That Exhaust Mainfold Heat Shield...

[speedracer]

As I look through the forum at engine bay pictures, I have noticed that many Spider owners have taken the exhaust manifold heat shield off. I'd like to do away with mine also, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea. I think it looks pretty silly with that carb heater hose elbow sitting there with no hose connected to it, and really, I see no need for that hose anyway.

So is the heat from the manifold so extreme that it could cause problems with say the distributor, maybe even the hood paint or something else?

I'm sure there are a lot of opinions on this, so let's hear them!

[rebar1111]

I am running dual Webers with individual filters and can't use the heated air from the exhaust manifold, so I plug welded the air hose port and reinstalled the shield. This will minimize the engine compartment heat and kind of balances the site of the Webers.

[So Cal Mark]

the heat will definitely affect the distributor but then again it's still an issue with the shield in place

[speedracer]

I am running dual Webers with individual filters and can't use the heated air from the exhaust manifold, so I plug welded the air hose port and reinstalled the shield. This will minimize the engine compartment heat and kind of balances the site of the Webers.

Dual Webers! Nice! Maybe someday.

I really want to cut that elbow off completely, then solder a piece of flashing over the hole and then paint the whole shield. I think the shield will look cleaner and more complete without the useless elbow. The elbow looks silly sitting there without anything attached to it and it let's hot air through to...

[AriK]

I sawed off that elbow and placed a decorative stainless shield over the existing one.

[speedracer]

Now that's what I'm talking about AriK!

Very clean and sharp looking. It really dresses up the engine compartment. You should market them! I'd buy one...

[AriK]

Email this guy: bjones675@comcast.net
50 some odd dollars + shipping
Tell him i sent you.
-Ari

[majicwrench]

Methinks the "heat shield" is really there to direct hot air to carb. Fiats ran for years w/o a "heat shield" on manifold, methinks they still could.