Repo or real? 428 CJ exhaust shroud

[Rukiddin]

Found this in my shop during a hunt and not sure if real or repo. I want to be sure to list accurately. Thanks!
I believe this to be original...no brackets..the paint has that "original" look and appearance. No primer,or build up from engine enamels. Thanks for your input....

[Special Ed]

 I think its a new take off   u got the 2 brackets?

[TLea]

Looks real. If you hold real one in one hand and repo in other you'll feel a difference in weight. Repo heavier

[J_Speegle]

+1 on it looking like one of the two versions that were made for that purpose and engine

[gt350hr]

   The "near perfect" repo I got from New Jersey had a square "corner" where the originals have a radius. The rest was good and looked right "on the engine" as the area in question was not visible when installed. Yours is an original IMHO as well.
   Randy

[J_Speegle]

Here is a side by side comparison of the two different versions I've found. All of thew service replacements I've seen were the un ribbed version. The twwo versions may have been the results of different providers. Sorry don't know the VIN (and in turn the assembly plant) from which each came

[Special Ed]

Jeff are u sure the non-pitted shield u got isnt from the first repo run? I have never seen or heard of 2 version of the 428 cj heat shield. Back when George H. first started making the cj heat shields snorkles s-tubes etc. they were lacking detail and had alignment problems and the 2 mounting  brackets were lacking details. I loaned george new take off parts to have corrections made and make correct looking brackets so the newer and improved cj parts that have been made since then are much better. It was mostly the longer or taller elbow and front bracket on the first repo that caused fitting problems so look at that area closely Jeff S. on your non pitted heat shield and also weight them as the repo was made from heavier gauge metal like most repo parts as i was told tooling is cheaper when useing thicker metal but u lose detailing with thicker metal i think and less chance of stretching and tearing than thin metal when parts are stamped and formed to shape.

[J_Speegle]

Certain? Since I got both as individual pieces can be certain of anything. On the first repos did they put ribs in the side? There is also additional metal ahead of the center/forward mounting hole we can see. Wasnt' as pitted as the other one and not all of the spot welds were holding form the main body to the tube. Not sure if I have both still out in the garage.

IF it is an early repo then the pictures can serve as a good comparison that way

[gt350hr]

   I agree with Ed  Jeff , the 'ribbed" version is suspicious looking . No "tab notches" in the inside for the tube , the extra material and the flange on the tube itself are all very different than the original pictured. I'll dig out my original SJ piece for my 68.5 and look it over this weekend.
  Randy

[J_Speegle]

   I agree with Ed  Jeff , the 'ribbed" version is suspicious looking . No "tab notches" in the inside for the tube , the extra material and the flange on the tube itself are all very different than the original pictured. I'll dig out my original SJ piece for my 68.5 and look it over this weekend.
  Randy

No problem and have not found another like it so as always discussion is good. This is how we discover new things or confirm that our earlier beliefs are still right. If it is either then someone in this crowd surely has seen another in either case since this is likely not something someone cracked out at home

[gt350hr]

  Jeff ,
     It could also be an XE version , made before final production approval. "If" so , it would only have had a small ink stamped number on it. The "waves" would cause it to not be accepted by Ford. The other differences could have been requested too. "Every" part was at one time an XE numbered part before being approved. Fan belt to flex plate and oil pan to air cleaner. Though the parts were not meant to leave Ford , we all know they occasionally did.
   Randy

[Blackcar]

This part has been on a shelf since 82.

[shelbymann1970]

Here is a side by side comparison of the two different versions I've found. All of thew service replacements I've seen were the un ribbed version. The twwo versions may have been the results of different providers. Sorry don't know the VIN (and in turn the assembly plant) from which each came

Jeff those "ribs" to me look like they could be the product of improper metal flow when stamped(wrinkles). Gary

[Special Ed]

I talked to the guys who had the first  run of  repo cj heat shields today and they said the first ones were crudely made because they tried to stamp them out using a 1 hit metal stamp tooling . Then they changed tooling metal stamps to a 2 step stamp and they were much better after that. Easy way to tell the first repo cj heat shields is the black front bracket has no ribs stamped on the corner bends and i dont think they had the small screw hole on top of elbow notch to align the s-tube and on some cars i was told the elbow was hitting the shock tower and had to be bent towards the engine after being  installed . The improved second run heat shields and brackets were much better and the reason why we dont see these older first repo run heat shields around is they were installed back 25-30 years ago. I have changed out the repo heat shields on concours cj cars in the past and install originals and its not an easy or a fun job to do with the engine still in the car.

[shelbymann1970]

Ed it is absolutely amazing how far the sheet metal stamping process has come(from engineering/design  to CNC machining to die tryout)  since I served my tool and Die apprenticeship 40 years ago. When I see repo stampings of parts I can usually see the cost cutting measures implemented in the finished product. Ditto for service parts over the decades. Gary