New Headers...add heat shields or not

[Dave Moore]

I did a search and the last thread that I can find on this was in 2002, so there has been a lot of experience since then.
I'm installing Belanger Headers and exhaust. What is the word on reinstalling the stock heat shields. Necessary or not?
I will of course consult Lou on this as well be wanted to here from the gang as well.
Dave

 

[dave6666]

I think they keep things like your hood pad from catching fire and your plug wire boots from melting. I'm Gen2, dunno if the same for Gen3. I plan on doing headers some day, and will either reuse the stock heat shields, or upgrade to the inconel stuff for $$$.

 

[Flyntgr]

Heat sheilds are not needed, according to Lou, because of the ceramic coatings on the Bellanger headers. A good set of high temp plug wires would be a nice addition, however. I recommend (and so does Joseph Dell of GA, with twin turbo's) Adam Brennan's custom Viper wires at 502-419-0133. He makes the wires with piston number stickers on each wire, in a variety of colors, including Red, and they are guarnteed for LIFE. They are 8mm in diameter, if memory serves, so you'll need new wire separators (nominal expense). That's what I did on my dearly departed (totalled) '05. The complete Bellanger exhaust system is loud at WOT, but nice and liveable in normal operation. These headers and exhausts are a good addition to any SRT to date IMHO, and have the effect of making the h.p. at 5,500 rpm continue to redline on a flat graph. They also cool the sidesills to the point they never burn you. That's Nice!

 

[Dave Moore]

Heat sheilds are not needed, according to Lou, because of the ceramic coatings on the Bellanger headers. A good set of high temp plug wires would be a nice addition, however. I recommend (and so does Joseph Dell of GA, with twin turbo's) Adam Brennan's custom Viper wires at 502-419-0133. He makes the wires with piston number stickers on each wire, in a variety of colors, including Red, and they are guarnteed for LIFE. They are 8mm in diameter, if memory serves, so you'll need new wire separators (nominal expense). That's what I did on my dearly departed (totalled) '05. The complete Bellanger exhaust system is loud at WOT, but nice and liveable in normal operation. These headers and exhausts are a good addition to any SRT to date IMHO, and have the effect of making the h.p. at 5,500 rpm continue to redline on a flat graph. They also cool the sidesills to the point they never burn you. That's Nice!

Flyngtr,
Thanks for the info and a nice plug , pardon the plug, for Adam's wire...I believe i will give him a call.
I will talk with Lou later today but I wonder about what the Insurance or warrenty companies might opine

 

[Billy The Kidd]

I would say DEFINATELY ADD THEM. I have the headers and actually Chuck Tator had to add more insulation because it was getting so hot that some of the wires on the firewall melted together. Good Luck

 

[ViperTony]

After you talk to Lou, call Chuck Tator and get his feedback. He advised me to put them back on. Looks a little cramped in the engine bay on an SRT, I'd definitely put them back. Its not as if the shields are going rob horsepower...

 

[SNKEBIT]

The wires in the SRT engine bay are too close from the factory. If you spend a couple hours rerouting, (without splicing,) the wires down there, you can run without the shields. All the local cars I have worked on here have ALL those wires moved away from the exhaust system. I have seen 2 of them with the hot wire from the battery melting on the exhaust... FROM THE FACTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ILLSMOQ]

I know you want to see those headers when you open the hood but you should put the heat shields on.

Yes, that coating does keep some of the heat in the pipes but it is still hotter than it was before with the stock headers and heat shields. Plenty of people have had problems with things melting with the factory headers in place. The shields will cut down on the heat radiated out towards the wires and other components even more.

 

[Kai SRT10]

Put on the heat shields.
Otherwise, you will melt stuff.
Without shields, you will be posting here in about a week, saying that it is really hard for you to shift into reverse. Then, people will tell you that you have melted your wiring harness, and shorted out your reverse lock-out solenoid. This has happened to so many people after a new header install, I've lost count how many it was.

 

[B767DRIVER]

Lou recommended not installing them. He said the shields woud eventually rub the Jet-Hot coating off and they would corrode. I know I'm at risk but I haven't had any problems yet. Only time will tell. It does get hot.

 

[Viper X]

Put the heat shields back on or you will melt stuff as Kai says. If you track your car, you will melt a bunch of stuff.

The hydraulic clutch line runs very close to the headers on these cars. Without the heat shields, you may overheat your clutch fluid and shifting can become difficult. I'd recommend you install RBF 600 fluid for your clutch as soon as you can after header installation.

Dan

 

[black mamba1]

Not only will you melt stuff w/ Belangers, you can ignite stuff. I do not recommend you add stuff like this w/out talking to an experienced Viper tech (like Chuck Tator). Your baby (the Viper) is much too precious to experiment!

 

[ViperTony]

Not only will you melt stuff w/ Belangers, you can ignite stuff. I do not recommend you add stuff like this w/out talking to an experienced Viper tech (like Chuck Tator). Your baby (the Viper) is much too precious to experiment!

Ditto. After talking to Lou I talked to Chuck and others. Chuck noticed all of the extra heat shielding I installed around the lines that run by the headers had melted away...that pretty much did it for me. I don't know about the Gen III's but I was able to reshape the heat shields on my RT/10 so there's minimal contact with the headers. 3,000 miles later and there's no visible signs of the jet-hot peeling or rubbing off anywhere, so far.