C1 Repro Ignition Shielding

[Christopher R.]

The original horizontal ignition shielding pieces on my '62 are pitted and rusty. I'm thinking of replacing them with repros. Specifically, the ones from Paragon. But I'm reluctant to replace original stuff with repro stuff.

1. Anybody have any experience with the Paragon repro horizontal ignition shielding pieces?

2. Anybody have any experience with other sources?

3. Anybody have any experience with getting original ones rechromed?

[Roy B.]

Re: C1 Repro Ignition Shielding

Right or wrong the detail and quality of most repro's never can match the original part , only out of desperation would I use a repro part.
But again that's me , not saying it's wrong to buy repro. In the JM a part is listed (original & condition ) my outside mirror is not perfect (good) but real , so it will get full boat under "original" and take a hit for "condition", I'm OK with that because I know I have a real original mirror not the in perfect repro.
You decide??

[Mike E.]

Re: C1 Repro Ignition Shielding

I believe that they are using original tooling---very hard to see any difference between original and repro, especially when mounted. We deducted nothing at the national this summer on 61-62 shielding between original and repro, because it was virtually undetectable. The repro chrome is a little too nice--so, generally, is rechroming your original. If you do a rechrome, let them know that you aren't looking for show chrome on those, because GM certainly didn't care about show chrome either. If your original has any pitting, with the proper chroming, the pitting will also be slightly detectable (don't overbuff the parts before chrome or the original crispness of the stamping will be lost.)
All in all, you'll judge about the same with either redone original or repro.

[Steven B.]

Re: C1 Repro Ignition Shielding

I just had a judge deduct for the originality of my repro FI shielding because it was too perfect, and he then showed me an original that had the two top corners bent over by what must have been a ball peen hammer. Apparently they didn't care too much long ago to even make the corners look nice. Because of the rough nature of the original, the repro took a hit because it didn't look "rough" enough. Seems like it must be at the discretion of the judge. And this was a chapter meet, not the National or Regional.

[Mike E.]

Re: C1 Repro Ignition Shielding

Steve--
The original post was regarding the lower horizontal shielding, and my reply was to that post.
You are right--we took off points at the National for incorrect reproduction top shields for the very reason that you mention (as well as others). Very few points off, but a deduct nonetheless, because the top shielding is not identical to the way the cars left St. Louis.

[John D.]

Re: C1 Repro Ignition Shielding

Does the repro horizontal have the reinforcement on the inside. The long piece that is tack welded on? I assume both 62 and 63 had this. John D.

[Roy B.]

Re: C1 Repro Ignition Shielding

I often thought it would help NCRS gain better judges and help new judges to have three stages to determine a part.

1 Original to inform the owner that a part is a GM original real part
2 Repro to inform the owner that a part has been replaced and not a GM supplied part
3 Condition which would apply to the original or repro parts

That would help owners greatly to understand a parts design (repro or original) but = you fill in the blank!!

[Mike E.]

Re: C1 Repro Ignition Shielding

John--
The good repros have the reinforcing rib that is 62-63 only.

[Steven B.]

Re: C1 Repro Ignition Shielding

Mike:

Thanks for the clarification on the shielding. I understand the original vs repro for deductions and thought you were referring to the top shield-my fault. Any event, always good to learn and in a hobby with no absolutes and sometimes no right answers, there is a lot to learn.

steve

[Ian G.]

Re: C1 Repro Ignition Shielding

At the last judging I attended, the judges deducted for the spot welds being too even. It was expected that the welds would be a little off-center. I'm keeping my eyes out for an original top shield as a result, but my car is a fuelie, so they are hard to come by...

[Chuck L.]

Re: C1 Repro Ignition Shielding

Chris,
I always had good luck with Vette Products of Michigan in Lake Orion, MI. This was years ago, so don't have their number. The owner is Neil Porter and he was at the Florida Regional last year. They manufacture a lot of the parts there as well and have reasonable prices.

[John H.]

Re: C1 Repro Ignition Shielding

Chris,
I always had good luck with Vette Products of Michigan in Lake Orion, MI.

https://www.vetteproducts.net

[Christopher R.]

Re: C1 Repro Ignition Shielding

Chris,
I always had good luck with Vette Products of Michigan in Lake Orion, MI. This was years ago, so don't have their number. The owner is Neil Porter and he was at the Florida Regional last year. They manufacture a lot of the parts there as well and have reasonable prices.

Do you know if they manufacture the shielding?

[John H.]

Re: C1 Repro Ignition Shielding

Do you know if they manufacture the shielding?

Give Neil a call and ask him - I don't recall offhand if that's one of the 900+ parts they manufacture.

[Ray C.]

Re: C1 Repro Ignition Shielding

I believe that the stainless steel raw material on the distributor shield is of a higher or different quality and a magnet will not stick to the shield. Is there an after market shield that a magnet will stick to?

Ray