1972 246GTS headers shield replacement

You may have seen my question in "technical Q&A" about replacing the factory original header heat shields on a 1972 246GTS USA version car. Before I have my fabricator duplicate the old shields, I thought I should ask other Dino owners what they did when the shields needed to be replaced. I could not locate factory original replacements, but perhaps they are out there. The after market ones I have seen are not like the originals, they are just metal shields, not ones moulded around the headers like the originals. Additionally, the originals used very thin steel not aluminum. Perhaps making new ones with heavier metal is just a better idea. Any thoughts? Thanks for your help. SAM

 

I thought about this at one time and thin stainless would be the way I would do it. Normal steel is going to rust. I thoroughly worked my NOS headers with high grade heat paint and they still are beginning to rust after the engine was run in on the bench. You can't powder coat the insides of the shields. You can still paint stainless to look original.

 

Our serial numbers are very close, #4138. The shields on my car have been rusting through the years and in poor shape, but I am inclined to let them go. I understand the manifold themselves are stainless? I am wondering whether I can pull off the shields in situ and leave a neat, presentable manifold.

I understand your desire for a highly original car though. If I were to go that route, I would do what racerboy9 suggests and use stainless. Take photos.

Andres

 

Thanks for you thoughts. Firstly, the factory exhaust is NOT stainless, just Italian steel. But they are thich enough to last, it are the shields that were too thin. Paint does little, the coating of the exhaust is ceramic in and out. A friend with a Bora says that the heat dropped 30C with the coating. In California the cost is about $600 a pair. Making stainless shields is problematic. Moulding the stainless and stainless welding is more difficult, obviously anything can be done, but standard steel of a better quality would appear completely original. Unless I hear a different suggestion, this is the route I will take.
Thanks Sam

 

I don't see how ceramic coating treats both sides of the heat shield. They would have to take apart the shields to coat them.

 

Why not remove the heat shields completely? They are not needed, unless you are running the air pump, and I can not imagine that you have the pump activated.

The air injection was like putting a blow torch inside the headers and created incredible amounts of heat, necessitating the heat shields. On virtually all US Dinos, the air pump has either been removed or disabled by now, so that is no longer a concern.

 

Did Euro cars have heat shields? I am *04022*/Euro. If they did, what am I looking for? Pictures would be helpful.

 

No, only US Dinos had them.

 

Bob, have a look at page 221
;-)
regards Matthias

 

Thanks ... looks like I need to read my bible.

 

There may be an insulating packing material under the shielding.
Ed