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-   70-72 GTO Tempest & LeMans TECH (https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=436)
-   -   Rear Valance Guard? (https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=883078)

Shiny 11-14-2025 08:21 PM

Rear Valance Guard?
 
1 Attachment(s)
Anyone know what this drawing (70 Tempest/LeMans) is showing ?

There was nothing staked to the bottom lip of my valance but the drawing suggests something was there ??

Is this unique to a GTO or a Tempest with factory dual exhaust or ??? It doesn't show the splitters and the GTO valance so it seems to be a Tempest thing...

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1763166010

Shiny 11-17-2025 12:33 PM

Anyone?

Some type of guard over the exhaust pipe ???

Terry M. Hunt 11-17-2025 05:19 PM

Rear valance guard
 
On my original owner 71 GTO there is a stamped steel plate spot welded to the back side of the valance on both sides. It has a notch that matches the cut out in the valance where the tail pipe/splitters pass through the valance. Apparently there to reinforce the valance panel.

Shiny 11-17-2025 10:18 PM

Maybe that's it, thanks! I will pull the drawing out and see if it has a note restricting to the valence with cutouts (GTO).

The drawing does say "stake", different than what you are describing but ????

Was the cutout valance/splitters also used on GT-37? LeMans Sport? I saw another thread mention the LeMans Sport had a 6-cyl base engine. If so, and a Sport could use the cutouts and splitters, it sounds complicated.


Mike

Shiny 11-19-2025 01:13 PM

Is it possible there was a plastic version of the rear valance?

I stumbled on that situation for the front valance... both steel and plastic valances were documented in the assembly drawings for a 1970 Tempest but I've never seen the plastic version nor a photo of one.

????

scott70 11-19-2025 04:39 PM

Back in the 80’s I was at a junk yard looking for a rear valance for a 70-72. I remember stumbling on to one that was broken and plastic…. It was still on the car but didn’t have exhaust cut outs

Shiny 11-19-2025 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott70 (Post 6592187)
Back in the 80’s I was at a junk yard looking for a rear valance for a 70-72. I remember stumbling on to one that was broken and plastic…. It was still on the car but didn’t have exhaust cut outs

Wow, good memory!

Maybe that's what this guard is all about then... something to do with protecting a plastic valance? ??

I don't need a guard but I get curious when I see stuff on the assembly drawings that don't align with what I've got.

79 Phoenix 11-20-2025 05:31 PM

3 Attachment(s)
Hi--Saw this late. Not sure this will help but here are pictures of my valence.

Held for Ransom 11-20-2025 07:23 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Mike, see if this helps...

Shiny 11-20-2025 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79 Phoenix (Post 6592332)
Hi--Saw this late. Not sure this will help but here are pictures of my valence.

Thank you! That is not the same as my Tempest/LeMans rear valance so I'm sorry, but not sure how to interpret. Is that a rear valance with the cutouts for a GTO or GT37? Is it steel or plastic?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Held for Ransom (Post 6592339)
Mike, see if this helps...

Thank you HFR!

I appreciate your effort to look that up.

I interpret as "yes, there was a plastic valance" and "the guard was used with the plastic valance, not the steel version".

Would still be interesting to see a picture of one and to see how it was "staked".

Were both plastic and metal valances used interchangeably or was this a mid-year change?

If mid-year, does that mean all 71 and 72 Tempest/LeMans rear valances were plastic?

How did the plastic hold up? The front air baffle used with AC cars seems to have aged less than gracefully.. images of broken brittle baffles are planted in my brain.

Mike

79 Phoenix 11-21-2025 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shiny (Post 6592354)
Thank you! That is not the same as my Tempest/LeMans rear valance so I'm sorry, but not sure how to interpret. Is that a rear valance with the cutouts for a GTO or GT37? Is it steel or plastic?
........................................
Mike

Yes, it has the cutouts for a gt-37 and is steel. Sorry, I was in a hurry when I sent my post and had misunderstood your question.

Held for Ransom 11-22-2025 12:32 AM

1 Attachment(s)
Quote:

Originally Posted by Shiny (Post 6592354)
Thank you HFR!

I appreciate your effort to look that up.

I interpret as "yes, there was a plastic valance" and "the guard was used with the plastic valance, not the steel version".

Would still be interesting to see a picture of one and to see how it was "staked".

Were both plastic and metal valances used interchangeably or was this a mid-year change?

If mid-year, does that mean all 71 and 72 Tempest/LeMans rear valances were plastic?

How did the plastic hold up? The front air baffle used with AC cars seems to have aged less than gracefully.. images of broken brittle baffles are planted in my brain.

Mike

Here. They were used on 1970-2. One was used (single exhaust pipe). When/where, who knows. Search 1972 plastic rear valance and get lots of questions.

Shiny 11-22-2025 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79 Phoenix (Post 6592445)
Yes, it has the cutouts for a gt-37 and is steel. Sorry, I was in a hurry when I sent my post and had misunderstood your question.

NP, I appreciate the response.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Held for Ransom (Post 6592453)
Here. They were used on 1970-2. One was used (single exhaust pipe). When/where, who knows. Search 1972 plastic rear valance and get lots of questions.

Awesome, thank you! I will search.

north 11-24-2025 04:59 PM

One of my 69 Catalina's was built with a plastic rear valence, it has no protectors but it could have used them since the tailpipes at some point deformed the lip of the valence directly above the pipe.

Interestingly the MPC (master parts catalog) shows plastic valences (and steel ones) for the 69 B body (back only), and A body (front 69, front and rear 70-except GTO was steel only both years). Related to that I've seen some 69 LeMans parking lamp housings that have an extra male prong for a ground, obviously for use with a plastic valence. The MPC also shows a different part number for the front lamp harness with plastic valence, for the ground wires?


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