Heat Shield

[Lofty]

How many of you run without your heat shield?
It seems just about everyone does judging by the gallery.
Do you have any problems running without the shield? Melted fans, fried alternators?
Just curious, because I'd like to remove the upper heat shield, but the problems associated with doing so don't sound too appealing to me.
So how many of you do run without the shield?

 

[kris_stewart10]

the front heat sheild????

i dont know mine didnt come with a heat sheild

 

[Lofty]

the front heat sheild????

i dont know mine didnt come with a heat sheild

Theres an upper and a lower.
So they're both front.

 

[wont_luz]

I've done both...the o2 wire tends not to melt as much with the top shield on...unless you go with a tubular manifold I definitely like the stock shielding

 

[Lofty]

What would a tubular manifold have to do with heat?

 

[winterftbl]

He means that a tubular manifold does not have a heat shield. My car didnt come with a heat shield, neither of them. And I have never had a problem with overheating or anything melting. Hope that helps. Winter

 

[redtsi252]

alot of people run with out heat shields....never seen a heat shield for a tubular mani

 

[Zmann42087]

If you're running a 1g, 2g, or EVOIII manifold there is no reason not to have the heat shield on your car. The stock shield fits the forementioned manifolds and if you don't like how it looks, JM Fab. sells a replacement that looks nice and does the job. Really, its only going to help by being on there by keeping those under hood temps down. Of course, sometimes its unavoidable (if you have a tubular mani) but even then I'd look to get the manifold ceramic coated or something.

 

[daren_p]

You may not like the looks of the stock heatshield but my advise would be to just keep it. Maybe paint or powdercoat it if yours is looking shabby, or run an aftermarket version such as a JM Fab but the factory put a heat shield on for a reason. Heat does a good job of destroying things, melts rad fans, dries out & cracks thinks such as wires & hoses, makes things such as the alternator die quicker & just raises your underhood temps in general, which again is bad for performance. If you have the choice, run one. Those who can't run an OEM heatshield usually still try to do things to keep the heat in such as exhaust wrap, ceramic coating etc.

 

[Lofty]

Well I'm getting OBX headers in the mail soon, I take it the stock heat shield won't fit?

 

[RallyEclipse98]

Think of it this way... there's a reason they came with them from the factory. I would definitly do something to keep the temp down if you do decide to take the shield off.

 

[TSiAWD666]

I can't say it was the lack of heat shield, but when I ran without my lower and upper heat shields on a 16g turbo in an older 2g it eventually melted apart the fan on that side. I replaced that fan then with a slimline SPAL fan which never melted, but since then just to be safe I've added some form of heat shielding to my turbos (a turbo wrap from DEI and header wrap on the headers and o2 housing). Haven't melted anything since.

 

[fwdmaster]

if your getting headers for your NT use VHT flameproof ceramic paint, works great and will never chipp or peel

 

[Lofty]

if your getting headers for your NT use VHT flameproof ceramic paint, works great and will never chipp or peel

Where would I get this?
Can I buy it, or do I have to get it done?

 

[amorris95gst]

if your not going for show than wrap the exhaust mani, o2 housing and downpipe.. if show than leave it. wraping it is the same thing as a heat shield and lookes better than that shield

 

[fwdmaster]

You can get it at your local parts store, cost around $10, coated my 2g manifold and tubular o2 came out great, lower temps also

 

[Lofty]

You can get it at your local parts store, cost around $10, coated my 2g manifold and tubular o2 came out great, lower temps also

Thank god
Does it make the manifold wear faster?
My dad works at a generator place and he talked with the engine guys and they said say, wrapping your manifold makes it wear faster. Would this still be true with the ceramic stuffz?

 

[silverbullett]

Where would I get this?
Can I buy it, or do I have to get it done?

I sell VHT at my work and I've used it before with good results. Here's a link for reference purposes.

While we find your parts, please enter your ZIP Code at PartsAmerica.com

 

[Lofty]

I sell VHT at my work and I've used it before with good results. Here's a link for reference purposes.

While we find your parts, please enter your ZIP Code at PartsAmerica.com

Wow thanks!
That seems way cheaper then I though
Thanks guys!

 

[Burtismaximus]

i took my heatshields off on my 91 eagle talon tsi awd automatic and zip tied the o2 sensor wire to radiator fan guard and i havent had any problems. tho i do have a switch that toggles on and off my fans. its recomended that you dont but mine were partially rusted so i just got rid of them.

 

[mesarius]

I've been running my talon with both heat shields off since January, I just have the o2 sensor wiring on top of the AC fan housing. I removed the AC compressor when I swapped the motor a few months ago but I kept the fan in so I can turn it on and off with the AC button on the climate control. I haven't had a problem with it yet and it saves a few ounces of weight.