Stock 350 Exhaust heat shields

[SuburbanHunter]

I installed my engine (77 K10 350/350) without the exhaust manifolds and heat shields. Now I can't figure out how to get the heat shields on. If I try to install them with the manifolds on I can't get to the bolts on the front heat shield on either side. If I put the heat shields on first there isn't enough clearance to get the manifolds on.

Is there a trick to this? How important are those heat shields? Can I safely leave them off?

Thanks

 

[donnieray]

I took mine off when I rebuilt my engine and left them off. Also plugged the air fittings on each manifold. Most people run headers and they don't have the shields. Less is better, I think.

 

[Green79Scottsdale]

Mine fell off my '79 when I was messing with it last year. Their primary purpose is for cold-start warm up, they send hot air up through a door into the intake duct. Losing the heat shields will result in your truck taking longer to warm up. I don't drive mine in the winter so I am not worried about them being gone.