308 Exhaust Header Heat Shields

The aluminum heat shields on my '78 GTS headers have cracked and rattle. These are the ones that are very pliable and I could probably tear them off by hand. They are the ones that cover the rear primary tubes and at the collectors. Can these just be cut off? Does anyone see any need to keep these on?

 

Lots of people get rid of them but they do keep the engine comp cooler.
Some say the non US cars didn't have them so it's ok but the US cars make more ex heat.

It's your rubber, up to you.

 

I removed them and then had the headers aluminum / ceramic coated which seems to have lowered engine compartment temps. The ceramic coating is designed to act as an insulator.

No more rattles!

I used "airborne Powder Coaters" but there are many (use google)

Paul
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Very cool Paul. We need a modified 308 section

 

The 1985 Euro 308 has it and i left it on. Like Sloan, had my headers done due to racing the car a alot and wated to keep temps down and also add life to the stock units. i used Jet-Hot for coating inside and out.

 

I removed the ugly aluminum covers and had the headers ceramic coated in a titanum color. Looks great but I'm sure they will throw a lot of heat into the engine compartment. We'll see...
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That looks great. I wonder if it will change much when it heat cycles a few times?

 

That looks quite nice - who did your headers in a titanium color? Did you do inside and out?
Many thanks!

 

WOW WOW WOW!

You my friend Lou are an artist. I can't wait until you get everything back together.

 

(Rifledriver Quote:
That looks great. I wonder if it will change much when it heat cycles a few times?)
I don't think it will change. I had my '32 Ford street rod headers coated on it's Chevy 383ci blower motor and saw no change.

(snj5 Quote:
That looks quite nice - who did your headers in a titanium color? Did you do inside and out?)
I had Specialized Coatings in Huntington Beach,Ca coat them. They offer about 8-10 different colors. I did just the outside on these. The '32 Ford I did both inside and outside.

hanknum Quote:

WOW WOW WOW!
You my friend Lou are an artist. I can't wait until you get everything back together.
Thanks Henry, How's the baby? Are you sleeping yet?!
We ran the motor a few weeks ago so off the car went for final body work and paint! Finally! I hope to get it back within a 2-3 months. Then, if I really push on it I might be able to bring it to Concorso Italiano in August.

 

That is absolutely beautiful.

 

If this coating concerns you regarding the amount of heat that lets out I would highly suggest that you wrap your starter motors with a insulating wrap from Summit or Jegs. I wrapped mine as a precaution.

 

When taking off the shields, use gloves and a mask, the insulation is some sort of fiberous / asbestos material and isn't good for the lungs.

I jet hot coated mine. Worked well. Kept the temps down a bit.

Agree with Paul's comment on the starter. Did same. Of course, the thing failed as soon as I had got the motor back in the car.

Philip

 

Good idea to cover the starter. I already routed the alternator and starter wires/cables as close to the engine, away from the forward header as I could.

 

The baby is doing great thanks. I'm sleeping a little (mostly at work ). Since you posted a pic on what you've been working on, here's what I've been working on.

I'd love to come down and check out your progress. Let me know when you'd have the time.
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