63 Right Horizontal Ignition Shield Removal

[Richard M.]

Ok I give up.....have to ask. Just spent 30 minutes trying to figure out how to remove the right horizontal shield. I installed it before I put the battery, heater hoses, expansion tank back in, being a smarty-pants to save time later.

Thought I could get it out the rear from underneath, so I disconnected the battery cable and cable clip from the battery shield.......Nope. It hangs up on the manifold center.

Then I removed the heater hose bracket on the alternator mount brace thinking to go forward then up.....Nope. Upper A-frame in the way.

Do I need to pull the battery.......again?

Any Other Thoughts?
Rich

[Troy P.]

Re: 63 Right Horizontal Ignition Shield Removal

I seem to recall this problem before I decided to just leave the entire system off the car. PIA!!! Nevertheless, if memory serves correctly it did come out the bottom and I had to squeeze it to make it skinny. I could be wrong but that's my recollection.

[Henry A.]

Re: 63 Right Horizontal Ignition Shield Removal

I have done it with the squeeze method and just worked it out...but that is with a non AC car and the alt. not in the way. Try removing the alt.

Henry

[Bob R.]

Re: 63 Right Horizontal Ignition Shield Removal

I have remmoved it a couple of times for one reason or another and always removed it from the bottom. I believe you pull it away form the manifold slide it one way then the other until you find an opening to pull it thorough. I think the opening between the starter and the battery will work. I've never resorted to bending the metal.

[Stuart F.]

Re: 63 Right Horizontal Ignition Shield Removal

First time off in 1963 we bent it. Left it off for many years until sometime in the 90's when I decided to return everything back to stock for show. Since then I make it part of a major project (changing plugs) and pull the battery out. With electronic ignition, it doesn't need to be done so often like when I had points. Then the plugs needed changing everytime I got caught in traffic, and is why I left it off back then. I have a wet battery too which is tricky. Often thought about changing the mounting brackets to use a later year two piece shield. Recently changed to Electric choke and removed the hot air tube off the manifold. Don't know yet if that will help.

Stu Fox

[Timothy B.]

Re: 63 Right Horizontal Ignition Shield Removal

I'm listening with baited breath to this question. I can honestly say the change to two piece was a positive move!! I think if you lift the motor and move it to the left 2" the shield will come off easily.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

[Stuart F.]

Re: 63 Right Horizontal Ignition Shield Removal

Thanks Tim. You always have a simple solution to a problem.

Merry Christmas to you and yours, and to all the other great NCRS members around the world.

Stu Fox

[Richard M.]

Re: 63 Right Horizontal Ignition Shield Removal

Wow.......I did it! What a job this turned out to be......

Yes it must come out the rear and underneath. However, I didn't want to bend and squeeze the new one, so I had to take the old one out with caution, then reverse the method.

So..........I had to remove the outboard battery hold-down long bolt & front J-bolt, then move the battery/shield assembly outboard about 3 or 4 inches(further away from the manifold). That gave plenty of clearance at the battery which was the major obstacle. Then lowered it down to the ground. New one just the reverse operation.

More PIA was the left vertical lower wing bolt(picture 4). That was a blast. Also had to modify the top hole in that one as it wouldn't line with the hole in the top shield face. ??? The top shield hole had some peculiar evidence of prior trouble in this alignment area.

When we got this car a year ago it only had the top shield, and I was able to locate nice used pieces(except the right vertical which is now a repro). It sure was more challenging that my '59 shield setup, which by comparison is a walk in the park.

OK...now to wrap those presents.......

Thanks for the suggestions and help.
Merry Christmas,
Rich