Upper radiator shield for a '61

[MidModCad]

Been scratching my head over what purpose the rubber upper radiator shield really has. My car doesn't have one and, from what I can tell, most other cars of this vintage aren't sporting one either.  They're pretty cheap to buy though. Is there a good reason to install?

[jagbuxx #12944]

I think they were a mid/late year addition for cold climate cars. My April built California coupe is not equipped...

[quadfins]

Frank is correct.

The factory literature refers to them as a way to prevent carburetor icing.

I don't know how much of a problem that really was, but there it is....

Jim

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Any shielding in this area is designed to "encourage" the air flow ro remain within the confines of the Radiator area, and is especially used when a car has Air Conditioning, as the Condenser sits in front of the radiator, and the upper gap needs to be sealed to stop the air from escaping upwards after it passes through said Condenser.

There was one attached to my '60 CDV, that filled in the area between the Radiator and the Fan Shroud, but as mine had had a few alterations, I am not sure if it was stock.

Bruce.

[MidModCad]

Good info. Makes sense that my car was not equipped with one since it was originally sold in Arizona. Then again, it does have AC.  Looks better without it, I think, so there you are - one less thing to buy!

[David Greenburg]

When I saw the subject, I assumed the reference was to the masticated rubber flap found on the top of the radiator support on a/c cars to help "seal" the air flow around the radiator.  But Jim seems to be referring to something else, as this flap does not seem like it would help prevent carb icing, and it was not new for '61; my '60 (with a/c) has one.  My '61 (without a/c) does not.

[quadfins]

Dave, you are right, it is the flap above the radiator, that would contact the bottom side of the hood, thus blocking airflow across the top of the air cleaner.

They were not standard in 61, until a running change added them. I will have to consult my serviceman issues to determine when, but it was some time after March, '61, as mine also did not have one.

IIRC, 59 and 60 AC cars had the radiators on different sides of the support, as compared to non AC cars, so the rubber flap was to facilitate better airflow for cooling. This is not the case for 61. Perhaps some issues developed with carb icing, and this was the solution.

[quadfins]

Here it is.

June, 1961 serviceman, page 36.

"Carburetor air inlet baffle reduces icing"

[jagbuxx #12944]

Jim beat me to the post!

[David Greenburg]

That is very interesting. I must admit I haven't spent much time under the hood of '61's other than my own.