whats the importance of the metal plates above the tail pipes on some fieros? (Page 1/1)
richard in nc MAR 12, 01:24 PM
is this a gt or v6 thing?i have two four cylinder base fieros with single exhaust that don't have these plates.i bought the fiero stores dual exhaust system for the fiero four cylinder.do i need these plates?
Patrick MAR 12, 02:47 PM

quote
Originally posted by richard in nc:

do i need these plates?



Even if you did, there's no designated location on your fascia/bumper skin to mount them.

I believe their main (only?) purpose was to deflect heat away from the bumper skin. Without these metal heat deflectors, just make sure the exhaust tips aren't touching/positioned too close to the bumper skin.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 03-12-2024).]

pmbrunelle MAR 12, 05:37 PM
Fieros with "Aero" fascias had these heat-reflecting plates, because the plastic of the fascia comes close to the exhaust tips.
This is not particular to GT or V6.
There were two kinds of Aero fascias:

Fieros with the "Ribbed molding Aero" fascias:
84 Indy
85 GT
86 SE
87 SE

Fieros with the "Rounded molding Aero" fascias:
86 GT
87 GT
88 GT
Patrick MAR 12, 06:36 PM

quote
Originally posted by pmbrunelle:

Fieros with "Aero" fascias had these heat-reflecting plates, because the plastic of the fascia comes close to the exhaust tips.
This is not particular to GT or V6.



Definitely not a V6 thing. I'm not 100% sure, but I highly suspect the metal heat shields were only factory installed on Fieros that came with the (larger in diameter) megaphone style exhaust tips. Formulas had neither the shields nor the megaphone tips.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 03-12-2024).]

richard in nc MAR 13, 06:44 AM
cool.so i don't need them.
theogre MAR 13, 09:05 AM
Not really to drive. Air flow will keep the "plastic" cool.

But if have tips close to or aimed wrong, the "plastic" can get damage even w/ those parts.
The "shield" only cover top some but Exhaust Flow, IR and convection can heat bigger area.

So make sure the tip(s) aren't bent etc. & include pipe to it/them from the muffler because that can force tip inward toward the cradle or cause other clearance problems.

Example: I got extra exhaust w/ pipe to tip was crush/bent so pipe was ~ 50% close + tip push in & to left side of "slot" in rear face. Had to cut the pipe there, expand then repair before using.

Note: Some Fiero have extra hanger points for muffler out(s) & tip(s). Is nice to have because very hard to loose a tip. Other Fiero setups don't have this & can lose a tip when not 1 piece & clamp rusted etc.

Tips for many cars not just Fiero are targets to hit backing into parking spaces hitting large curbs. More so w/ parking lots w/ stake in concrete "Bumber"/"Stop Block"/"curbs" & related that often isn't easy to see even when have newer cars w/ backup cameras because those are design to go under the car to stop but many cars never had clearance for most of them w/o lowering or other aftermarket mods reducing clearance.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

pmbrunelle MAR 13, 05:32 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:
I'm not 100% sure, but I highly suspect the metal heat shields were only factory installed on Fieros that came with the (larger in diameter) megaphone style exhaust tips.



I think that all Aero fascia Fieros had megaphones (and conversely that all megaphone Fieros were Aero fascia), so we're essentially saying the same thing.


quote
Originally posted by Patrick:
Formulas had neither the shields nor the megaphone tips.



85 SE V6 cars are like the Formulas you describe, with non-megaphone tips.