Is Heat Shield Req'd w/ Sprint Manifold or Header????

[Dale .D]

Hi everyone.I'm in the process of chroming up some of the motor & fixing things up.I'm getting the intake manifold ported & plated & as well I've ordered a sprint exhaust manifold that I'll get plated as well . Question is now with the intake & exhaust manifolds now not being attatched do I need the heat sheild between the intake & the weber carb . I'm assuming the intake won't get nearly as hot.I live on Vancouver Island BC & drive the 71 opel gt 1.9 from spring to fall.I've been having problems with exhaust & vacuum leaks as of late.Doing this conversion would lesson 2 possble leaks.1 is the exhaust leak I had between the 2 manifolds " blown gasket" & the possible one with the thin gasket between the intake manifold & the heat sheild. Any advise is greatly appreciated.

[jvandyke]

I think you're safe to ditch the heat shield. I've got a Pacesetter header and therefore no heat riser and no heat shield, ran her all summer as hot as it could be around here, never a heat problem with the car. (Just me! What an oven!)

And you wouldn't want to hide all those pretty pieces with an ugly heat shield anyway.

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by Dale .D I'm getting the intake manifold ported & plated & as well I've ordered a sprint exhaust manifold that I'll get plated as well.

You'll probably want to re-think plating the exhaust manifold. It would turn blue and gold within ten minutes, and the plating will eventually (within months of use) start to peel, flake, and rust.

Better to stick with a high temp ceramic coating of some sort which will not only last longer, but will insulate better and keep more heat away from the intake.

Bob

[Dale .D]

Originally Posted by RallyBob You'll probably want to re-think plating the exhaust manifold. It would turn blue and gold within ten minutes, and the plating will eventually (within months of use) start to peel, flake, and rust. Better to stick with a high temp ceramic coating of some sort which will not only last longer, but will insulate better and keep more heat away from the intake. Bob

Eh Bob.I've been kind of questioning myself on that one too . The guy at the plate shop said It'll be fine. That jet hot coating sounds great but noone around here does it . Maybe do some calling around for the ceramic coating.thanks for the nudge. Dale

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by Dale .D Eh Bob.I've been kind of questioning myself on that one too . The guy at the plate shop said It'll be fine. That jet hot coating sounds great but know one around here does it . Maybe do some calling around for the ceramic coating.thanks for the nudge. Dale

Apparently it only takes about 450 degrees F for the chrome to yellow or start turning brown, and only 500 degrees F for it to turn blue. Seeing how a highspeed highway run can get even a 'Sprint' manifold glowing dull red (900-1100 or so degrees), I'd be concerned with the chrome lasting!

A few searches:
http://www.fireballcoatings.com/
http://www.sunviewcoatings.com/
http://www.koolcoatceramiccoatings.com/index.html

A search guide for powder-coaters in BC turned up this: http://www.customcoaters.com/html/b_c_.html
You'll have to call and ask, but many powder-coaters also do the ceramic exhaust coatings, since the general procedure is the same.

HTH!
Bob

[West Coast GT]

Heat Shield needed?
Assuming Vancouver does not get hot very often, why not try running without the shield for one season and see how your car performs?

If you experience vapor lock, reinstall the shield. No harm done (unless the Solex warps - then you have good justification to buy a Weber).

I don't see a down-side here.

[Dale .D]

Actually the weber is already in . Like your way of thinking.That's my plan . Just not sure of the coati
ng of the Exhaust manifold yet.Thanks eh!

[Dale .D]

Originally Posted by RallyBob Apparently it only takes about 450 degrees F for the chrome to yellow or start turning brown, and only 500 degrees F for it to turn blue. Seeing how a highspeed highway run can get even a 'Sprint' manifold glowing dull red (900-1100 or so degrees), I'd be concerned with the chrome lasting! A few searches: http://www.fireballcoatings.com/ http://www.sunviewcoatings.com/ http://www.koolcoatceramiccoatings.com/index.html A search guide for powder-coaters in BC turned up this: http://www.customcoaters.com/html/b_c_.html You'll have to call and ask, but many powder-coaters also do the ceramic exhaust coatings, since the general procedure is the same.

Thanks for the searches. There's 2 powder coating places in Naniamo, just an hr north of me.I'm waiting now for the Sprint manifold I ordered from a used opel place in LA.Tod is his name.The next step before I get to the coating is resurfacing the intake & new studs for the carb "1 half inch shorter" & some mild street porting.Everything just seems to go so slow with having to order from LA it 2 or 3 weeks to get here.Half that time is at the border.Slow & steady wins the race I guess . Take care eh & thanks again.

[kwilford]

Originally Posted by Dale .D I'm waiting now for the Sprint manifold I ordered from a used opel place in LA.Tod is his name. Everything just seems to go so slow with having to order from LA it 2 or 3 weeks to get here.

Um, I suspect that would be Todd, as in Todd Martin, as in Opels Unlimited, aka "Opels Unreachable". Good luck on that. He has a deserved reputation for being VERY slow to ship, so the Canadian Border Service is the least of your worries. Which should worry you. But hey, at least you were able to place an order, which has eluded many less dedicated Oper'ers. Please let us know how quickly it arrives if you don't mind.
So, and hour south of Nanaimo, that would put you between Duncan and Victoria or thereabouts?

[Dale .D]

Originally Posted by kwilford Um, I suspect that would be Todd, as in Todd Martin, as in Opels Unlimited, aka "Opels Unreachable". Good luck on that. He has a deserved reputation for being VERY slow to ship, so the Canadian Border Service is the least of your worries. Which should worry you. But hey, at least you were able to place an order, which has eluded many less dedicated Oper'ers. Please let us know how quickly it arrives if you don't mind. So, and hour south of Nanaimo, that would put you between Duncan and Victoria or thereabouts?

Pretty close . You know the area. Shawnigan lk actually.I left Calgary right after the winter Olympics.Remember Eddie the eagle & the Jamacan bobsled team . Good times.Opels unlimited is the place. Got me worried now but he said it was going out early this week.Take care & is the old Bowness hotel still there?

[Dale .D]

plan now is get the porting & resurfacing done at cords in langford,polished at victoria plating & the sprint manifold jet hot coated in vancouver at rocket ceramicoat.now just waiting for the manifold from Opel Unlimitted.can'y wait . Wish me luck.Also found out that Cords engine specialist have rebuilt a local gt recently so when it's time for that at least someone has done it before.Steve from Victoria might find that helpfull.