1969 Splash Shield
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5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2018
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1969 Splash Shield
Hello all. I'm looking to replace my cracked splash shield on my car. The question I have is when in 1969 did they switch from a white plastic (painted?) to a black (or gray phosphate according to the judging manual) splash shield. When I research it, I see the division being "early" and "late" 1969, but that doesn't help me. My serial number is 7333039 which would be a September run, but it has white plastic on it now. I'm wondering if those are correct or if I should buy the metal ones? Does anyone have any insight into this?
I've tried to research using cars posted for sale, but I see very few serial numbers as late as mine, and the ones I do see don't have pictures of that area.
Thanks in advance. I don't post much, but I do use the past posts a lot.
Tom
I've tried to research using cars posted for sale, but I see very few serial numbers as late as mine, and the ones I do see don't have pictures of that area.
Thanks in advance. I don't post much, but I do use the past posts a lot.
Tom
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
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2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Hey Tom,
My 69 is an April build and it has white plastic shields on the lower firewall and parkerized metal shields under the floor plans. I bought new plastic toe shields from Paragon and had my original metal shields re-parkerized by somebody out in Cal. Not cheap. Are you replacing insulation?
Dennis the Rat
My 69 is an April build and it has white plastic shields on the lower firewall and parkerized metal shields under the floor plans. I bought new plastic toe shields from Paragon and had my original metal shields re-parkerized by somebody out in Cal. Not cheap. Are you replacing insulation?
Dennis the Rat
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5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2018
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Thanks guys. I'm thinking they changed over to the metal splash guards after mine was built. I'm thinking mine are correct with the plastic, but someone else will chime in with a later build date (I hope).
I don't currently have any insulation between the floor pans and the fiberglass. When I research that, it seems like there is suppose to be some rivet holes on the firewall where the grommets attach, which I don't have (either grommets or holes). I see pictures of cars that have insulation all over, and some that have very little. I'm not sure what I'm suppose to have, or where it's suppose to attach. If you could give me some guidance, I'd put it in there.
Also, I'm not sure what the "parkerized" means. My pans aren't in any condition that I would have them recoated. They've been straightened in the past, so if I bought them new, would they come with the correct look?
Tom
I don't currently have any insulation between the floor pans and the fiberglass. When I research that, it seems like there is suppose to be some rivet holes on the firewall where the grommets attach, which I don't have (either grommets or holes). I see pictures of cars that have insulation all over, and some that have very little. I'm not sure what I'm suppose to have, or where it's suppose to attach. If you could give me some guidance, I'd put it in there.
Also, I'm not sure what the "parkerized" means. My pans aren't in any condition that I would have them recoated. They've been straightened in the past, so if I bought them new, would they come with the correct look?
Tom
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
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2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Here is a picture of the firewall with the double-pointed insulation clips riveted thru the fiberglass. I have also included pictures of the insulation and shields installed. Please note I have since corrected the shield installation to show the white plastic shields in front of the metal shields. The 1969 AIM (Assembly Instruction Manual) on page J85 shows the metal shields and shows no revision date that would eliminate them. Parkerizing is a manganese phosphate protective coating. My shields were bent and the restorer straightened them. I could not find the plastic shields in the AIM but still have my originals that were badly discolored and damaged. The shields are there to protect the insulation. I do not have the latest NCRS TIM & JG to see what they have to say about when they were eliminated.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
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Thanks for those pictures. What a nice-looking job you've done on your car. Well done.
I'll have to look a second time, but I do not think my car has the double-pointed insulation clips. I'll check again in the morning. If they were there and now are not, there should be holes or patched holes where they once were.
I did not mean to imply that I thought the metal underbody shields were eliminated.....the plastic splash guards were changed to metal at some point in late 1969 and they remained metal (I believe) throughout the C3 production run. I have plastic, but I consider a September Corvette a "late" production car, but I'm beginning to think that my plastic shields are original and correct for the car.
I'm going to have to look into that parkerizing. This is the first time I've heard of it. That's cool that the restorer straightened yours....I think mine are beyond that. Mine are actually wrinkled slightly. I'm not sure what impact in the past could have caused it, but I'm probably going to have to replace them both.
Where did you get your insulation if you don't mind me asking? Does it come already cut or do you have to cut/shape it?
I'll have to look a second time, but I do not think my car has the double-pointed insulation clips. I'll check again in the morning. If they were there and now are not, there should be holes or patched holes where they once were.
I did not mean to imply that I thought the metal underbody shields were eliminated.....the plastic splash guards were changed to metal at some point in late 1969 and they remained metal (I believe) throughout the C3 production run. I have plastic, but I consider a September Corvette a "late" production car, but I'm beginning to think that my plastic shields are original and correct for the car.
I'm going to have to look into that parkerizing. This is the first time I've heard of it. That's cool that the restorer straightened yours....I think mine are beyond that. Mine are actually wrinkled slightly. I'm not sure what impact in the past could have caused it, but I'm probably going to have to replace them both.
Where did you get your insulation if you don't mind me asking? Does it come already cut or do you have to cut/shape it?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
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2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I bought the tunnel insulation as well as the left and right side pieces from Paragon. They were already cut to fit. I used aluminum tape from Home Depot to cover the seams as well as the tabs. Not factory correct to do that, but looks a lot nicer. Besides, my car is a driver and I have no intention of ever having it judged. My mentor is Dave Walters, who is one of the top Bloomington judges (30+ years) and has been working on Corvettes for over 50 years for a living. He has coached me on my restoration over the past 14 years. Next time I go to his shop, I will ask him what he knows about this.
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Tom
The switch to the metal toe shields from the white plastic took place very late in production. I would think a Sept 1969 built car would have come from the factory with the white shields.
The under body insulation was not used on all cars in 1969. It was dropped mid production. If you can't find evidence of the clips to hold it on your car it probably didn't have it from the factory.
After the the under body insulation was removed the large rectangular shields under the seats that were meant to protect it continued in production for a while. They no longer served a purpose and I believe they may have been dropped completely by the end of production. This would have been very very late in the model year if it occurred.
The large rectangular shields came from the factory either parkerized or painted semi gloss black. You could go with either and be correct.
I'm not sure exactly when all these changes took place, but an original owner on the NCRS website with a Sept. 1969 reports his car had the white shields toe shields, no insulation of the firewall/under body, and with the rectangular shields under the seats.
John
The switch to the metal toe shields from the white plastic took place very late in production. I would think a Sept 1969 built car would have come from the factory with the white shields.
The under body insulation was not used on all cars in 1969. It was dropped mid production. If you can't find evidence of the clips to hold it on your car it probably didn't have it from the factory.
After the the under body insulation was removed the large rectangular shields under the seats that were meant to protect it continued in production for a while. They no longer served a purpose and I believe they may have been dropped completely by the end of production. This would have been very very late in the model year if it occurred.
The large rectangular shields came from the factory either parkerized or painted semi gloss black. You could go with either and be correct.
I'm not sure exactly when all these changes took place, but an original owner on the NCRS website with a Sept. 1969 reports his car had the white shields toe shields, no insulation of the firewall/under body, and with the rectangular shields under the seats.
John
Last edited by JC68; Nov 28, 2018 at 09:48 PM.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2018
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Thanks everyone. I'll order the white shields. They seem to be correct for my build date.
Thanks John for the information about the insulation. It thought it was weird that someone would have removed the clips and insulation with no evidence of either. Mine must be one of the cars that didn't come with the insulation. And thanks for the color of the metal shields. When I was sanding them, I thought they looked like they had evidence that they were once painted black. I think I'll go with that since it seems original to my car. The post from dmaxx3500 seems to confirm this.
Tom
Thanks John for the information about the insulation. It thought it was weird that someone would have removed the clips and insulation with no evidence of either. Mine must be one of the cars that didn't come with the insulation. And thanks for the color of the metal shields. When I was sanding them, I thought they looked like they had evidence that they were once painted black. I think I'll go with that since it seems original to my car. The post from dmaxx3500 seems to confirm this.
Tom