heat shields

[a2j]

do I have to put them back on, or can I get away with just wrapping stock exhaust manifolds and call it a day?

[x2xtreme360]

You don't even need to wrap them. I run shield less except for the rear most shield.

[a2j]

I worry about long run (road course) rather than short (drag). in 15 min it probably will get very warm in there.

[x2xtreme360]

I worry about long run (road course) rather than short (drag). in 15 min it probably will get very warm in there.

I've run my car at Watkins Glen without the shields and on the road for a year without them. No issues.

[a2j]

ok, unless someone objects to this, I'm gonna just wrap my manifolds (just to be safe) and that would be the end of it.

[Unknownvr4]

Im sheildless as well...

[Austin@STM]

Ran for 2 years without any of the shields and never had an issue.

[stealthee]

ok, unless someone objects to this, I'm gonna just wrap my manifolds (just to be safe) and that would be the end of it.

A lot of people who wrap their exhaust end up having it crack.

[CoopKill]

A lot of people who wrap their exhaust end up having it crack.

Good to know. Do you know where the cracking takes place, or is it random under the wrap?

[stealthee]

I dont know. Its all I have ever heard over the years. It seems to make sense too since wrapping the exhaust makes the exhaust retain the heat even longer, instead of being able to disperse it and let the air cool it.

[CoopKill]

It makes sense, I was wondering if it was specific to a location. Thanks man.

[DocWalt]

The stock front manifold cracks right around the middle without heat wrap, between the second and third runners. I still have mine in the garage if you really wanna see pics :lol:

[CoopKill]

I believe mine has a small crack going of its own, but thanks! lol

[a2j]

yes, I know front one can crack regardless. but for the sake of heat, should I wrap them? I also have solid mounts (4). I hope that it will somewhat prevent them from cracking.

[stealthee]

Its not really the movement that makes them crack as much as it is the heat.

[VR-4 0wnz j00]

A lot of people who wrap their exhaust end up having it crack.

Very true, listen to this.

I am running without the rear shield and top half of the front. I ran the dragon twice in a row with no problems at all.

[Austin@STM]

I really wouldnt bother with wrapping them, if you are really worried about heat dont take them off.

[SkortchGT]

do not wrap the stock manifolds, they will just crack faster that way.

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

there's really no reason not to put them back if you leave out the really hard to get to bolts.

[Maximal]

Yeah, I'd just leave the shields and call it good. If you wanted to go all out you could get the manifolds coated with some sort of ceramic coating.

[MR2]

Keep the shields

if you want to over do it...as Maximal says:

Ceramic coat everything, then head shield it, then put wraping around the exhaust shielding(not the manifold shielding) :p

[a2j]

yeah, when I was taking them off I was thinking that there is no way I will put all of them back on. so I was trying to see if I could replace them with something else (like wrapping the manifolds). I guess I will put some in front to keeps the heat from the rad fans.

[MR2]

the rear one stops it heating up the cabin and everything on that side...your call though.

[skater334]

A lot of people who wrap their exhaust end up having it crack.

BINGO! Yes u can go w/o them

[blindmist]

I havent had shields on in 5 years. No issues.

[MR2]

how often do you really push your car? has the matting/plastic around your turbo's & Manifolds discoloured?

[blindmist]

how often do you really push your car? has the matting/plastic around your turbo's & Manifolds discoloured?

I run it hard a lot. 21psi for over a year, it's turned back down to 14 right now. I would say it gets pushed at least 3-5 times a week. No discoloring or any changes that I can see or tell. The manifolds are still that same color.

[J. Fast]

Just put a blanket on the hot side of the turbos. I used a DEI general thermal management kit the part number is 010113. The kit has enough material to wrap both turbos, the collectors on both manifolds and the downpipes all the way to the transition and left overs to make deflection shields and even wrap the alternator. Kit works pretty damn sweet and can be had at 40% off at Adavanced Autoparts by using discount code LC123 (40% off up to $100 purchase :) ) Mine was like $50 with the discount.

[Atrosity]

I personally prefer to have the heat shields, they are there for a reason. They help dissipate heat. I like my car to be modded but to have the stock reliability and this plays a role.

[$$$PIT]

I know you guys were talkin' about the functionality of them on VR4s. But, I thought I would show you what I did to mine on my N/A, since is it is easily seen.

[MR2]

I personally prefer to have the heat shields, they are there for a reason. They help dissipate heat. I like my car to be modded but to have the stock reliability and this plays a role.

Dissipate? not really their function.

[GTOJOE]

The shield is exactly what it sounds like. A shield. It protects the components in the engine bay around the exhaust from heat.

[a2j]

so they don't effect underhood temps, correct?

[stealthee]

I would venture a guess that they do affect underhood temps.

With the shields in place the majority of the heat is kept behind the shields. Without the shields the heat "gets out" and spreads throughout the engine bay.