I just replaced the starter, and I think that the heat shield that was there just corroded away.. Is it really necessary that I get under there and put a new one on? Thanks

The heat shield does not HAVE to be there, but heat death is a slow way to die and eventually the solenoid will take objection to the torture and stick in the bore. No big rush as this takes awhile to happen, but it WILL happen.

you can also order a "jacket" for the starter from Jegs. It's just an insulated blanket that protects it from excessive heat. It was under 20 bucks.

Is this jacket easy to install? I am not in the mood to take that starter off again.. Hoepfully the jacket just wraps around or something?

The heat shield should be replaced. Heat is about a starters worst enemy.

You can make it out of almost anything. All it has to do is reflect the heat away from the starter and be stiff enough to stay put. I usually use aluminum roof flashing. You can cut it with heavy scisors. You don't need to drop the starter. You could use a starter bolt a am anchor point on one end. You could bend a tab around and use a big hose clamp on the other. It doesn't have to be pretty.

Forgot about this thread.. Does it have to go all the way around the starter, or just the backside, near the cat?

It only needs to be between the exhaust and the starter. remember, this doesn't insulate like fiber glass. it reflects heat like a mirror.

So woundnt the cover fron Jegs be just as good as the shield?? My shield just started rattling when I put on a GT exhaust (It rattles because I changed the tone of the exhaust)I would like to just remove the shield and replace it with a cover for the starter or wrap it.

Does the 88 Formula has that heatshield? I don't remember seen one. Also, is the shield to protect from the exaust manifold or the CC? I will put ceramic coated headers in mine. Do I stil need it? Tks.

As I understand it. the jegs wrap covers the whole starter. That would protect it from the exhaust but it seems to me it would also trap the starter's own operational heat making the starter take longer to cool down after starting.

It would depend on how much use the starter gets wether or not that would be a problem.

The cover may also trap dirt and moisture around the solinoid. This could promote accelerated corrosion on the terminals and wires, especially in wet areas or in areas with heavy road salt use.

Alex, as said above, it's not required. It just likely to make it last longer and prevent no starts in hot weather.

The shield reflects heat from all nearby exuast parts, including the Catalyst. The catalyst can easily heat to 1000F. How much diferance the header coating will make is hard to say in this particular case.

Hmmmm....good point theogre.I think Ill just leave it on and find a way to stop its rattling

Haze, according to the drawings I have, the factory one is held by a clip to the solinoid. could be it just needs bending a bit to hold tighter or maybe replace the clip with a big hose clamp?

make sure it's not one of the other shields in the same general area. The one on the body above the catalyst drove me nuts for months untill I happened to hit it just right working on something else and got the same sound I'd been hearing. pulled it off the body a bit and it hasn't rattled since.

Thanks, Ill check it out.

Does anyone have a V-6 starter heat shield for sale?