jtblckmaro

Ok,
Did some searching and have been reading about this for about an hour now, but have seen no definative answers.
Has anyone just plain removed your exhaust manifold heat shields?
I'm wanting to throw 'em out, but want to make DAMN sure that it's not going to mess anything up. Reason being: when I did my head gaskets, I reinstalled with the exhaust manifold gaskets sandwiched between the head and heat shield. So the whole deal is like: Head - gasket - heat shield - manifold - heat shield. I just want to take out the heat shield so I know there's a good seal with the gasket / manifold.

Or am I just being retarded? LOL
Thanks

LTR450HQ.com

Hmm, I'm not sure if it would be ok.

I was thinking of doing the same to my tubular style manifolds but not sure if it will heat up the engine bay.

jonathan_abilene

i just cut off the heat shield hole where the head bolt threads through. Cause the heat shield kept on twisting around the head bolt.

jtblckmaro

Mine aren't twisting, but I did repair some cracks in the metal.
Do headers generate as much heat as the stock manifolds do? Cuz the heat shields aren't reinstalled with a header installation are they?
And if that is the case, wouldn't it stand to reason that there should be no problem with removing them?

pcgamer4life

It may not hurt anything to remove them, but they are put there for a reason by GM. If I were you, I'd leave them just to be safe.

Zerstorung

I took the heat shields off my 98 3.8L camaro about 2000 miles ago, and nothing has happened. Dunno if there would be any side effects, but so far nothing has gone wrong. Don't complain if you take them off and something breaks though, lol.

jtblckmaro

lol I know right?
That's why I'm doing all the research I can beforehand.
Thanks for the input guys. Keep it coming!

jonathan_abilene

breaks? you mean EXPLODES! LOL
the only thing I could see breaking would be some kind of electrical piece, cause electronics dont like heat...

Camabird

Taking off your heat shields will do absolutely nothing except make it easier to ruin plug wires and get rid of one of the most annoying steps for header install.

jonathan_abilene

well, I have boot heat protectant (DEI from Summit) so I might as well throw the shields away

jtblckmaro

Just heard that without the heat shields, the heat from the exhaust manifolds would damage the paint on the hood, especially without the under-hood insulation (which I removed quite a while back).
I doubt the quality of my paint cuz it's looking like the last guy had a MAACO paint job done, so until I can install a new layer of insulation, I'm thinking just leave the heat shields.
Also heard that newer designs have done away with the exhaust manifold gaskets BECAUSE the heat shield material is a softer metal and acts as a gasket. So, because of this, I'm thinking I might have induced an exhaust leak by playing it safe and installing gasket AND heat shield. So about that, I'm thinking maybe remove the inner (lower?) portion of the heat shield.
Hell, I dunno... I just want to make sure I'm getting all I can out of my motor, and it's starting to feel like I'm shooting myself in the foot. lol
Thoughts welcome.

MyShibbyZ28

I would leave the entire heat shield there. It is there for a reason, and does serve a purpose.

jonathan_abilene

No way, that is bogus. I'm pulling the flag