C-3, debris screens

[D S.]

Those plastic screens that are mounted at each corner inside the fender wells where the windshield wiper mechanisms are that catch debris from falling down into the air plennums .....were these the same configuration and mounted in the same location in all years from 1968 to 1982? Mine are missing and I need to find a pair. Are they reproduced by any company?

Thanks,
Scott

[Harmon C.]

Re: C-3, debris screens

Scott
I thought those screens were metal like hardware cloth.

[Alan S.]

Re: C-3, debris screens

Scott,
I didn't think the earlier years 68-72 had any. I know my 71 didn't. Now I'm curious, too.
Regards,
Alan

[D S.]

Re: C-3, debris screens

Hey, Lyle....the last time I saw you was in San Antonio. I believe I bought some Trico wiper arms from you.

Here are three eBay completed auctions for those screens. They appear to be plastic but maybe the metal mesh is embedded in the plastic and the plastic squares are supports for the metal screens:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1969-1981-Corvette-Roadster-Coupe-Cowl-End-Screens_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ34204QQihZ023QQitemZ360032395681QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CORVETTE-WINDSHIELD-WIPER-COWL-DRAIN-SCREENS-76-77-82_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6763QQihZ002QQitemZ120230054985QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1978-CORVETTE-UNDER-HOOD-REAR-FENDER-AIR-SCREENS-OEM-NR_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ10076QQihZ024QQitemZ370028131322QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[D S.]

Re: C-3, debris screens

I am, too. I haven't actually seen them in the '69-'72s but then I wasn't looking for them either until the question came up. My 1970 assembly manual doesn't show them. However, it's not a bad idea to do something to keep debris from falling behind the kick panels.

[Alan S.]

Re: C-3, debris screens

Scott,
I saw that EBAY listing too. It made me check my 71 AIM to see if I had really missed something. Didn't find anything. Did those screens begin when the wiper door was dropped in favor of the 'long' hood? That would make sense.
Regards,
Alan

[D S.]

Re: C-3, debris screens

Good thought, Alan. And it makes sense in this ever changing design world. I'm trying to think who might have their restored or original '69-'72 Corvette at hand. Most I know are in storage somewhere. There is a guy in Austria who has his '70 in his garage and he is absolutley a nut about having the correct stuff on his. I'll let you know when I find out from doing a short survey.

[Jack H.]

Re: C-3, debris screens

Yes, that's my recollection...the debris screens came along AFTER the car was simplified to delete the discrete wiper door. That would be somewhere in the 73 & later era.

[Alan S.]

Re: C-3, debris screens

Scott,
The 71 that I'm the original owner of is in the basement. It doesn't have them. By time I took that car apart I had learned to tag, bag, and photo. They didn't get lost.
Regards,
Alan

[Martin N.]

Re: C-3, debris screens

Scott-

My 74 convertibale had rusted metal cowl guard screens in it when I bought the car 7 years ago. The screen material in my car looked like stuff you can get in a local hardware store except where the metal nut plates where. Well when I took those out and down to the hardware store low and behold I matched it pefectly to their sreen selection that was there. I simply layed out the old over the new, cut out to match, transfered the nut plates by soldering them, sprayed with clear and reinstalled. Wish I knew how to post pictures, I'd send ya some shots of mine.

Good luck....Marty

[Harmon C.]

Re: C-3, debris screens

I know 73-74 had a screen that was made of metal hardware cloth ( like the kind on the old air cleaner filters). The parts in the ad look like plastic and each ad tells different years from 69-81 and are much larger than 73 type. One ad says 1978 and that could be the first year for that type part but that is a guess.
Lyle

[Jack H.]

Re: C-3, debris screens

And, if memory serves, the screens changed to a form of plastic grating on later era Shark cars....

[Steve W.]

Re: C-3, debris screens

My last day of production '75 coupe has a metallic mesh screen.