Installation Tips? Spark Plug Heat Shields
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Installation Tips? Spark Plug Heat Shields
This is a minor matter compared to the large projects people here have the competence and facilities to handle. But here goes. Hope it is not too trivial.
My 1974 350 does not have spark plug shields. The exhaust manifolds are stock. As part of a more thorough clean-up of my ignition system this spring I have ordered a set. Not the whole assemblies with covers, just the shields (pic) along with correct 1/4-20 x 1/2" bolts with serrated washers. I have other parts coming to do a nice over-the-top job with 8-mm wires, looms, and custom ends.
Looks like an easy four bolt job to get those shields on...(famous last words). Seriously, will this be a pain? I can see some tight areas below the manifolds but there should be room to get those bolts in from above. If not I can jack up the car and come at it that way. Any thoughts/advice with this little project?
My 1974 350 does not have spark plug shields. The exhaust manifolds are stock. As part of a more thorough clean-up of my ignition system this spring I have ordered a set. Not the whole assemblies with covers, just the shields (pic) along with correct 1/4-20 x 1/2" bolts with serrated washers. I have other parts coming to do a nice over-the-top job with 8-mm wires, looms, and custom ends.
Looks like an easy four bolt job to get those shields on...(famous last words). Seriously, will this be a pain? I can see some tight areas below the manifolds but there should be room to get those bolts in from above. If not I can jack up the car and come at it that way. Any thoughts/advice with this little project?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 5
From: Brown Summit North Carolina
This is a minor matter compared to the large projects people here have the competence and facilities to handle. But here goes. Hope it is not too trivial.
My 1974 350 does not have spark plug shields. The exhaust manifolds are stock. As part of a more thorough clean-up of my ignition system this spring I have ordered a set. Not the whole assemblies with covers, just the shields (pic) along with correct 1/4-20 x 1/2" bolts with serrated washers. I have other parts coming to do a nice over-the-top job with 8-mm wires, looms, and custom ends.
Looks like an easy four bolt job to get those shields on...(famous last words). Seriously, will this be a pain? I can see some tight areas below the manifolds but there should be room to get those bolts in from above. If not I can jack up the car and come at it that way. Any thoughts/advice with this little project?
My 1974 350 does not have spark plug shields. The exhaust manifolds are stock. As part of a more thorough clean-up of my ignition system this spring I have ordered a set. Not the whole assemblies with covers, just the shields (pic) along with correct 1/4-20 x 1/2" bolts with serrated washers. I have other parts coming to do a nice over-the-top job with 8-mm wires, looms, and custom ends.
Looks like an easy four bolt job to get those shields on...(famous last words). Seriously, will this be a pain? I can see some tight areas below the manifolds but there should be room to get those bolts in from above. If not I can jack up the car and come at it that way. Any thoughts/advice with this little project?
This is doable for sure, but you may want any children or preachers to stay away while doing this.
The front units are a tight spot due to motor mounts.
It is easier if you can borrow a lift , or at least lay under the car.
Hardest thing is working in a blind spot.
Good Luck with you car
David
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
David,
Thanks for the reply. While I do not have a lift I can certainly lift the car and remove the front wheels. What is the problem with those motor mounts. Do they cover the shield mount holes? If yes I suppose I could loosen the mounts and do some prying until the bolts fit in.
Thanks for the reply. While I do not have a lift I can certainly lift the car and remove the front wheels. What is the problem with those motor mounts. Do they cover the shield mount holes? If yes I suppose I could loosen the mounts and do some prying until the bolts fit in.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,226
Likes: 4,313
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Paul,
I believe the heat shields are less problem to install than the ignition shielding.
I agree with David that it's a bit easier putting them on from below.
Also, since you're putting those shields on have you considered the 2 'boom-a-rang' shields that I believe were still used in 74? It's the 'boom-a-rang' shields that use the rear motor mount bolt as part of their fastening.
Here are a few pictures.... one showing the left-side boom-a-rang and shields. Note the small flat bracket for the 2 front wires.
I'd think David might be able to show some pictures too since his engine might still be out of the car.
Good Luck! Not a bad job at all.
Regards,
Alan
Right-Rear
Right-Rear
Left-Front
Right-Front
I believe the heat shields are less problem to install than the ignition shielding.
I agree with David that it's a bit easier putting them on from below.
Also, since you're putting those shields on have you considered the 2 'boom-a-rang' shields that I believe were still used in 74? It's the 'boom-a-rang' shields that use the rear motor mount bolt as part of their fastening.
Here are a few pictures.... one showing the left-side boom-a-rang and shields. Note the small flat bracket for the 2 front wires.
I'd think David might be able to show some pictures too since his engine might still be out of the car.
Good Luck! Not a bad job at all.
Regards,
Alan
Right-Rear
Right-Rear
Left-Front
Right-Front
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Paul,
As I mentioned over on the other board, make sure the threads are cleaned out in the block. Run a bottoming tap through each of them to be sure. You WILL drop the bolts several times so be prepared to scramble underneath to fetch them.
This is a 2 minute job if the engine is on a stand but a 2 hour job with it installed.
As I mentioned over on the other board, make sure the threads are cleaned out in the block. Run a bottoming tap through each of them to be sure. You WILL drop the bolts several times so be prepared to scramble underneath to fetch them.
This is a 2 minute job if the engine is on a stand but a 2 hour job with it installed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,416
Likes: 8
From: Charlotte (Area) North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14
NCM Sinkhole Donor
My goodness Alan is there any part of your car that isn't immaculate? Even your manifolds look like they just came off the line!
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Alan,
As usual some very informative pics. Thank you. Your engine never ceases to amaze me. Mine is "clean" with the help of some diluted Simple Green but shows road/driving wear-and-tear. I won't show a pic so as to avoid embarrassment.
I do not need the boomerang part. As alluded to above I am going over-the-top with the wires this season. While I do have new stock Delco #508-N wire set to fall back on if need be I wish to try something different. I recognize this is sacrilege but why the heck not. It will be fun to cut, crimp, and install end terminals on all the wires (Accel 8-mm, all terminals, tools, etc. at hand). The stock wire set on there now is droopy and badly installed causing me a lot of worry re wire burn-through while driving. There are many GM looms etc. that are missing and they are $$$s. So I'll try just the shields and Bubba out. Actually, although not stock, it should look and function nicely.
If anyone is interested I will be using vertical valve cover looms. They should be here via UPS tomorrow.
The plug boots are straight-on although I have a 90* option if things do not clear the shields and exhaust manifolds nicely.
More to come....
As usual some very informative pics. Thank you. Your engine never ceases to amaze me. Mine is "clean" with the help of some diluted Simple Green but shows road/driving wear-and-tear. I won't show a pic so as to avoid embarrassment.
I do not need the boomerang part. As alluded to above I am going over-the-top with the wires this season. While I do have new stock Delco #508-N wire set to fall back on if need be I wish to try something different. I recognize this is sacrilege but why the heck not. It will be fun to cut, crimp, and install end terminals on all the wires (Accel 8-mm, all terminals, tools, etc. at hand). The stock wire set on there now is droopy and badly installed causing me a lot of worry re wire burn-through while driving. There are many GM looms etc. that are missing and they are $$$s. So I'll try just the shields and Bubba out. Actually, although not stock, it should look and function nicely.
If anyone is interested I will be using vertical valve cover looms. They should be here via UPS tomorrow.
The plug boots are straight-on although I have a 90* option if things do not clear the shields and exhaust manifolds nicely.
More to come....
Last edited by Paul L; Mar 31, 2011 at 03:30 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Paul,
As I mentioned over on the other board, make sure the threads are cleaned out in the block. Run a bottoming tap through each of them to be sure. You WILL drop the bolts several times so be prepared to scramble underneath to fetch them.
This is a 2 minute job if the engine is on a stand but a 2 hour job with it installed.
As I mentioned over on the other board, make sure the threads are cleaned out in the block. Run a bottoming tap through each of them to be sure. You WILL drop the bolts several times so be prepared to scramble underneath to fetch them.
This is a 2 minute job if the engine is on a stand but a 2 hour job with it installed.
Being retired makes 2 hours easy to free up. I'll try it from the top, drop the bolts many times, get frustrated, and then jack up the car.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 5
From: Brown Summit North Carolina
If a GM assembly plant manager saw Alan's car , he would be so ashamed of his finished products.
GO ALAN
you have cost many of your co memebers $$$$ trying to chase your benchmark for how a car should look.
Is your car real , or are these computer generated photos??
Regards
David
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Pete,
Great photo! Thank you. Nice I see where the comments on the motor mount come from: it involved the boomerang as Alan said.
I think I'll be OK except for the front on the passenger side where the A/C compressor is. That will have to go on from below.
(BTW everyone. The four winter GM steel wheels with GoodYear snows came off my DD Impala today and the summer alloys with all seasons went on. My GM dealer stores each series for six months and does the exchange/mounting for $24.00. Spring is coming.)
Great photo! Thank you. Nice I see where the comments on the motor mount come from: it involved the boomerang as Alan said.
I think I'll be OK except for the front on the passenger side where the A/C compressor is. That will have to go on from below.
(BTW everyone. The four winter GM steel wheels with GoodYear snows came off my DD Impala today and the summer alloys with all seasons went on. My GM dealer stores each series for six months and does the exchange/mounting for $24.00. Spring is coming.)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Something folks often forget when installing the shielding are these Engine Block Spark Plug Wire Clips...
They attach with the same bolts that hold the Spark Plug Inner Heat Shields that Paul showed above. Once they're installed it becomes obvious where the wires clip into place and it keeps them tucked away from the exhaust pipe and manifolds.
ZIP has some excellent pictures on their site of how and what all is involved in attaching the ignition shielding to these engines...
Good luck... GUSTO
They attach with the same bolts that hold the Spark Plug Inner Heat Shields that Paul showed above. Once they're installed it becomes obvious where the wires clip into place and it keeps them tucked away from the exhaust pipe and manifolds.
ZIP has some excellent pictures on their site of how and what all is involved in attaching the ignition shielding to these engines...
Good luck... GUSTO
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Just to close off.
The car came home yesterday after six months of winter storage. Sure looks good and runs just fine. No, it was not started during those six months to answer the proverbial storage - should I start each month - question. I have being doing things this way for years.
The new spark plug heat shields were ready in the box from a prominent vendor, having been delivered early last week. Today I gave things a try. I was not successful. In fact I was a miserable failure after three hours. I did not get one on. You just can't see where the shields and the 1/2" head bolts go once you start! I was too tired to jack up the car and crawl underneath. So another day will come when I have more spunk.
So that goes down as a postponed on my spring to-do list.
The car came home yesterday after six months of winter storage. Sure looks good and runs just fine. No, it was not started during those six months to answer the proverbial storage - should I start each month - question. I have being doing things this way for years.
The new spark plug heat shields were ready in the box from a prominent vendor, having been delivered early last week. Today I gave things a try. I was not successful. In fact I was a miserable failure after three hours. I did not get one on. You just can't see where the shields and the 1/2" head bolts go once you start! I was too tired to jack up the car and crawl underneath. So another day will come when I have more spunk.
So that goes down as a postponed on my spring to-do list.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
I wasn't feeling well on Friday - the big day - so I did not do a "Gertrude" message like last year. But the car is home. Looks very nice....
I don't drive in April as it is still very cold. In fact I don't even touch the top as the rear window is brittle. So just fooling around time in the garage until May.
