Ruining New Engraved Heat Shield

[6SENSE]

Put my engraved "T-Type" heat shield from Buick from Hell on when I put my engine back together a week ago. The next time I opened the hood and looked at it there were two burn spots where apparently it was touching the wastegate puck arm that attaches to the wastgate actuator.
Pretty jacked up considering how much the thing costs, and there really isnt any way to fix it. Anyone else have this happen?

 

[fireberd350]

i was just gonna ask the same thing...you beat me too it....

i just put mine on last week but havent drove it yet to see if it will burn....i was wondering the same thing....

but my tranny dip stick must be to long or something b/c it dented the end of the shield when i close the hood....

anyway to prevent it from getting ruined?

 

[Buick From Hell]

Guys, if there's a problem with these, I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT!

I refuse to sell crap, I haven't had any unhappy customers for over 3 years and I'm not about to start now, so if these aren't working out for whatever reason, e-mail me, or POST HERE with details, and PICTURES IF POSSIBLE! (I'm going to make this a "sticky" thread)

I need to know if the engraved (raw) part of the aluminum is burning, or the anodizing, whatever, so I can figure out a solution...

These were designed in an attempt to keep from frying the hood liner...normally I'd have some personal experience, but my car's not running yet, so your input is welcome and NEEDED!

 

[fireberd350]

i'll let ya know but as of now i got about 20 miles on my car w/ it....tho it does look AWESOME.....if it wasnt for my damn tranny dipstick mine would be perfect.....ill have to try and flatten it out again....

i think its just my car tho....who knows what the hell the prev owner did....prolly but in a different size dipstick who knows???

 

[Buick From Hell]

'Berd, if it's not bent too bad, you can probably bend it back with a little patience. If it'll fit, piece of wood on each side and a vice might help...

I've spoken to Mark about this, but there's not much more I can do till we get some further input about the problem!

I could make these using a thicker gauge aluminum, but with only the 2 small mounting screws, I'm concerned with weight. These currently weigh less than the original shield, but I don't want to fix one problem and create another!

 

[Darth Vader]

No problems here

I've put on a little over 100 miles on my '84 with this heat shield installed and I've definitely been heating up the turbo. That includes 20 miles this morning. I just went downstairs and got out the microscope after reading this thread. I've got no sign of heat damage, and no dent from the trans dipstick. So far so good, but I'll keep an eye on it.

 

[6SENSE]

I'll try to get my brother to take a pic with his digital camera and post it or email. In my situation I believe there is actual contact with the wastegate/puck arm because its not just a discolored burn mark. Ive since slightly bent (at the bend) the shield a little more by hand in attempt to insure that there is no further contact.

 

[Buick From Hell]

Here's an e-mail we got from an early buyer of these (I'll leave him nameless, he can chime in if he likes!)

"My heat shield fit perfectly. It fit tight up against the factory hood insulation. I even put some play-doe on top of the turbo to check clearance, I had a few inches, not even close. The only thing I can think of that they may be doing wrong is NOT trimming the back of the factory hood insulation so that the new heat shield fits flat against the hood of the car. If they try to install it without cutting out a notch in the hood insulation it will NOT fit correctly. If they are replacing the hood insulation with a new factory piece it will NOT have the notch cut in it at the back of the hood. You have to cut it in even to install the small factory heat shield. "

On my car (the "test" vehicle) my old heatshield came loose and beat up the hood liner pretty badly, plus my up-pipe burned up a good portion of it, so my hood liner is basically a rag....My apologies for not realizing the liner itself may be in the way...

6SENSE, maybe the above info will help your installation? Also, I make these one at a time to order, and it may be that I messed up the bend on yours, creating a problem...regardless, I'm willing to replace it, if you could e-mail me we'll discuss it!

 

[6SENSE]

Sent you an email Kevin.

The info above does sound helpful. When installing it and especially (of course) after the damage was already done that idea did actually cross my mind.
I'll tell you though, my first inclination definately wasnt to cut my hood liner if I didnt have to. Might be a good idea to suggest it in the future with some small instructions or what not. I would have done it if I knew.

Thanks

 

[GN Ben]

Hi, I sent Mark H. the email about my heat shield fitting perfectly that "Buick From Hell" posted. After reading the posts here on the heat shield problem it sounds like the people who are having the problem are not trimming the back of the hood insulation. When I received my heat shield and did a test fit that was the first thing I noticed. The heat shield was designed the same way as the factory shield. In order to fit correctly it had to fit flush up against the hood. If you don't make the notch longer, the heat shield will hang low and rub against things like the dip stick or the wastegate. Like I said in my email, I was very impressed on how nice the heat shield fit, tight up against the hood insulation. I hope this information helps people who are having a problem.

 

[Bonden]

Good info here as I just purchased the heat shield. So, as I understand it, I should remove a section of the liner the same size as the heat shield? It would be nice if we could get a hood liner that matched the 84 liner. Any pics of a successful installation would be a big help

Phil

 

[fireberd350]

i have the original liner w/ the indent in it and i think i still need to cut it out b/c im getting marks on mine, they wipe right off tho....my liner is beat too i need a new one....heat shield looks awesome tho and probably saved my car from an engine fire b/c my turbo ate up my liner.....i still have a huge dent from my tranny dip stik tho???? its pissin me off i must have somethin wrong?

 

[6SENSE]

You MUST cut the liner. Leave a small amount of liner to tuck behind the sheild for appearance purposes (1/2"?). Take some of the "stuffing" (insulation) out from this bordering area to let the sheild press to back of the hood as much as possible.
If the large flat portion of the sheild still doesnt "cling" to the hood you may need to slightly adjust the 1st bend right after the portion of the sheild with the bolt holes in it. The bend may be a 90degree, change it to closer of a 60degree(?). This will force it against the hood better.
I have been in contact with Kevin and he is definately interested in any issues we have, and has been very helpfull. Seems that for the most part the key is in the installation, the product is definately A+.

 

[Jerryl]

Put my engraved "T-Type" heat shield from Buick from Hell on when I put my engine back together a week ago. The next time I opened the hood and looked at it there were two burn spots where apparently it was touching the wastegate puck arm that attaches to the wastgate actuator.
Pretty jacked up considering how much the thing costs, and there really isnt any way to fix it. Anyone else have this happen?

6Sense,
How is the shileds' performance to date?

 

[GNeric]

I've got one each of them on three hotairs and only two did this. I found out my driver's side mount was worn on my GN and TORN on my Dr Pepper car. My white 85 is still perfect condition. My Dr Pepper shield even has a tear in it from the wastegate arm rubbing on it at the track until I finally realized the mount was torn and that is a brand new hood insulator from GM. Now with a new mount on each car, no more markings or discolorization.

 

[turbo6x2]

Mine only gets discolored if my I have an exhaust leak. We make sure nothing is hitting before we close the hood. I still think this is a top notch piece otherswise my hood liner wouldn't still look like brand new. Not to mention the fact it saves your paint. I just touch mine up with a black felt tip marker and it's as good as new. If you are referring to the piece you put on your hood liner to protect that is. And yes you do need to mod your liner in order for this to have a snug fit against it. I've been using mine for 3 years and would recommend it to anyone. A great idea and really appreciated.

 

[boosted84]

does anyone have any pics of this hot air heat shield on the car im interested in getting one

 

[Jerryl]

does anyone have any pics of this hot air heat shield on the car im interested in getting one

http://www.buickgn.com/hotairheatshields.htm :biggrin:

 

[turbojitsu85]

I bought mine years ago and noticed the same thing happen but it wasn't the puck or tranny dipstick that caused the debt and burn it was the elevated waste gate metal around the puck so I just ground it off and smooth and the problem stopped. Do you guys have the 86/87 hoodliner like I do Because that will cause these heatshields to sit lower than our origanal or stock replacement ones.

 

[boosted84]

oh im sorry i saw those already i thought he came up with a version similar to the 86 87 chrome type shields