Dist. Points Cover Under the Cap

[Steven B.]

Is anyone familiar with a two piece metal "cup" that fits under the dist. cap and covers the points with the rotor sticking through the top cover?

It is supposedly used to minimize with radio static on 1957 Corvettes.

Thanks!

Steve

[Clem Z.]

Re: Dist. Points Cover Under the Cap

Is anyone familiar with a two piece metal "cup" that fits under the dist. cap and covers the points with the rotor sticking through the top cover?

It is supposedly used to minimize with radio static on 1957 Corvettes.

Thanks!

Steve

i think that cover started a lot later than 1957.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Dist. Points Cover Under the Cap

Don't recall any such device for static. There used to be a Stewart Warner tach that was driven by an insert (beige) between the distributor and the cap for the old pre 63 distributors. I extended the rotor upward and also the cap clips. The unit in the car was a big beast, but it worked well. On my first 55 V8 I put in my 50 coupe I had one of those down below the dash where it couldn't be seen, just like the early C-1 Vettes.

Stu fox

[Kevin G.]

Re: Dist. Points Cover Under the Cap

Are you refering to the RFI Shielding? Here is a picture of a set but I couldn't tell you what years they were used.

[Terry M.]

Re: Dist. Points Cover Under the Cap

Use of the RFI shield began 1970 production around s/n 12,000 or there a bouts and continued into 1974 -- Or so I think – anyway it went until the HEI came into production. Definitely not applicable to 1957.

BTW-- nice pic Kevin.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Dist. Points Cover Under the Cap

when GM went to the "unipoints" they did away with the cover if i remember correctly. CRFS you know. can't remember for sure

[Larry M.]

Re: Dist. Points Cover Under the Cap

Terry:

Excellent memory. The 1972 Chevrolet Corvette Parts Book I have shows this shield is applicable to 1970-71 with 350 cid and 454 cid engines, except SHP. Part #1846216. The parts book ends sometime in 1972, so anything later than that would not show up.

Definitely not 1950's.

Larry

[Steven B.]

Re: Dist. Points Cover Under the Cap

Kevin's picture is it! I was told by a parts vendor that it was used on '57's but I never saw one on a '57. Now I know why.

Thanks to all of you!

Steve

[Terry M.]

Re: Dist. Points Cover Under the Cap

when GM went to the "unipoints" they did away with the cover if i remember correctly. CRFS you know. can't remember for sure

Clem you have a better memory than I do. I forgot about those uni-point sets that will not fit under the RFI shield. I am not sure that those ever came in production -- but then things that happened after 1972 are just a mystery to me. It's not that I forget -- it is that I never knew.

[Jack H.]

Re: Dist. Points Cover Under the Cap

The internal shield was introduced in 1970 and according to service bulletins of the era, the shield was there to thwart underhood RFI from interacting with the new option (radio antenna embedded in windshield).

This option was NOT available for Corvette and with the vehicle's unique fiberglass body (no Gaussian shield effect), Corvette had always mounted the radio antenna at the rear of the car to get away from the engine compartment + added discrete spark sheilding on the engines of radio equipped cars.

But, I suspect Corvette went along with the rest of the Chevy community when they discovered they could delete the discrete spark shields from the front cylinder banks and cost reduce the HUGE shield surrounding the distributor when the shields were installed inside the distributor cap....

[Harmon C.]

Re: Dist. Points Cover Under the Cap

Terry has it right that they were used in 74's and stopped with the HEI in 75.

[Tom P.]

Re: Dist. Points Cover Under the Cap

It is supposedly used to minimize with radio static on 1957 Corvettes.

Thanks!

Steve

When people make comments like this, I immediately get as far away from them as I can!

[Stuart F.]

Re: Dist. Points Cover Under the Cap

Tom;

Now you know why I suggested he was looking at a S-W Tach Drive.

Stu Fox

[Tom P.]

Re: Dist. Points Cover Under the Cap

It is not possible for me to count the number of these shields that I've thrown in the trash bin over the past 30+yrs!
Along with a few ign shield parts and ONE Batwing air cleaner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Michael H.]

Re: Dist. Points Cover Under the Cap

Clem you have a better memory than I do. I forgot about those uni-point sets that will not fit under the RFI shield. I am not sure that those ever came in production -- but then things that happened after 1972 are just a mystery to me. It's not that I forget -- it is that I never knew.

I don't remember exactly when the uniset points first appeared but I'm pretty sure it was around 1972 or 73?
At one point in production, all new Chevrolet cars came equipped with these new unisets. At the same time, there was a fierce legal battle going on over the patent on these point sets. Supposedly, someone already held a patent but GM/Delco started making/using them in production anyway.
The battle continued and at some point, GM issued bulletins to dealers that the uniset was no longer available.
During this short period, I seem to remember that the RFI shield was NOT used on new vehicles. I think it reappeared again after GM switched back to conventional points and condenser.
Been a long time so the details are a bit fuzzy. I'll see if I still have any info on this.

Believe there was a kit GM issued to convert uniset distributors back to standard points/condenser. Did the kit contain a new breaker plate along with points, condenser, bracket and screw? I seem to remember it that way because the point plate for uniset didn't have the locating nubs or hole for the condenser bracket and screw??