1963 Right Ignition Shield Install

[Jeff C.]

I am restoring the car back to stock after BUBA had his way with it. He did keep most of the original parts which cam with the car including the ignition shielding. After installing the correct heater hoses it appears to me to be almost impossible to install the right bottom shield with out removing the heater hoses and maybe the expansion tank. Can anyone give me some hints as to how to do this?045.jpg

[Joe R.]

Re: 1963 Right Ignition Shield Install

Jeff,

You have installed the hoses wrong in the first place and the extention from the overflow tank is also too long. The clamps you have used are not correct and the plastic ties are not stock.
Nice looking exhaust manifolds before overspray! You did use the word "restoring" so I'm sure you will want to correct this when you remove them and install the horizontal shield.

JR

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1963 Right Ignition Shield Install

Joe has hit most of the points. Although it's been over ten years since I last changed plugs, as I recall, the last time I installed it from under the car. Actually, I would long term plan to change plugs next time I have to change a battery, if I last long enough to do that. Back in the day (63+), when I used points, I had to change plugs quite often and I learned to hate that shield. I even went so far as to bend it.

Stu Fox

[Michael G.]

Re: 1963 Right Ignition Shield Install

Here's a pic of correctly installed heater hoses:

Screen Shot 2014-07-16 at 12.05.59 AM.jpg

You should note that even when you fix the hoses, you won't be able to get the shield on from above.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1963 Right Ignition Shield Install

Stu is correct...............The shield MUST be installed from below.

-Remove the right lower splash shield.
-Remove the battery cables.
-Remove the battery shield and inner J bolt.
-Remove the outer battery tray shield bolt. Do this by removing the nut at it's bottom end from underneath the car.
-Shift the battery up and to the outside towards the fender. Raise it above the edge of the battery tray to do the shift. This gives several inches of needed clearance.
-Ensure that your Spark Plug heat shields are properly installed. Missing shields will cause #4 & #6 SP wire boots to burn at a inopportune future time. AMHIK !
-Position the shield in it's correct orientation from under the car, up and into the area of attachment.
-Attach the Horizontal Ign shield to the L-brackets using lock washers and wing nuts.
-Reassemble the items removed, connecting the battery POS first, then NEG last.

Rich
p.s. learned this several years ago .....here: https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...228#post386228

[Edward J.]

Re: 1963 Right Ignition Shield Install

Jeff, just in case you don't have access to a lift or even a jack, It can be done either form the top or bottom. Battery( as Rich stated move against fender), shield, and heater hoses do have to ne moved. Patience is key, its a tight fit no matter which way you do it The positive battery cable is near by MAKE SURE THE battery in un-hooked.

[Duke W.]

Re: 1963 Right Ignition Shield Install

That one-piece RH spark plug shield is essentially impossible to remove without bending it and scratching it and other items. Many came off only once and never went back on, subsequently disappearing over the years. You're lucky to still have it. Mine never went back on, but I still do have it.

It sounds like installing it from the bottom as described is the way to go, but what a pain in the a....

If you use AC heat range 5 plugs or equivalent in another brand and unleaded fuel and the carburetor and spark advance map are in the correct range the plugs should last 15-30K miles, so at least you won't have to do the job very often.

Later in the year that one-piece shield was replaced with a two-piece. The transition appears to correspond with the transition from the AM to the AM/FM radio.

Duke

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1963 Right Ignition Shield Install

My 19xxx was ordered and delivered with the AM/FM radio, and has the one piece shield. I now have a Custom Autosound stereo unit with cassette installed, and I use all the shielding. There is no interference.

This touches on my two areas of non compromise, I.e. My music and my electronic ignition.

Stu Fox

[Joe R.]

Re: 1963 Right Ignition Shield Install

I've also owned a 63 Coupe 20,xxx and it had the original one piece shield. I have NEVER seen an original 1963 with two piece RH shielding. Two piece shielding did not start until 1964.

JR

[John D.]

Re: 1963 Right Ignition Shield Install

Had to replace the RH shield on my 63 as it was an old repro without the reinforcement in the center. Hardest part was finding a plater that could replate two originals I bought with crappy chrome instead of show chrome.
Shield was replaced from the top as old JD doesn't get under cars. Can't fit and no lift. Tru story. JD

[Richard M.]

Re: 1963 Right Ignition Shield Install

Had to replace the RH shield on my 63 as it was an old repro without the reinforcement in the center. Hardest part was finding a plater that could replate two originals I bought with crappy chrome instead of show chrome.
Shield was replaced from the top as old JD doesn't get under cars. Can't fit and no lift. Tru story. JD

John, did you have the battery moved outward and the expansion tank and hoses out? When I did mine a few years ago it would not fit even with the battery out of the way, but the tank and hoses were there. Maybe I missed one particular angle but I could not get that darn thing on from the top.

Rich

[John D.]

Re: 1963 Right Ignition Shield Install

Battery was out of the car and still is out Rich. Hoses ties up out of the way. John

[Jeff C.]

Re: 1963 Right Ignition Shield Install

Thank you all for the info. I am restoring the car and have the correct clamps and straps on order (as always, maybe yes, maybe no). The set up was to check the fit.
Thanks again,
Jeff