Hello! I have a 91 vert NA. I started taking my heat shield off to do the exhaust manifold gasket and started shearing the bolts on the lower shield. That got me looking a whole lot closer. Over the upper heat shield it looks like that is where the fuel enters.

My common sense tells me that the exhaust is close to the fuel and not to leave the shield off, but previous vehicles I've had, leaving the shield off didn't effect anything.

I assume that putting RB headers on my vert won't have heat shields. So the stock manifold should be fine to leave the heat shield off as well?

Also - while removing the upper heat shield, how do you get to the one bolt that's top center? I've been coming in from the front and now the bolt is turned perfectly to where I can't turn it any further but I can't grab it without hitting the EGR (I'm taking a wild guess, I don't have the RX7 repair book yet).

Any input back is appreciated!

Thanks,
Chris

 

all the manuals are here Foxed.ca - Mazda RX-7 Manuals

2, the upper heat shield can stay on, the manifold can come off with it still attached. with it out of the car its much easier to get the bolts off.

3. the heat shield doesn't keep the car from burning down or anything like that, but it does do something, it must keep the intake a little cooler, so my preference is to put it back. happily it also isn't a moving part, so the 1 bolt holding it in is fine.

 

When I had to get the exhaust manifold off I cursed that heat shield.
I cut the Freakin thing off!.

Most cars I had,the heat shield rattled on it anyways,so OFF it came.

The fuel is on the other side of the lower manifold anyways so the heat won't "cause a fire".(unless you have a massive fire hose pissing fuel leak onto the exhaust!)
I've ran headers cherry red and the car runs fine.

 

I have ripped a few heat shields off in my day holding on by one bolt- sometimes they rattle and need to go

 

Thanks everyone!
Manifold really comes off without taking off the heat shield? Wild that would just be way easier!

 

its a Mazda, its way easier if you let it be way easier.