Is it okay to run without the cat. converter heat shield?
 

I'm sure it's not a GREAT idea, but is anyone not running the heat shield for the main cat? The reason I ask is mine is all rusted around the mounting bolts and I have tried strapping it, which works for about 5 minutes. I took it to 2 places to see if they could weld it and neither would. They said they could cut it off or strap it (which I tried). So, will the underbody of the car get too hot without it there? The car has stock cat with aftermarket downpipe and cat-back. Thanks.

I've run a midpipe for the longest time. It gets a little toasty under the transmission tunnel but nothing extreme.

heat shields are also there to keep your car from catching fire when you park over grass. just a heads up

In the almost 4 years I've owned the car, I don't think I have ever parked over grass. Any other suggestions from people who have had this problem and permanently fixed it would be great.

the bonez cat came without a heat shield. I still have my old cat and have the intentions of salvaging the stock shield, and the air pump check valve.

Do I feel like it's any hotter in the car? No.

Btw do you have emissions testing? when you say rusting shields, sounds like your cat may be old. Or did I see you are from MN? When you stand by your exhaust do tears come to your eyes or do you feel poisoned?

No emissions testing. The cat is fine, I think I'm just going to take the shield off.

The upper heat shield, as you surely know, is not mounted well. Rust/heat cause the support tabs to break off at the welds to the cat body, which are hidden under a couple layers of heat shield. Once one tab breaks it will make an unholy squeaking sound that I found infuriating.

You can remove the big upper heat shield no problem. You may notice just a little more heat around the tranny tunnel. I would not remove the closer-fitting shields and try to keep the lower shield as well.

FWIW, the stock cat has more heat shielding than any high-flow cat and nobody's starting any grass fires with those. The only thing to watch for is if it clogs the stock cat can develop much higher temps than high flows or midpipes.

Dave

then why mess with it.

I got the Bonez cat and had it heat treated with grey ice 2000 degree coating. no problems at all and seems to be cooler than with the heat shield.

Jeff