Are you guys running your Heat Shelds? Why or why not? Any consequences to removing them?

 

I am not right now, but that is because they got maimed(sp) when replacing the turbo. After I finish my rebuild and put the turbo on, I think I'm going to one of my own that still allows for easy access to all those mani bolts. I just would prefer to keep all that heat away from my LIM and possibly drop the intake temps.

 

I am not, because when you open up your exhaust (e.g. downpipe, no cat) temps will drop quite a bit. Also, I have tried putting one on the hotside of my turbo, but it kind of melted so I decided that wouldn't work too well. I do have my downpipe heatwrapped, but no actual heat shield on the turbo.

 

I don't b/c the car didn't have them on when I bought it. I was wondering the same question. What are the consequences of not having them. Is it worth going to the trouble of getting some and installing them?

 

I'm wondering that too. I plan on going to a Racing Beat downpipe and presilencer and don't know whether I should keep the heat shields or not.

 

If you can keep heat shields, do it. It will decrease underhood temps and prevent damage to wiring systems. Also, you will marginally lower your intake temps as well. If you can do a straight-through exhaust (2.5"+) and keep heat shields, you will definately decrease temps under the hood and increase the longevity of all the little bits that so often break due to heat stress. I highly recommend having at least your DP heat wrapped - also having the hot side of the turbo heat shielded would be great.

 

Thanks!!

 

You may not think so, but HEAT SHIELDING IS CRITICAL!!!!

How do i know this? My friend has a T2 motor in his 73 rotary pickup and NOT HAVING HIS HEAT SHIELDS BLEW A MOTOR.

Now, you are probably wondering how that happend. Well, without the heat shield the intake manifolds (lower one) get LOTS of excess heat, over a period of about 3 months, the constant excessive heat and then cooling caused the water passages to crack and flow coolant into the intake. As you can guess, coolant + 15psi = bad. I saw the manifold for myself and sure enough thats just what had happened.

I will not run my T2 without some kind of heat shield since i dont have extra money for a new motor. Hope that helps everyone out.

 

As mentioned, the heat shields are important. They prevent wiring harness from being baked, as well as protecting all the rubber hose around the turbo area, and keep underhood temps down. Definitly reinstall (or make new ones out of stainless if yours are dead).

 

Originally, I thought that with my upcoming ss 3" exhaust, no cats and hi flow Mufflers (Brullen) that the Turbo would be well taken care of, In terms of heat disipitation.

Further, I was going to atleast wrap my DP but may consider putting them back on. Fwiw, every nut/bolt came off with ease. So Installation will be a breeze.

 

Anyone else not running the heat shields?

 

you can get heat wrap for your turbo and downpipe for 90 bucks from JCW

http://www.jcwhitney.com/item.jhtml;...D=3520&BQ=jcw2

I have a 2.5" full single exhuast and I use my stock heat sheilds....

 

am missing most of them, because changed to s5 manifold and exhaust housing a few months ago and neither old stuff nor new stuff would fit. Local rotary place said they've never had any issues doing this, and it can reduce the chance of cracking manifolds / housings in the future.

 

I have the Turbo/LIM heat shield, but the others broke. Im going to wrap the manifold/turbo/downpipe when I get a new one.

 

As you can see, I'm finding every reason not to put them back on - despite them being In fantastic condition.

I'm going 3" exhaust and putting on heat wrap thus reducing further heat disipatation.

I also painted the Hotside and Manifold Black with VHT Caliper spray. I'm not sure If the colour will hold though.

 

you painted the hotside of you turbo? That will NOT last. we are talking 1300 degree exhaust in the hotside. No paint is gonna stand up to that. There are some coatings (jethot, etc) that are designed for that high of temps, but nothing that you can apply will take the heat. Be prepared for lots of smoke as it burns off!

 

What about 1200 degree ceramic paint on the heat shield, I figured it made it look pretty and might help it with oxidation.

 

Serves me right than. So much for paying attention to detail. Detail should have been aplied to reading the bottle that rates It at 490C.

Oh well. Live and learn.

 

Just put your heat shields back on. Theyre there for a reason. Im running mine.

 

jet hot them. that's what i did, and it's soooo much better than the stock shields. i did the manifold, Intake and exhaust and the hot side of the turbo.

 

Did you jet coat them yourself? Whats the make of It? If It's readily available, I'll pick some up tomorrow.

 

i wish i still had mine. they were rusted pretty bad and got torn off when i did my S5 turbo switch. what is a good material to make heat shields with? stainless steel good enough?

 

Stainless steel is excellant, and looks sweet as well. Just make sure to leave an air-gap between the steel and the manifold.

 

This might sound silly, but would it be worth it to run a small air duct from the front back to the area of the turbo to help lower the ambient temps? If anything it might help to alleviate some of the heat punishment the wires and such are taking, right? Like I said though, maybe it's just a silly idea.

 

I haven't had my heat shields on for over a year.