I've finally got my car just about all together from a short shifter/y-pipe/high flow cat install and there's just about no room for the heat shield. What kind of damage (if any) can I expect from running it like this?

 

The heat shield is there so you dont burn something underneath it. (ie. if you roll over grass or you park under something)

The heatshield has little purpose. Dont worry about it, just leave it off. If you really want it on, you can weld it on.

 

Mines been off for about 600 miles since the 5spd conversion and no problems. The gear shift doesn't even get warm and I'm pushing some good and hot EGT's when doing boosted 1/4 runs. I wouldn't weld it on or you'll have a ***** of time should you want to do something different down there in the future. Just leave it off

 

I dont think you guys know which heat shield I'm talking about. I bought the car used so I dont know if the previous owner took off the shield between the exhaust and the ground but it was never there. I'm talking about the shield between the exhaust and the shift linkage (above the cat).

 

Yes..I know. That is exactly the one I'm referring to.

 

mines been off since ia bought it. the floor gets a tiny bit hot but with the carpet there you cannot feel it. IMO leave it off.

 

The heat shield is just used to keep stuff under your car from burning, i.e. if you park on grass and leave our car on. mine was dragging because i lost a bolt, so i just ripped it off. Nothing will happen, you are good to go!

 

How does a heat shield that goes between the cat and the underbelly of the car protect grass?

 

...lmao, exactly what I was thinking sryth. Exhaust pipes are closer to the grass/debris than the heat shield.

The heat shield is there to keep heat from the exhaust piping from warming up the floor.

 

The people referring to the grass burning are thinking of the lower heat shield (which is underneath the larger resonator not the cat i thought) that protects from that.

Mine also rusted halfway off (well i think speedbumps helped that) and I ripped mine off, I was going to replace it but found that the only way to get one was to order a new cat! what b.s.

also checked out my junkyard and every max was sitting on its hubs, so had no way to get under there and check itout.

had no problems without mine for probably 5k mi or more now.

 

what would happen if you drive w/o your header heat sheild?

 

Running without header heat shield? Nothing bad. I've had the SRHeaders on for about a year with no problems.