Ignition Shielding
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 5
From: Schererville IN
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,317
Likes: 22
From: Marina CA
Back in the day they ran steel core plug wires and non resistor plugs and with the vette having a plastic body, if you didn't have the shielding there is no way you were going to hear anything on the AM side of the radio. They also had capacitors in various places to knock out the whine from such things as the heater motor, alternator and other components that used a make break system for contact. They even used capacitors on the fuel gauge and turn signal flashers.
Today things are somewhat better with the resistor (carbon core) plug wires and resistor type sparkplugs. The FM band was more forgiving of rf interference but back in the 60's and 70's AM radio was still the favored band so they had to offer noise protection. Steel core wires in a steel bodied car was not much of a problem because the steel firewall was a great noise filter. You could get spark noise in the radio on a steel bodied car with the hood up.
Today things are somewhat better with the resistor (carbon core) plug wires and resistor type sparkplugs. The FM band was more forgiving of rf interference but back in the 60's and 70's AM radio was still the favored band so they had to offer noise protection. Steel core wires in a steel bodied car was not much of a problem because the steel firewall was a great noise filter. You could get spark noise in the radio on a steel bodied car with the hood up.
Last edited by 1Fordman; Jan 31, 2008 at 10:28 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 123
From: CA.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 5
From: Schererville IN
PO removed them from my car.
I've got a little bit of "wine" in my radio, but not real bad.
So would putting the shields back on my car help to clear up radio reception much or not? How big of a help is the shielding with todays wires and current sound systems?
I've got a little bit of "wine" in my radio, but not real bad.
So would putting the shields back on my car help to clear up radio reception much or not? How big of a help is the shielding with todays wires and current sound systems?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,004
Likes: 7
From: Adelaide South Australia
I have no shielding, and my AM band is useless.
FM band is good though.
And I use an iPOD with an FM transmitter which works real good too, for those lengthy cross-country cruises.
FM band is good though.
And I use an iPOD with an FM transmitter which works real good too, for those lengthy cross-country cruises.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,375
Likes: 1,066
From: Virginia USA
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
I have all the OEM shielding installed on my '70 and the AM radio is....useless. There's not an AM transmitter within 60 miles of where I live now, but it was a problem when I lived in the city before. As long as you don't listen to right-wing talk radio (which Hillary will abolish as soon as she gets the chance) it shouldn't be much of a problem anyway...
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
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From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
