My '87 IROC is undergoing a ground-up resto.

As part of the process, I'm trashing anything that will not be used. My question is with regards to the part circled below. I plan on keeping my fog lights for now, but either way, is this peice essential? Does it just guide air over the radiator?

Does anyone run without this plastic shielding and have any problems? Have any benefits by leaving it off?

 

that "shield" routes air up to the air intake setup for the TPI.

 

No it doesn't. It's for routing air to the radiator I believe. Not sure how much it helps, but I don't think the early third gen's have them so removing it shouldn't be a problem.

 

On my 85 IROC, there are inserts that go in the rectangles (they themselves are rectangular but on the back side they curve upward if I remember correctly) and shoot air to the radiator. Mine were broken so I swapped in some from an 88 RS. Note: This is an LG4.

JamesC

 

Stekman is right. It does route air up to the air intake setup for the TPI. Sorry 25THRSS no hard feelings.

 

Once again, no it doesn't. I have the same "shield" on my TBI car. If you just look at it you'll notice it routs air to the radiator, and not to the tpi ducts, which are in front of the shield.

 

I took the pieces I mention above from a TBI car. Radiator all the way.

JamesC

 

sorry 25THRSS. I should have taken a better look at the picture above.

 

So is it neccessary?

 

I removed that on my 92 305tbi and notice a -5 deg. temp drom when driving at high speeds...my guess is that it allows the air to hit all portions of the rad, not only the 2 areas directly in front of the openings...on the other hand the car runs about +2 deg. temp increse in stop and go traffic.

Aydin

 

sorry DROP not DROM

 

Jdalla, seems that the collective answer to "is it necessary" is "not really". My car was abused b4 i got it, and it doesn't have that on it. Never have any overheating problems.

 

Do all third gen camaros have this, including the early models?

 

none of my earlier cars did

 

BTW, the name of that part is the "upper radiator baffle."

 

Yeah, it's okay to remove it. I don't have any cooling problems and I removed ALL of that plastic stuff up front except for the air cam on bottom. That IS important, the rest of it is just a more efficient way of cooling... I just don't like being able to see the front of my radiator so I trashed it all. Not to mention my front end is lighter .

 

Keep it, you will probably need it later. Cars like my TA WITHOUT holes in the front bumper need it. Also notice that almost all other cars on the road today have a grille or openings in the front bumper that let air flow to the radiator, at around 85 and up our cars do not have this feature. Without this plastic piece your car may overheat when you are doing highway speeds.

Look at a TA without openings in the bumper, without this plastic flap this will not get enough air while you are moving and at higher engine load will get hotter and probably over heat

 

Look at a pre 85 bumper on a camaro, notice the vent holes around and below the license plate. The 85 and up do NOT have this therefore the black flap is needed. I hope the visuals help see how it is necessary for proper cooling. If you dont believe me try it without and see what happens.... Just keep the piece handy to put back on when you see im correct

 

The 85 and later cars do have the vent holes around the license plate, but do not have the holes below it. They have a much larger air dam below the radiator to help draw air up for cooling. If the earlier cars don't have the upper baffle, I'm pretty sure it isn't needed then.

 

I wouldn't say it that way.
Obviously GM thought the cars needed the baffles and if it cost GM more to make the baffles you can bet they wouldn't have. They have some purpose. I think GM used the baffles NOT because of the lack of slits in the bumper cover but that the engines started making more power. The cooling systems had to be improved over the later years for various reasons, I just think if you have a strong fan, good tuning, and a lower air dam you'll be fine without one. Obviously if you're road racing in a Texas summer my opinion would change.
GM/Ford, everybody designs the cooling systems for worst case as in towing, full weight, tail wind and/or a large truck infront causing a low pressure slipstream.

 

I removed the plastic pieces you are talking about on my 1991 Z28 so I could direct all the air that comes around the fog lights directly into my K&N air cleaners by building some custom made box aluminum pieces. The set-up I created gives me a ram-air affect until I cna afford a functional hood.