1956 Ignition Shielding

**John F.** · January 4, 2011, 08:10 PM

Re: 1956 Ignition Shielding

They look like the ones on my 62. Not sure about 56 application. You may need to check your AIM ot he 56 Judging Manual.

**Brooks G.** · January 4, 2011, 08:59 PM

Re: 1956 Ignition Shielding

John, I thank you for your reply to my post. I have looked in both the '56 & '57 Judging Manual and the assembly manual I have and still don't see good pictures of these shielding pieces. The judging manual shows a view of the top cover looking down. The drawings shows the difference between carbureted engines and fuel injected ones. Unfortunately this is not what I need. I still don't know if there is a difference between 1956 and 1957 ignition shielding (for carburetor engines) and also the later years thru 1962. Does anyone have pictures or know of reference material that I can view to tell the differences? Again I thank you in advance. Brooks Glover (2141)

**John F.** · January 4, 2011, 09:36 PM

Re: 1956 Ignition Shielding

The 62 AIM shows these covers in Sect-102, Sheet 5.00. Go to the Corvette Central website and plug in your year and ignition shield. It shows a view of all the parts.

**Brooks G.** · January 5, 2011, 09:10 AM

Re: 1956 Ignition Shielding

John, thanks again for your reply to my post about '56 shielding. I have looked at the pictures that both Paragon and Corvette Central have both on line and in their catalogs and from what I see there are some differences in what I have and what they are selling. In both catalogs, the particular pieces I am talking about are listed as a pair from 1957 -- 1961 with 1962 being different. At the top of the page in the Corvette Central catalog it has (56 replacement). I guess I am still scratching my head. I am still wondering what '56 ignition shielding looks like. Of course there could also be the issue of early '56 verses late '56. My car is a late '56 (August 13 or 14 of 1956). I would still like to see pictures or a good drawing of these parts so that I can tell what I have. A picture is worth a thousand words. Thanks again!
Brooks Glover (2141)

**Tom P.** · January 5, 2011, 10:01 AM

Re: 1956 Ignition Shielding

Unfortunately, I don't have ANY pictures of 56 spark plug shields.
BUT, everything I've seen for the 56 engines shows 4 SEPERATE spark plug shields for the 56 engines (2 seperate per side). The two on each side ARE NOT connected to each other. Also the bottom of the Y in the exhaust manifolds has a stamped sheet metal heat shield that is attached to the bolts on each side of the Y of the manifolds. As far as I know, this heat shield is 56 only.

**Bruce B.** · January 5, 2011, 07:45 PM

Re: 1956 Ignition Shielding

Tom,
Your right, 4 spark plug shields (also on 57 thru 62) and 2 spark plug wire heat shields. The wire heat shields (56 and 57 only) go on the block behind the exhaust pipe at the manifold. These are sometimes called bannana shields due to thier shape. Sort of a pain to install especially near the starter.
I'm not sure about the ignition shields.

**John H.** · January 5, 2011, 07:52 PM

Re: 1956 Ignition Shielding

There's a photo of the '56-'57 "banana shield" on page 127 in Noland's book.

**Brooks G.** · January 5, 2011, 08:52 PM

Re: 1956 Ignition Shielding

Guys, the "banana shields" cover the wires where they go from the side vertical shields to the spark plugs. The shielding I have been talking about covers the spark plugs or at least this is my understanding. Back in the day my Mother had a '57 Chevrolet with a 283 engine. The engine in this car had the "banana shields". It did not have the horizontal shielding I have been talking about. I still hope that a '56 owner who has had his or her car judged to be correct will chime in with some pictures. Thanks to all who have replied to this post. Brooks Glover (2141)

**Ken J.** · January 5, 2011, 10:11 PM

Re: 1956 Ignition Shielding

Guys;
I cannot tell from the pictures, but I will be bringing a complete survivor
56 to The Florida Regional this month for judging. This car is a one family car with very low miles. The car is Red, Red, and Red.
I hope this will be of help.
Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Thanks.
Ken Joseph

**Alexander C.** · January 5, 2011, 10:57 PM

Re: 1956 Ignition Shielding

From what I have learned, the banana shields are all the non-radio cars had in addition to the manifold shields Tom mentioned.

The other spark plug shields were 1 piece, not multi-piece, which I read was a 1 year for '56 only. Nolan's book talks more about this. I have been researching it heavily to get all of mine correct.

Since my '56 is a no radio, all I have to worry about are the banana shields though.

**Edward M.** · January 6, 2011, 05:51 AM

Re: 1956 Ignition Shielding

Originally posted by Ken Joseph (49012)

Guys;
I cannot tell from the pictures, but I will be bringing a complete survivor
56 to The Florida Regional this month for judging. This car is a one family car with very low miles. The car is Red, Red, and Red.
I hope this will be of help.
Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Thanks.
Ken Joseph

Ken;

What VIN range is this car? Early (1st design 56 engine) or late (2nd design engine). Single four or two four car? Automatic or maunal trans?

I will be there, and look forward to seeing the car.

**Edward M.** · January 6, 2011, 05:55 AM

Re: 1956 Ignition Shielding

Brooks;

I sent you an email yesterday with the best description I could locate for the late 56 (and 57) upper and lower ignition shielding description.

You car, being a mid August 56 build, would almost certainly have the late 56 shielding on it, IMO.

**Edward M.** · January 6, 2011, 06:46 AM

Re: 1956 Ignition Shielding

Brooks;

1. Check to make sure these are chrome plated steel, and not stainless steel. Looks like some rust on them, so I think you are OK.

2. Check and confirm the following measurements:

a. Drivers side (shield on bottom in your picture) - upper cutout is 2.31 inches deep x 3.80 inches long, lower cutout tapers in depth x 3.75 inches long

b. Passenger side (shield on top in your picture) - upper cutout is 2.31 inches deep x 3.53 inches deep, lower cutout is 3.25 inches deep x 5.00 inches long. Chck that the lower cutout has a notch for the heat riser valve spring clearance (it looks like it does from the picture).

If these all match, I think you are correct for a late 56 engine.

**Edward M.** · January 6, 2011, 07:05 AM

Re: 1956 Ignition Shielding

OK, one more observation. I see the two holes on the upper side of both shields that attach the shield to the support brackets (which are attched to the exhaust manifold bolts). That is good.

However, I only see a hole on one of the shields that attaches the verical shield to the horizontal shield.

In the AIM, it looks like the passenger side vertical shield attaches to the horizontal shield directly (using a j-nut on the vertical shield and a wing bolt). However, the driver side vertical shield attaches to a support bracket that is bolted to the block.

Does that make sense to you, based on your parts? Do you have the support bracket for the driver vertical shield?

1956 Ignition Shielding

1956 Ignition Shielding

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