1980 Corvette RH Side Spark Plug Heat Shield Removal HELP!

[Don I.]

On a 1980 Corvette, how the heck do you remove the heat shield than covers the last 2 spark plugs on the passenger side? I've played with it for an hour now and no luck. It looks to me that if you have to remove the dipstick tube and it'll come off. I cannot believe you have to remove the dipstick tube to change your spark plugs. If you do have to remove it, how? I lifted up on it and I cannot get it off. A bolt holding it down? Thanks in advance! Don

[Gary V.]

Re: 1980 Corvette RH Side Spark Plug Heat Shield Removal HELP!

Hi Don, I have a '79 and I remove the shield by removing two bolts holding on to the stand offs and remove the shield from under the car. It is not easy but it can come off without removing the dip stick which is pressed into the block, no bolt, but can be removed by leveraging the base of it upward. The dipstick is on the drivers side of the block, Gary

[Don I.]

Re: 1980 Corvette RH Side Spark Plug Heat Shield Removal HELP!

Hi Gary. My set-up must be different than yours. I have a single bolt holding mine. The shield is unbolted but cannot get it around the dipstick tube. My dipstick tube is on the passenger side on my car.

[Gary V.]

Re: 1980 Corvette RH Side Spark Plug Heat Shield Removal HELP!

Hi Don, It must be different, I have the L48 350. I hope someone with a 1980 with the same setup responds, now I would like to know! Gary

[Don I.]

Re: 1980 Corvette RH Side Spark Plug Heat Shield Removal HELP!

I figured it out today. I had to removed the vacuum line that runs down to the exhaust heat valve. I'm keeping the shield off! What a pain that was! Thanks for your replies.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1980 Corvette RH Side Spark Plug Heat Shield Removal HELP!

Hi Don, I have a '79 and I remove the shield by removing two bolts holding on to the stand offs and remove the shield from under the car. It is not easy but it can come off without removing the dip stick which is pressed into the block, no bolt, but can be removed by leveraging the base of it upward. The dipstick is on the drivers side of the block, Gary

Gary-------


All 1957-79 Corvette small blocks have the dipstick on the drivers side. However, 1980 and later have it on the passenger side. The oil pan also changed for 1980. In fact, what it changed to was a 63-74 style pan but with provisions for a passenger style dipstick. The 1975-79 oil pan was just a passenger car oil pan. 1963-74 and 1980-96 Corvette oil pans are Corvette-only pieces.

[Gary V.]

Re: 1980 Corvette RH Side Spark Plug Heat Shield Removal HELP!

Hi Joe, Thank you for the information, I had no idea about the pans and the dip stick change, Gary

[Don I.]

Re: 1980 Corvette RH Side Spark Plug Heat Shield Removal HELP!

Good info. That's why I joined the club!