Ignition SHeilding Question?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
if you make one yourself out of metal something to consider is the possibilty of an exposed wire shorting out against the metal.
i don't know about the chrome C3 shielding pieces, but on the C2 chrome shields there was a plastic liner attached to the top of the shield on the inside to prevent this from happening.
Just to be on the safe side, if you fabricate a shield out of metal you might want to line the inside of it with something - mabe cut up a rubber inner tube and line it or something similar.
i don't know about the chrome C3 shielding pieces, but on the C2 chrome shields there was a plastic liner attached to the top of the shield on the inside to prevent this from happening.
Just to be on the safe side, if you fabricate a shield out of metal you might want to line the inside of it with something - mabe cut up a rubber inner tube and line it or something similar.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 9
From: staten island ny
Originally Posted by BarryK
if you make one yourself out of metal something to consider is the possibilty of an exposed wire shorting out against the metal.
i don't know about the chrome C3 shielding pieces, but on the C2 chrome shields there was a plastic liner attached to the top of the shield on the inside to prevent this from happening.
Just to be on the safe side, if you fabricate a shield out of metal you might want to line the inside of it with something - mabe cut up a rubber inner tube and line it or something similar.
i don't know about the chrome C3 shielding pieces, but on the C2 chrome shields there was a plastic liner attached to the top of the shield on the inside to prevent this from happening.
Just to be on the safe side, if you fabricate a shield out of metal you might want to line the inside of it with something - mabe cut up a rubber inner tube and line it or something similar.
ESU
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,930
Likes: 11
From: AnyTown NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Originally Posted by BarryK
if you make one yourself out of metal something to consider is the possibilty of an exposed wire shorting out against the metal.
After he told me I went and checked for any frayed wires around the shielding on my car.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,375
Likes: 1,066
From: Virginia USA
Originally Posted by BarryK
Just to be on the safe side, if you fabricate a shield out of metal you might want to line the inside of it with something - mabe cut up a rubber inner tube and line it or something similar.
I work on some high temp heaters (600 to 700C ). To protect the terminals we have SS covers with red high temp rubber, as if you goobered a bunch of high temp Red RTV on the inside of them. This is to protect against shorts. Then make sure you have a fire extinguisher too.
I have a MSD setup so it is noisy as hell in my stereo. It doesn't mess with my old analog/mechanical gauges. If it was my daily driver I'd think about shielding. Since I don't drive it that much it's bearable. AM is a great indicator on how well my ignition system is working though.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 9
From: staten island ny
Originally Posted by theandies
Good Point! I work on some high temp heaters (600 to 700C ). To protect the terminals we have SS covers with red high temp rubber, as if you goobered a bunch of high temp Red RTV on the inside of them. This is to protect against shorts. Then make sure you have a fire extinguisher too.
I have a MSD setup so it is noisy as hell in my stereo. It doesn't mess with my old analog/mechanical gauges. If it was my daily driver I'd think about shielding. Since I don't drive it that much it's bearable. AM is a great indicator on how well my ignition system is working though.
I work on some high temp heaters (600 to 700C ). To protect the terminals we have SS covers with red high temp rubber, as if you goobered a bunch of high temp Red RTV on the inside of them. This is to protect against shorts. Then make sure you have a fire extinguisher too.I have a MSD setup so it is noisy as hell in my stereo. It doesn't mess with my old analog/mechanical gauges. If it was my daily driver I'd think about shielding. Since I don't drive it that much it's bearable. AM is a great indicator on how well my ignition system is working though.
ESU
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 266
Likes: 1
From: S.E. Michigan
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10
Possibly because the guage wires are closer to the ingnition wires/shield than the antenna wire does?? Don't know, but just a thought. My '71 distributor cover has a plastic liner BTW.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,557
Likes: 0
From: Ridgeway VA
Shield - for AM radio
I believe the only purpose of the shield was to avoid AM radio
interference. Remember, FM radio in those years was background
music. I have a '70 with no shielding at all - everything works great.
interference. Remember, FM radio in those years was background
music. I have a '70 with no shielding at all - everything works great.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 9
From: staten island ny
Would the MSD box itself need to be shielded also or just the distributor? It's mounted on the firewall right inside the engine compartment in front of the speedo and tach housing.
ESU
ESU
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Originally Posted by ESU
Would the MSD box itself need to be shielded also or just the distributor? It's mounted on the firewall right inside the engine compartment in front of the speedo and tach housing.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 266
Likes: 1
From: S.E. Michigan
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10
Originally Posted by PETKAH
I believe the only purpose of the shield was to avoid AM radio
interference. Remember, FM radio in those years was background
music. I have a '70 with no shielding at all - everything works great.
interference. Remember, FM radio in those years was background
music. I have a '70 with no shielding at all - everything works great.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 1,501
From: Little Rock AR
The shields are used to prevent the ignition from interfearing with the radio. There are lower shields (the evil finger-slicing "boomerangs") that cover the wires all the way to the plugs and the upper shields that go from the boomerangs all the way up and over the distributor.
One trivial clarification to what Paul said, The front of the plastic late C-3 Upper Ignition Shield cover does not snap into the air cleaner lid, it actualy snaps over a round ignition wire retainer that snaps on top of the distributor cap. This "wire retainer" is usualy tossed in the trash when you replace the ignition wires as the replacement wire sets do not have a nipple on the top of the distributor end boot. No nipples means no need for the retainer so it gets tossed and the ignition cover tang just hangs in the breeze. Doc Rebuild sells the wire retainer for those NCRS types who want it all to go together right.
-Mark.
One trivial clarification to what Paul said, The front of the plastic late C-3 Upper Ignition Shield cover does not snap into the air cleaner lid, it actualy snaps over a round ignition wire retainer that snaps on top of the distributor cap. This "wire retainer" is usualy tossed in the trash when you replace the ignition wires as the replacement wire sets do not have a nipple on the top of the distributor end boot. No nipples means no need for the retainer so it gets tossed and the ignition cover tang just hangs in the breeze. Doc Rebuild sells the wire retainer for those NCRS types who want it all to go together right.
-Mark.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 9
From: staten island ny
ANy idea what year this is from and what else would be needed to make it functional?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT
ESU
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT
ESU
Last edited by ESU; Sep 19, 2006 at 07:46 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 1,501
From: Little Rock AR
Originally Posted by Vette Set
I don't want to hijack this thread, but I have a question in line with the subject. On the factory ignition shields for the early C3, were they chrome plated & polished or merely chromed? I have a 72 vert with a base 350 and what I think may be an aftermarket replacement. I believe this because the top piece, although chromed, is rather rough looking (appears to be poor quality plating). I'm really just trying to confirm my suspicion.
My thinking is that GM would have put a smooth chrome finish on the ignition shield, similar to the chrome air cleaner covers. Does anyone have experience with this?
My thinking is that GM would have put a smooth chrome finish on the ignition shield, similar to the chrome air cleaner covers. Does anyone have experience with this?
The repro pieces are typicaly better plating quality but technicaly wrong because of the shiny smooth surface. 
-Mark.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 692
Likes: 1
From: Peabody Ma.
Hey ESU
I have the factory sheilding fo 81 it does ground to the engine, Its at my house in Maine Ill be up there in the next week or so, If you want it send me a pm or email me at bruced267@hotmail.com shipping and it yours I have no use for it. Bruce
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: Denver Colorado
Originally Posted by ESU
ANy idea what year this is from and what else would be needed to make it functional?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT
ESU
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT
ESU
The poor finnish everyone is talking about is a clear coat it washed off in mom's dishwasher that and a little brake clean. Now you know why I stay in trouble
