I just removed my front exhaust manifold to weld it up. I want to reinstall it without the flat heat shield between it and the head. Has anyone left it out without problems?? The car is an 86 gt 2.8 (stock) no cat converter. I dont want to have a gasket on both sides of the shield. I feel thats why my manifold bolts were probably loose when removing it and its likely to happen again.

I left mine off and have it had any issues.

quote Originally posted by jimmo: I dont want to have a gasket on both sides of the shield. I feel thats why my manifold bolts were probably loose when removing it and its likely to happen again.

That's not the way it's supposed to be done. There is NO gasket installed between the heat shield and the head. The gasket goes between the heat shield and the exhaust manifold.

Both my engines only have one gasket and it's between the head and heat shield. One of the engines is original, so I assume that was a factory install. 87 engine, so there was no recall on it.

I left mine off when I did my engine swap.
Mine had been installed flat against the head, with the gasket next, and then the manifold.
(If you look at the shield, you can probably tell how it was installed. Different surfaces will leave different "indentions" on the shield.)

Having said all that...
If you're running "catless", I'd leave the shield off.
It was installed to keep vital fluids off of the cat, in the event of a violent engine failure, and "ventilated" block.

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 09-28-2013).]

quote Originally posted by fierofool: Both my engines only have one gasket and it's between the head and heat shield. One of the engines is original, so I assume that was a factory install. 87 engine, so there was no recall on it.

Both of your engines must've been built on a Monday morning or Friday afternoon.

One gasket only, between manifold and shield.

Per Recall 88-C-24
http://www.fieronews.net/fusion/downloads.php

Shield is to keep leaking oil off of exhaust manifold.

------------------
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(Jurassic Park)

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Thanks a lot guys. I was just assuming it took 2 gaskets. My original gasket was shot and mostly gone so I couldnt tell if there was only one or two. Im gonna leave the shield off.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: Both of your engines must've been built on a Monday morning or Friday afternoon.

The 3.4 was done by one of our mechanics, the 2.8 was a factory engine. Guess so.

Dang, I can't remember if I put the heat shield next to the block when I put mine back together. Now it's gonna bug me until I can go check.

That shield is intended to keep any breakage or oil away from the CAT. I found that re-assembly brought vacuum leaks with it so I deleted it. Better seal, and, no, no broken parts or sprays of oil, and........ (no CAT)

Arn