What is this shield for?

[special-K]

I've had a lot of original trucks and none that I can recall had them. The '72s I've had were K-models or big blocks. I did have an all original '71 Custom Camper/20 with 350 that did not have these. And it blew out the exhaust manifold just like the picture shown. It happened on a long curvy decent where I was either coasting or braking. At the bottom when I hit the gas it sounded like an old farm tractor. had to install headers to keep traveling.

[VetteVet]

This thread has a picture of the shields in post 4 by Lynnfield. You might try sending him a PM and see if he knows what they're for. VV

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=468523

[jocko]

my 71 didn't have them - but they may have been removed(?)
my 72 has the original ones on both sides.
They sure do get in the way when doing stuff in that vicinity... ha.
It does seem hard to imagine that they would really help cool the manifolds "that" much. Even with an eggcrate grille, the airflow can't be that excessive aft of the radiator bracing etc. But, every little bit helps I guess. I had NO idea what these things were for - but knew it to be original to my truck, so left it alone After wanting to swear at it for being in the way... of course. Good question!

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by Already Gone

Looking under my hood I see these two "shields" one on each side of the engine near the exhaust manifolds. My truck is pretty original especially under the hood so I'm curious as to what these do or did ?

Now, I read this post and I remember. I bought my 72 in '83, moved into my house in '85. When I replaced the driver's side manifold, heads, cam, I removed them from both sides and put them on the shelf.

Found a pair of those in my garage earlier this year, could not figure out what they were and threw them away. I did not throw away the hot air intake setup.

Darn! Wish I'd a kept them.

If I don't throw stuff away, I never need it. If I throw it away, I always regret it. I need a bigger place LOL.

[Don Quixote]

All that said, if this is all true, I am learning something new all the time but this could be bad for me. My rig is constantly pulling heavy loads and trailers over long distances and over mountains, &c. and I run rams horns. Would anyone suggest an alternative to these shields to avoid such a blowout? The army would never buy that as an excuse for a failure to report...

[Joesjunk]

Those were a '72 year only part, and I was thinking it was a manifold cooling piece. Most have been removed years ago, because it does make it difficult to remove the spark plugs.

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by Don Quixote

All that said, if this is all true, I am learning something new all the time but this could be bad for me. My rig is constantly pulling heavy loads and trailers over long distances and over mountains, &c. and I run rams horns. Would anyone suggest an alternative to these shields to avoid such a blowout? The army would never buy that as an excuse for a failure to report...

Install a good set of headers or scour the wrecking yards for a set of the shields or become a paying member and post a WTB ad thread in the For Sale section on the site.

[jacob822]

my 72 c10 350 has the driver side still in tact, the previous owner even installed a brace on top to keep it from moving out of the way so the spark plugs would be impossible for me to get to.

[GMC-YA68]

They are annoying. besides the top screws. What else holds them on?? Mine came halfway bent to shyt and I want to remove them.