Book, only lists the 2 insulation pads (3943663 LH - 3943664 RH) for use on 68's and 69's, but not 70's.

 

Glenn,

Actually, your time line makes a lot of sense.

Last day of 1969 Corvette production was December 18, 1969. Date of change to the AIM is the same date. This is the date when one of the engineers actually signed off on the change. Does it actually make it to the plant floor on that date? Seeing as how copies would need to be made, supervisors and employees would need to be informed and instructed, last day before a two week vacation... My guess is "probably not."

Everyone comes back to work on January 5, 1970. The guys are still putting the heat shields on until they run out and request more (or are told to stop as the new AIM sheet is introduced). Answer is "Oh... AIM says we're not doing that any more."

The actual time frame is actually two week, but in reality it's just the next work day to the guys actually doing the job.

I know him too and agree that the car is very original. One of the reasons why I believe that the shields are factory installed.

Agreed.

Pretty sure that the insulation was discontinued late in 1969.

Interesting topic and illustrates well that running changes in production often don't follow a set pattern or time frame.

Regards,

Stan