Well, After my Catalyst cover decided to embarass me and fall off, the heat shields seem to have come loose... So.. Im planning to rip em all off..

I only know of 2 heat shields so far..
1) on top of the catalyst converter
2) on top of the Backbox..

Are there anymore around there?
Is it going to be a problem getting rid of them? Any ill effects? Im sure some of you have done this before..?

There's one on the down pipe just after the manifold join (1.8 model). Mine's rotted through but I've used a repair bandage to keep it in place. So far so good.

is ther one on top of the back box?............this mite be whts causin a loud rattle wen i have my subs in? can i just take it of?it wont affect anything will it?is it hard to take of?thanks

No! dont remove it if you do your back box will burn a big hole in your boot and your subs will fall out then someone like me will take them lol nah dunno really but have read somewhere in these forums that a memeber did that and his spare tire started smoke
i'll so a search.

lol oooops i just took it of now..............its stoped the noise lol i dnt think i can put it back on anyways i had to cut it to get it of one of he bolts wouldnt let go!

As it is written ...

"If it won't come off, get a bigger hammer !!!"

[color=blue]Surely, as Mazda spent time and money in research, and then to manufacture the parts, that there is a good reason to why the shields are there?
I would leave them well alone, its obvious that Mazda identified a problem so they've put the shields there to stop 323's burning up the road, literally!![/color]

[quote="Steve Zodiac & Robbie"][color=blue]Surely, as Mazda spent time and money in research, and then to manufacture the parts, that there is a good reason to why the shields are there?
I would leave them well alone, its obvious that Mazda identified a problem so they've put the shields there to stop 323's burning up the road, literally!![/color] [/quote]

Thats what i thought but everyone here thinks otherwise

Steve Zodiac & Robbie, are you left over from Fire ball XL5? I just remember it from the late 60's early 70's.

Yea and what about Doctor Venus and Zooney

so should i put the one over the back box back? as i dont want my install burnig away

[quote="Stuart McB"]Steve Zodiac & Robbie, are you left over from Fire ball XL5? I just remember it from the late 60's early 70's. [/quote]

[quote="Tiswas"]Yea and what about Doctor Venus and Zooney [/quote]

[color=blue]I am a left over yes lol, though don't think Robert is too happy with him being called "Robbie" for a user name, but hey, he's only a robot.

Now Venus is a different matter, drool drool, though Zoonie that damn Lazoon is always getting in the way........

But anyway, we had heat shields on the Fireball - sure needed it when the rockets were fired up at full thrust narrowly missing this planet which I can't remember now (old age y'see) which was afire......

If you do short journeys then it may be ok, but my previous car a Galant GTI over long journeys the back box would get very hot, so much so I could feel the heat through the carpet in the boot once I'd finished the journey.
My 323 I don't think suffers so much from this, but never really been underneath to feel it - my back isn't what it used to be, all this running round the galaxy, which reminds me, better get to me appointment............."VENUS!! can i have that massage now?? Y'know, the Swedish one??" [/color]

PMSL

I just bent my heat shield (the one near the gear box) up at the end to stop the rattling. It's been fine so far, about a week or so. I'd leave em on. They are easy to fix with jubilee clips/exhaust clamps/exhaust tape etc. They've got to be there for a reason otherwise Mazda wouldn't have gone through the expense of making and fitting them.

Thats true, But im sure theres people here who have removed them with no ill effect, im just waiting for them to comfirm

We don't have any heat shields on our exhaust other than the backbox one and possibly the one on the manifold. But definitely none on the centre exhaust or catalytic convertor.

Mitch.

Mine has no heat shields - not even on the manifold ! (Cause it's a gorgeous 4-1 chromed manifold, and it would be a shame to hide it !!)

Oh yeah - I'm driving her in South Africa, so the ambient temperature is DEFINATELY higher than your motor is likely to encounter ...)