69 Chevelle 396/325 Starter Solenoid Heat Shield?

[Bill Pritchard]

Was a 69 Chevelle 396/325 with T400 originally equipped with a starter solenoid heat shield that bolts to the starter and/or solenoid? It would be interesting to hear from owners of known original cars on this subject.

My guess is that it was not so equipped, and perhaps was the only big block Chevelle (at least 69 or later) that did not have it. The 69 396/325 with T400 was the only 69 (or 70 for that matter) Chevelle big block to have a heat stove wrapped around the exhaust manifold, and that serves as somewhat of a heat shield for the solenoid.

[Woj]

Very interesting Bill. The GM parts manual gives the part number as: 3954224 and applies it to: 69 - All 396/427, (exc. TH 400), All 70 396,400,454, 71 Camaro 400 and 71 Chevelle w/ sp. H/Per. (454).

Phil Woj.

[1969grb]

Phil, My 396/350 with TH400 Chevelle has the shield on it. Grady

[Woj]

Grady,

As Bill mentioned, it probably has to do with the heat stove metal on the r.h. exhaust manifold on the automatics (without smog). My guess is that the r.h. exhaust manifold heat stove metal would not allow for clearance with the starter heat shield and that in-fact would provide starter heat protection.

It still seems that the GM parts manual is somewhat in error on this one. It should have said: 69 - All 396/427 exc. TH400 w/A.I.R. That is my best guess.

Phil Woj.