Exhaust Manifold Covers?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Exhaust Manifold Covers?
I've heard of alot of people taking their covers off. Whats the point? It only makes them look like shorties, which they basically are. Someone let me know........................
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
Clearance
I put AFR 180 heads on my 85 and had problems with plug clearance. The plug wire boots were also resting on the shields with the new heads (fine with stock). 
I removed these heat shields (PITA) and had enough clearance to get a plug socket on the plugs and the boots had good clearance.
I removed these heat shields (PITA) and had enough clearance to get a plug socket on the plugs and the boots had good clearance.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster Lancashire
I've got mine off at the moment and was going to paint them with Silver Very High Temp spray paint.
I've shot blasted the manifolds, but don't intend to paint them as well. I expect they will get discoloured and crusty eventually though just like before. I will be using new sheet metal screws to refit the covers as well. I'm still debating whether to give the aluminised covers a quick shot blast as well before painting them, or just rub the crusty bits with emery cloth.
If they turn out cheap looking, I might not refit them, have to see how they turn out.
I've shot blasted the manifolds, but don't intend to paint them as well. I expect they will get discoloured and crusty eventually though just like before. I will be using new sheet metal screws to refit the covers as well. I'm still debating whether to give the aluminised covers a quick shot blast as well before painting them, or just rub the crusty bits with emery cloth.
If they turn out cheap looking, I might not refit them, have to see how they turn out.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
I removed the shields on my 86 and I polished the rusty exhaust manifold with Mid Americas exhaust manifold dressing,similair to Callyx or whatever theyre spelled.Look brand spanking new when done!Shiny as ever!
Basically you brush this metallic looking paste onto the manifolds and rub it off with a cloth.They stay looking shiny for months.If it needs to be redone,then brush some on and rub it off.Works very very well.
Turned my rusty looking shorties into brand new polished looking shorty manifolds.
Basically you brush this metallic looking paste onto the manifolds and rub it off with a cloth.They stay looking shiny for months.If it needs to be redone,then brush some on and rub it off.Works very very well.
Turned my rusty looking shorties into brand new polished looking shorty manifolds.
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
You pretty much have to remove em anyways to paint them, and defintely to clean up the ports.
You could remove the heatshields with headers on the car, but you'd have to destroy the inside one to fish it out. Thatd be a non-reversible mod (although replacements would be easy to come by.
You could remove the heatshields with headers on the car, but you'd have to destroy the inside one to fish it out. Thatd be a non-reversible mod (although replacements would be easy to come by.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Shreveport Louisiana
I took the heats sheilds off the manifolds from my '88. I had the A.I.R. tubes cut off and welded up. Then I used a dremel to grind down the inside ports and then Painted the manifolds with high temp black paint. It Frees up more room under the hood around the spark plugs and it Definiately looks better.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 802
Likes: 0
From: What do I know anyway? I'm just a 50 year old No0b
Originally Posted by Supernatural
I took the heats sheilds off the manifolds from my '88. I had the A.I.R. tubes cut off and welded up. Then I used a dremel to grind down the inside ports and then Painted the manifolds with high temp black paint. It Frees up more room under the hood around the spark plugs and it Definiately looks better.
I would like to see a picture of that. Bet it looks good!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,692
Likes: 5
From: Hayward CA
If I had an L98 I take the stockers off, remove the heat sheilds and send them off to be extrude honed (http://www.gethoned.com/your_parts.html). They would probably flow better than most aftermarket short-tube headers and cost less.