I was looking through google images of 1975 engine bays, when I saw this thing pop up in a few photos.  What the heck is this?  Some sort of distributor cover?  Any ideas?  All I know is that I don't have that in my engine bay.

http://www.c3vr.com/member_uploads/14801_14900/14802/6E853_1975_chevrolet_corvette_convertible-pic-2065822036759632319.jpeg



(large image changed to link-aapple)


|UPDATED|7/24/2012 9:33:46 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Part of the ignition shielding system.  Vettes with radios had shielding over the dist and ignition wires to prevent radio noise.  Most of the vendors have the whole setup available.....for a price.  

Aha, thank you.  I couldn't figure out what the heck that was.

Ya...that's the ignition shielding. If you want the set-up, you'll need the top cover, and the two side pieces, as well as the brackets that hold all of it to the engine, and then all of the goofy little thumb drive wing bolts. If you spark plug wires are not run as the factory ran them, the shielding may not fit.

At this point, the car has so few stock and unmolested parts that I will probably forgo the shield.  I'm slowly trying to replace all of the cut up, broken, and incorrectly painted parts, so the shield isn't a big concern.  I just couldn't figure out what it was.

Hi Adam,  If you go w/o the shielding and there is interference on the radio (static or ticking noise that follows the engine RPM) you could replace the plug wires with individually shielded cables. These cables are similar to what is used on the old big block Vettes. For availability, you can search "shielded ignition cable" on the web.

Thanks for the tip, Joe.  Fortunately I don't have the static issue, and I usually have the ipod going instead of the radio any way.  I will keep that in mind though when I buy a Retrosounds radio to go with my new gauge cluster/radio panel.  A previous owner took a saws-all to the one that's in there now, so he could put in an after market radio that didn't fit the original panel.