Whats that thing and do I need it?

[myfirst124]

What is that "Heat Shield" thing over the exhust manifold? Its got a ratty flex tube running to the air cleaner across and over the top of the engin. Its ungainly but I think its for Cold starts to feed warm air to the carborator. is it needed? its on my 124 1800, 1978. Thanks for any help....Mike

[Danno]

i took mine off. I don't know if i'd recommend removing the heat shield completely (i did) but you can certainly remove that flex pipe. then you need to get a fancy new air cleaner, too. those two things will dramatically clean up your underhood area.

[zachmac]

As far as your thread title goes, if you just got this car and don't know the last time the timing belt was changed, THAT IS the first thing you need to do.

[MNspiderman]

toss it.

[zachmac]

As far as your thread title goes, if you just got this car and don't know the last time the timing belt was changed, THAT IS the first thing you need to do.

Sorry, never read a thread title BEFORE coffee. I read "What's the first thing I need to do?" Guess being a lot older than my Fiat isn't that great!

[myfirst124]

Thanks for the input, I guess the overwhelming response is leave it off, This does'nt change my mind, only confirms my decision. So thanks. and to Zachmach (and all concerned) the last ownwer confirmed that the timeing belt was changed three years ago....so I guess I will have to change it...buyer beware and all that. or is Safe than Sorry anyway the more I crawl around this beauty the more I love it...and the punchdown list gets longer, Thanks again to all.
PS if anyone has a super heavy duty reason to replace the heat shield pls let me know

[amsiegel]

Leave the heat sheild it there for a reason. If you dont like the way it looks you can take it off and paint it. I painted mine with black hi temp (exhaust) and it never faded or peeled off.

[rasouth]

The flex hose going from the heat shield to air intake is neccessary for cold starts and works in conjuction with your air cleaner. At least on my '78 there is a small shield on the underneath side of the air cleaner lid and this can be placed in front of the hole where the flex hose attaches to force air to be sucked into air cleaner from the front or by placing the small shield in front it sucks air from the heated air coming from the flex hose. By sucking air from the heat shield your engine warms up quicker. If you live in an area that does not get real cold (45 degrees or below) you should be okay in taking it off and replacing the air cleaner.

[myfirst124]

Thanks, The shield is off and repainted I'll take afew trips to see whats up and then decide to put it back or not, I just like being able to keep an eye on the exhaust mani. and below and I like the way it looks w/o it on

[Danno]

Heat shield will keep temps from baking your hood paint. Mine's not there and it hasn't hurt the paint, though. The hose that attaches to your intake air filter box (when it's stock) isn't needed. Ask me if it was there when I drove the fiat to work in negative teen temperatures (I'll have to find that post to confirm the actual temp for the time I drove it to prove that I could)...