Okay, so the car is up on jacks, and I've gone over to Mazdatrix to pick up a set of u-joints and a tranny support.
Didn't count on this heat shield thingy covering the drive shaft and trans.
Is it possible to remove it without messing with the exhaust system?
Because it looks to me that I have to disconnect it at or near exhaust manifold.

 

It comes out in pieces. Yes, it will come out without removing the exhaust.

 

hey , how ya doing doc?
yea, i got under there and saw that it was in sections, got late so I didn't mess with it very long, but it didn't look like it was going to come out easily

 

I'm well, thanks for asking.
That shielding is a major pain. Make sure you spray the bolts with penetrating oil before you remove them. They love to snap off.

I remove all of the shielding on the cars I keep.

 

"I remove all of the shielding on the cars I keep."
-why Doc?
isn't the idea to keep from cooking up the passenger compartment, esp the butyal-based sound material mazda stick to the inner floors... those exhaust generate a LOT of heat...
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

Never had a issue with that with any of the sevens over the last 20 plus years.