69 big block starter heat shield [Archive]

nuch_ss396

10-04-2004, 02:35 AM

Hello everyone!

I've visited your site numerous times in the past to look
through all of the restoration info posted here. It's a
gold-mine! I decided to become a member earlier today.
Yes, I did just give a donation to the SYC via. Paypal!
It was my chance to give something back.

I need to enlist the assistance of any of you who can help
me verify the validity ( existance ) of an original starter
heat shield used on the '69 SS 396 Camaro's & Chevelles.
According to a well known author, the '69 big block Camaro's
used a starter heat shield. I have as of yet to see one
original car with one intact. That doesn't mean that they
don't exist. I am closing in on the final stages of my
SS 396 Camaro restoration and I very much need to know if
this heat shield was used in production. My car was built
10-D-68.

I have been told that the heat shield in questions was both
steel and stainless steel. Which was it? The Corvette guys
tell me that the BB Vette had a stainless steel shield, but
it was used only for the BB Vette. If this heat shield does
exist and it in-fact a true original part, can any members
here post a picture ( or five ) showing exactly what it
looks like? Also, I need one and if any members have one or
know of where one exists, kindly let me know. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif

Thanks,
Steve

bkhpah

10-04-2004, 04:15 AM

I believe that the starter shield was a later addition. The 396 Camaro shield was initiated @ 5/13/69 with the Novas getting it about a month later on @ 6/3/69. I have never taken one off an early car and have never had a Camaro or Nova big block in the shop later that O7A and not one has had it. I would like the answer to this as well. Good question..BKH http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

Belair62

10-04-2004, 04:18 AM

Welcome and thanks for joining up and becoming a Member http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif Don't know if this is correct or not but here it is....it's on my Chevelle...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/Belair62/wheels/ccc004.jpg

bkhpah

10-04-2004, 05:38 AM

Just had an unmolested 396/375 1969 Chevelle in the shop with the correct 814 and no shield. I think it was an April car...BKH

Belair62

10-04-2004, 05:41 AM

Probably the first thing to get tossed once you had starter problems.

69L78

10-04-2004, 05:45 AM

My 12k mile survivor L78 has a 12B date and has the original shield on it.

nuch_ss396

10-04-2004, 05:50 AM

Thanks for the input gentlemen! I hope it continues.

One more thing to add: On some other forums, it had been
suggested that as these cars were in for any repairs that
required the starter to be removed, these shields were the
first things tossed. Can any of you comment on this? I
expect it could have happened ( especially in Bubba's shop )
but not always. What we need are a few of the very low
mileage owners to chime in here. Lastly, I find the comment
about mid 1969 as the intro date for the shield interesting.
It would certainly explain why a lot of these BB cars don't
have the shields. If this proves true, I am in the clear.
Finally - for once! You know the early BB Camaro's had
two-piece rotors, '113/'114 frame mounts, etc.....
I'm forever chasing these "holy grail" items. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif
Steve

nuch_ss396

10-04-2004, 05:53 AM

L78GEARHEAD,

Would you be able to post an image of your heat shield?
Also, is it stainless steel or plain steel? Is your car an
early or late build date?
Steve

TDW

10-04-2004, 01:50 PM

I have an 06D built L78 Chevelle that has the shield. Looks just like Belairs, only not as clean. I don't think my starter has ever been taken off.

mrrec

10-04-2004, 05:10 PM

The shield was polished stainless steel (the more reflective the surface, the better it reflects heat). My 69 SS RS 396 conv. still had it on when I bought it in '79. It is a 10A 68 car.

There is absolutely no question the heat shields and parts similar were "lost" along the way. I worked in a service station in the 70's and know first hand that many parts like these were trash canned.

The GM replacement has been galvanized steel for years. I believe the polished stainless shield is now being reproduced.

Dave

Mr70

10-04-2004, 05:39 PM

I remember tossing these in H.S.,along with the Distributor RFI shield. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

Chevy454

10-04-2004, 11:14 PM

[ QUOTE ]
What we need are a few of the very low
mileage owners to chime in here.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey Tedford, wake up! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

1969L78Nova

10-05-2004, 12:51 AM

My March built 69 L78 Nova (Numbers Matching) has a heat shield installed. This is much earlier than the June date mentioned by BKHPAH.
I can't be certain that its original since I am the 4th owner.
Martin

69L78

10-05-2004, 03:40 AM

Steve...My Camaro is an early built car...If I get a chance this weekend I will post a pic.

NCGuy68

10-05-2004, 04:34 AM

[ QUOTE ]

There is absolutely no question the heat shields and parts similar were "lost" along the way. I worked in a service station in the 70's and know first hand that many parts like these were trash canned.quote]

Yep.....Just like the starter solenoid wire harness retainer clip. I tossed a few of them in my younger days. Now, originals are hard to find in pristine condition.

For those interested, the clip appears to be gray zinc phosphated.

JoeG

10-05-2004, 04:40 AM

My heat shield had salt/rust stains on it---galvanized---started clip was also galvanized---

bkhpah

10-05-2004, 04:44 AM

This whole topic is a good one. I dug into some of my other GM manuals with clearer text. I appears that the revisions were made in the 5/13 and 6/3 of 1968. So those early cars that still have the shield on them would appear correct. We have put starter shields on most of the restorations in the past, but I was never sure what was right. But they do work well, and in most cases we also change the selinoid spring to the heavy duty one available through any GM dealer. It will help start some of those peskey high compression big blocks when they are hot...BKH http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

nuch_ss396

10-05-2004, 06:01 AM

That's great! I can't wait to see some of these pictures!

Now, on to the bigger problem - where to get one. I would
very much like to see one of these "off of the car" though
so I can identify it when I see it.

Thanks,
Steve

nuch_ss396

10-05-2004, 06:10 AM

Guys? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Is it possible that almost all of these heat shields were
tossed through the years? You know what amazes me. With
all of the obtuse little items you see on eBay all the time,
I have yet to see a used, or true NOS heat shield. How do
you figure that? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Steve

68l30

10-05-2004, 06:29 AM

Heres a shot .....The heat shield application I'm not sure of.I believe 69 BB Vette.It was galvanized...The other is the RFI shield.. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Steve http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

68l30

10-05-2004, 06:31 AM

Pic 2

Mr70

10-05-2004, 06:36 AM

My book says:
Heat shield Part#3954224 early-
Part#361443 later.
Corvette only is #3943647.
I may have found a source.

John Brown

10-05-2004, 07:14 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Guys? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif ........ what amazes me. With
all of the obtuse little items you see on eBay all the time,
I have yet to see a used, or true NOS heat shield. Steve

[/ QUOTE ]

There have been at least two of those heat shields on the bay in the last two months. The first one was a stainless one by a guy (Al?) from the Detroit area that was bid to over $500 http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif and didn't meet reserve. The second was a NOS galvanized one that was on for about two days, then was pulled, "item no longer available". I just picked up a used galvanized one at a swap meet from a guy who didn't have a clue what it was. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif I remember taking a bunch of them off because they were sharp and would cut your hands when putting on headers!!

bbdon

10-05-2004, 08:14 AM

$500?!! You gotta be kidding.
Anyway, this is what an original looks like. I pulled this off of a 325 horse 69 El Camino many years ago.

http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/hs1.jpg

http://www.sonic.net/bbdon/free/hs2.jpg

nuch_ss396

10-05-2004, 09:04 AM

BBDON,

Thanks for posting those great images!

Now were cooking with gas! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif OK, is this a stainless
steel part? Sure looks like one. Do you happen to know,
or possibly remember the build date of that El Camino? Now
your shield certainly looks a lot different than the
last pictures posted. BTW guys, I believe that the
69 BB Vette shields were stainless steel too. Don't know
where that galvanized steel shield came from. Do any of
you? Hopefully, we can get a chance to see the other shield
images posted here soon to verify this one.

Well, it looks like this is a very productive thread. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif I
believe we have identified that early build date cars did
indeed have these shields. At least according to the book
anyway.

Keep those responses & images going!

Steve

1969L78Nova

10-05-2004, 03:13 PM

The one on my Nova is galvanized.I can see why some guys threw them out. Despited installing a new solenoid last spring there were still a few times when I had to wait for the BB to cool down before the starter would engage! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Martin

Steve Shauger

10-05-2004, 04:31 PM

My L34 survivor built 9B of 68 had one and my 69L78 built 6A of 69 had the remnants of one. I Still have a piece from the 6A car and will check what it is made of, but I believe it is stainless.

mrrec

10-05-2004, 04:43 PM

Yep, Mr70, those shields were a pain. It was tough enough getting the solenoid wires connected after you rebuilt the starter or replaced the solenoid. The manifold was always hot, plenty of grease - just leave that shield off! Since I was in high school when I worked on 'em in the 70's, I'm sure I learned this "trick" from the full timers.

Why aren't there any around? We didn't save all that stuff at the station, we threw it in the garbage! It was junk!

Dave

nuch_ss396

10-05-2004, 06:50 PM

Dave,

Didn't you have the foresight to see that these shields
would be valuable 25 years in the future? Come on! I
guess you also threw away SMOG system components too.

Oh yeah, I did that too............ sorry! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif
When you sit down and actually think about this logically,
I wonder how any of these sheilds survived the 1970's. Did
anyone back then actually think there would be a future
muscle car craze? Especially after the second gas crisis
hit the US in 1979.

Steve

bbdon

10-05-2004, 06:51 PM

Yes, the part is stainless, and I think that the El Camino was built in April 69. I still have the intake from that car on my Nova, but it was too dark to read the date this morning. Too bad that the special nut that holds the shield was missing from that car.

John Brown

10-06-2004, 02:36 AM

Heres a galvalized close up....

John Brown

10-06-2004, 02:37 AM

picture 2

John Brown

10-06-2004, 02:40 AM

picture 3

John Brown

10-06-2004, 02:41 AM

last picture..........

nuch_ss396

10-06-2004, 03:20 AM

John,

Great images of the shield! You-da-man! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

What car & build date did this shield come off of?
Galvanized steel- huh? So much for the stainless steel
only issue? I wonder why some were stainless and yours
is not. Production use vs. replacement item perhaps? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

Anybody care to chime in on that?
Steve

John Brown

10-06-2004, 03:42 AM

This is a swap meet treasure. The guy I got it from had no idea http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif what it came off of. He was just cleaning up his garage. I was glad to help him out.

nuch_ss396

10-06-2004, 03:46 AM

John - buddy !!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Would you like to be a nice guy and "help me out"?

Steve

NCGuy68

10-06-2004, 04:43 AM

Is the shield stainless or galvanized?

Its a no-brainer!! Galvanized steel is magnetic, stainless is NOT. Use a simple magnet if in doubt.

Keep in mind that GM always used two different part suppliers to avoid interuption at the final assembly plants. Its possible that some cars got stainless and others got gavanixed.

bbdon

10-06-2004, 08:02 AM

[ QUOTE ]

Galvanized steel is magnetic, stainless is NOT. Use a simple magnet if in doubt.

[/ QUOTE ]

Some kinds of stainless steel are magnetic, others are not. My heat shield certainly seems to be stainless, it is nice and shiny and has no rust or pitting. But it attracts a magnet too.

Steve Shauger

10-06-2004, 08:11 AM

Yes some stainless is magnetic, it depends on the nickle content. I believe 304 stainless is non-magnetic.

Belair62

10-06-2004, 06:50 PM

metallurgical hump

Mr70

10-06-2004, 07:02 PM

OK....
http://images.iwoot.com/alts/humdog_alt1.gif

Steve Shauger

10-06-2004, 09:04 PM

Is that you humping Ricks(MR70)leg? We know who the real hump is.. ya hump.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

@wot

10-07-2004, 02:21 AM

About 6 months ago I asked a friend at a chevy dealer to do a search for a heat shield for my L78 nova. He found two originals (galvanized metal) in Texas. I bought one, and it arrived in an original 1969 GM filthy package. I paid about $8 for the part and around $12 for shipping.

Belair62

10-07-2004, 04:22 AM

Itys a pic of Charley with one of those Chinese aardvarks he has.

Charley Lillard

10-07-2004, 04:26 AM

Shut up you Tick.............

NCGuy68

10-07-2004, 06:35 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Galvanized steel is magnetic, stainless is NOT. Use a simple magnet if in doubt.

[/ QUOTE ]

Some kinds of stainless steel are magnetic, others are not. My heat shield certainly seems to be stainless, it is nice and shiny and has no rust or pitting. But it attracts a magnet too.

[/ QUOTE ]

Very interesting to say the least. Sounds like you have a nice original carbon steel shield survivor. Over time, galvanized parts will lose their 'garbage can spangle luster', and look like stainless, silver cadmium, or zinc chromate.

What coating do you think is on your part? Or...what alloy do you think it is made of? I'am skeptical that it is stainless.

Lets help Belair get over the 'metallurgy hump'... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

68l30

10-07-2004, 05:12 PM

A lower grade of stainless steel,302, will become magnetic after it has been "worked". By worked I mean formed,bent,and rolled.I can't say for sure what the shields were made of but this is a very good possiblity.

Steve http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif