Can't buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

Kens66 · May 5, 2006

Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

My '97 GTS is in the body shop taking care of some "minor" damage that happened in the hands of a moving company. The body shop discovered that the heat shield inside the passenger-side rocker panel is damaged (parts of it actually look burnt). Today they called me and said you cannot buy a new shield separately from a new rocker panel. Is that true? Has this happened to anyone else, and what did you do about it? I want to keep my Viper completely stock.

Saint_Spinner · May 5, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

Can you use those heat-wrap thingies?

Buckeye Viper · May 5, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

Roe has heat wrap things. DC Performance has incolonel.

Ulysses · May 5, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

they called me and said you cannot buy a new shield separately from a new rocker panel. Is that true? Has this happened to anyone else, and what did you do about it?

Yes it's true. Others will have to pipe in as to what they have done.

DrDJ · May 5, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

I believe that as long as you have the stock cats on the car, the heat shields will eventually get burnt.

DrDJ

ArlyDude · May 5, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

I don't understand people's infatuation with keeping a car stock. I know everyone can have their own views of their own car, but I guess some people buy their car with keeping the resale price in mind and they plan on selling it. But keeping something like that stock to me is a little overdoing it.

hemibeep · May 5, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

1. Can't buy the shields seperate.
2. Tried thermo tech with roe wrap = no good
3. found a pretty nice pair of used, the only solution.
4. stock cats are a blast furnace, they will eventually burn through the metal

Try some of the suppliers of used parts, Paul Scharf, Jon B, etc.

Saint_Spinner · May 5, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

Will Hi-flow cats and Roe wraps work? Or will they still be too hot?

Camfab · May 6, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

Go with hi-flow cats and use your existing factory shielding. The O.D. of hi-flow cats are substantially reduced over stock. These cats make virtually no contact with the stock shielding, which promotes additional cooling. If you wrap the cats or the tubes with any kind of wrap you will destroy the tubing in short order. The reason people insist on stock parts isn't resale value, it's wisdom. As a side note, the inconel shields are probably a very good alternative, but expect to pay big dollars for them. Completely agree with your analysis Hemibeep

1TONY1 · May 6, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

What is a brand new heat shield worth ?

99 R/T 10 · May 6, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

$1, checks in the mail

LETHAL GTS · May 6, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

The heat shields are going to look burnt. They are in the hottest place your cars has. Unless they are totally shot, why replace them? The new ones will look the same in a short while if you leave the stock cats in.

418viper · May 6, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

Maybe this Thermo-tec mat at Jegs will work
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10002&storeId=10001&categoryId=20801&parentCategoryId=10261&langId=-1

Ron · May 6, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

It will not. Smoke and maybe even flames will result if you try. Factory insulation or Dan Cragin's are about the only choices.

The real answer really isn't better insulation, but better airflow within the sills. This doesn't mean the screen door in the front wheelwells it means allowing air to naturally flow around whatever cat you use.

hemibeep · May 6, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

418, no won't work.

Due to the accident my car was in, I had to use aftermarket fiberglass, so I tried alot of these fixes. stock is the only one that worked.

Have hi-flo, random techs.
Left the rear "plates" off of the rear on both sides, and removed the front inner fender fiberglass shield. I was going to put in a mesh in the front to avoid rocks, but 1.5 years later and it has not been an issue..

So with both ends open, factory shields, and hi-flows.....you will never cook a soft boiled egg on my sills.
they are actually not ever hot.
ITS ALL ABOUT AIRFLOW!

Kens66 · May 8, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

Thanks for all the feedback! It sounds like sticking with the factory heat shield but moving to high-flow cats is the best answer.

Are the factory cats welded on, or is replacing them easy? Can I replace *just* the cats, or does it imply having to replace other components?

Just guessing that there's more than one hi-flow cat option -- which is the best made? Which sounds best?

Thanks again...

Ulysses · May 8, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

The cats are clamped on either side. Problem is that you will need the pipes attached to the cat. Either cut the cat to separate from the pipes or have a muffler shop fab up ones that match.

ViperJoe · May 8, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

2. Tried thermo tech with roe wrap = no good

Dave can you elaborate.......I have RT hiflows and Roe's heat blanket wrap ready to go on.

hemibeep · May 8, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

ViperJoe,

The Roe wrap was being used with only thermotech barrier. Without the factory shields, this arrangement blistered the paint.

With factory shields this may be okay.

I am convinced the best upgrade was opening both ends. REALLY lets the heat out.

94RT10Ohio · May 8, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

I am in the process or refinishing a set of used fiberglass sills. I am trying something a little crazy and wil probably pay for it and end up having to repaint later, but since I have the tools and the ability on with my quest. (Roe insulation, a specialty coating on the inside of the sills, vented front and rear).

With that said, if it works, in other words go all summer without issues how much $$ can I get for my stock sills (needs refinised) and insulation?

SNAKE BITE · May 8, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

What condition are your stock sills in?

94RT10Ohio · May 8, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

I refinished them a year ago and made two mistakes.

1. Painted in the winter without any air filters, got mositure in the paint, so I ended up getting bubbles. They need stripped and refinished.

2. Did not put any 3M protection on them, so chips in the problem areas.

Other than that they are good, no dents.

Mark Red GTS Cooper · May 8, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

Try this links, http://www.atpwrap.com/viper.htm

Should be just what you need,

Mark

SNAKE BITE · May 8, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

I refinished them a year ago and made two mistakes.

1. Painted in the winter without any air filters, got mositure in the paint, so I ended up getting bubbles. They need stripped and refinished.

2. Did not put any 3M protection on them, so chips in the problem areas.

Other than that they are good, no dents.

Don't know what they are worth but let me know a price if you decide to sell them, as I may be interested.

94RT10Ohio · May 8, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

I refinished them a year ago and made two mistakes.

1. Painted in the winter without any air filters, got mositure in the paint, so I ended up getting bubbles. They need stripped and refinished.

2. Did not put any 3M protection on them, so chips in the problem areas.

Other than that they are good, no dents.

Click to expand...

Don't know what they are worth but let me know a price if you decide to sell them, as I may be interested.

It will be the end of the year, I want to make sure the glass sill hold up.

Kens66 · May 9, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

Are there any pictures that would help illustrate the steps involved in replacing the catalytic converters? It wasn't crystal clear to me whether cutting and/or welding are involved.

I have a cat-back Corsa exhaust -- does that make any differences?

And finally... How is the factory heat shield attached to the rocker panel? When I viewed mine at the shop they had it sitting off to the side.

Jeff Torrey · May 9, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

And finally... How is the factory heat shield attached to the rocker panel? When I viewed mine at the shop they had it sitting off to the side.
-----------------------------------------------------------

They are glued in place. As soon as you run the car the glue lets go, but no matter they are in place and won't move around.

Early cars had rivets to hold them in place. The rivets corroded holes in the outer sills, so no more rivets.

SNAKE BITE · May 9, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

yep, my 94 has rivets.

Ron · May 9, 2006

Re: Can\'t buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

Early GENII cars will corrode the sills also, not from rivets but rather from the exposed fiber insulation which has an amazing ability to hold moisture up against the sill from the inside. Later year insulation was metal coated inside and out, eliminating this problem. Preemptive measures can be taken to prevent this corrosion if it's not already too late.

Can't buy the heat shield inside the rocker panel???

Enthusiast

Viper Owner

Enthusiast

Enthusiast

Enthusiast

Enthusiast

Viper Owner

Viper Owner

Enthusiast

Enthusiast

Enthusiast

Viper Owner

Enthusiast

Enthusiast

Viper Owner

Enthusiast

Enthusiast

Enthusiast

Viper Owner

Enthusiast

Viper Owner

Enthusiast

Enthusiast

Viper Owner

Enthusiast

Enthusiast

Enthusiast

Viper Owner

Enthusiast

Similar threads

Forum statistics

Share this page