Belanger Headers...Factory Heat Shields or Not?

[Shelby3]

I'm installing Belanger headers on my GTS this week and was wondering what the latest take is on whether or not to re-install the factory heat shields. I'm hoping to hear I can leave them off as the headers are worth looking at. Thanks

[Jerry Dobson]

Here we go again

You will get both sides.

I use heat shields. It keeps the temperature confined. The Viper is too hot to begin with. You will be adding heat to every piece of plastic and rubber. The car won't catch blaze, the parts will just deteriorate quicker.

I am sure the famous story of the car catching fire will come up. With the raw header exposed, spilled fluids could be a problem.

I know they look good but my choice was to install the shields.

[GR8_ASP]

I did the same and reinstalled the heat shields. Very tight in some places but I was concerned about the heat from the headers being so close to things in the immediate area.

[KenH]

I just completed the install last weekend. My intent is to leave the shields off, but will reserve judgement until I have a chance to see how underhood temps go once I get a chance to drive it some. If it gets hot, I'd be tempted to try to heat shield some specific components using aluminum barriers rather than putting the full shields back on. Has anyone tried this? Sounds like a good project for Scott at Elite to take on.

Removing the heat shields were the hardest part of the whole install for me and after doing battle with them, I'd probably have to buy new ones if I put them back on anyway.

--- Ken

[ChoiceViper]

Here's a third vote for heat shields. I reinstalled mine for the visual smog check here in Ca. Headers look great, but the added heat in the engine bay is not worth it IMHO.

[Steve 00RT/10]

I have almost 25,000 miles on my Belanger headers/no cats and no heat shields. I am not aware of any rubber or plastic components becoming brittle. At 33,000 miles on the car, I am still running the original plug wires. The car runs great. I check the power steering cap(and all the other ones as well) every time I open the hood.

Steve

[SapphireGTS]

I put edelbrock heat shields on. They really look cool.

[HOdbleFman]

I'm getting ready to install my B&B headers that I just had jet-hot coated. I don't think I'm going to put the heat shields back on.

[ChoiceViper]

Yeah, those Edelbrock's are bad ass. I remember a pic a while back. Anyone still have it?

[Jack B]

For those of you that run Belangers with heat shields - I have the standard dual ceramic coated version and the engine compartment runs cooler than it did with the stock headers. That is the idea behind the coating - cut down on the radiation/convection and transfer more out the exhaust.

There is also a note in the factory instructions that warns against putting on the heat shields.

[Shelby3]

Jack, That's what had me wondering. If the ceramic coatings do what they are supposed to do, why would the shields be needed? I did see in the instructions about not wrapping the headers but didn't know if that applied to the factory shields. Has anyone actually seen engine compartment temps rise with coated headers and no shields?

[SapphireGTS]

[Big Medicine]

For those of you that run Belangers with heat shields - I have the standard dual ceramic coated version and the engine compartment runs cooler than it did with the stock headers. That is the idea behind the coating - cut down on the radiation/convection and transfer more out the exhaust.

There is also a note in the factory instructions that warns against putting on the heat shields.

On target: convection, conduction, & radiation = 3 only known forms of heat transfer on the big blue marble.

The factory shields affect two of the three modes, and if you handle the heat in another manner, e.g. ceramic coating, the shields are unnecessary.

The heat is always there, only redirected in different manners.

[SapphireGTS]

exactly and lets not forget that air is terrible at heat transfer.

[Kurt 97 GTS]

I've had my Belangers on for about 4000 miles now without the heat sheilds and NO problems as of yet!!