well, made it home fine, with a sheet of 16? gauge metal. Stopped twice (okay thrice) on the way just to make sure everything was okay. The metal got too hot to touch, so earlier today I did some homebrew heat shield work. I am nearing completion, and on a shoestring budget (aren't we all...) so please realize I had to work with what I had. On with the pics!
Here is what I started with today:

This is the two parts of shield I had left over, and the trunk "floor"

First I used some bolts to create standoffs for some air gap

Installed part one

installed part two -- aren't self tapping screws great!

Slapped a piece of alumnium angle for rearward floor support

Floor test:

Quite possibly the best use I've come up with for header wrap

Did it work? Well, I let her idle for twenty minutes with everything closed. Opened the decklid and could easily put my hand on it, 'twas warm, but not hot at all. I then drove around too see if it changed, and as I expected it only got cooler. I no longer fear reinstalling my carpet, should look good when done.
Was twenty minutes long enough -- well, it was for me. I won't let my car idle for that long (except for this test), your results may vary. How do you think I did? I wonder what other forum members think -- any suggestions for improvement?
Well, hopefully this will help someone else, and enjoy that swap, this one's a hoot to drive now.