ckathens

I've done a little searching about others having problems getting their starter heat shields off. The top bolt of the starter heat shield won't come off and I've just about stripped it.... I've used everything I can think of to try to get it off but at this point its so mangled that I doubt its going to come off with anything short of a ratchet (which would, of course, require removing an exhaust piece and probably the wastegate!!!). Thus I'm looking for another solution.

Can I just cut off or bend the heat shield back to get the starter off? I'm doing my belts/rollers so I need to get the starter off to get the flywheel lock on. Any and all advice as to how to proceed is very much appreciated!

PorscheDoc

With the right length extension and a 17mm socket, it should come off like butter, no removing any exhaust.

ckathens

Doc: There's no room for a 17mm socket in between the bolt and the exhaust tubing, let alone a ratchet to connect it to! Are you sure we're talking about the same bolt??

87944turbo

The only bolt you should have to remove is the one in the picture. I guess you could bend the shield out of the way enough to get the starter out while leaving the bolts connected at the front of the heat shield? You should only have to loosen the two bolts in the front and the slide it off towards the back of the car. But if the are really stuck, I guess you could also try heating them.

ckathens

Quick bump. Don't have time to work on it tonight b/c of Anders' Go-Kart race/pizza, but i'd like to work on it tomorrow. I'm thinking of just cutting it off with sheet metal cutter sheers, and then replacing it in a few months when I install a new wastegate and exhaust system.

Will I have any significant problems w/o the heat shield for just a couple of months??

95Juan

ask steve (KuHL 951) how fun it is to push-start the 951 on every run


yeah, on turbos from what i know it's pretty necessary otherwise it just soaks up.


it really shouldnt take that much effort to come out.


like......even i can do it in a few minutes. the starter is easier to remove than the air box on these cars.

if you bend it a bit on that last bolt, i dont see a problem, aside from it maybe breaking off......

Tom M'Guinn

Which bolt is stuck -- the little 10mm bolts toward the rear of the car can be vice grips or dremelled off. The 17mm bolts toward the front of the car just need to be loosened and the shield slides out. (Why Porsche saw fit to use an M12 or M14 bolt to attach a 3 ounce heat shield is long-time mystery to me.) If a box end or open end wrench will still grip it, just tap the wrench with a hammer to loosen the big bolts. You could always file new flats on it as well if needed. The bolt itself if trapped by the exhaust, so you'll need to work something out until you're ready to pull the exhaust. Will the starter last a few months without the heat shield? -- I'd guess yes -- I'd also think you could just clip off that corner and re-install the bulk of the shield if really necessary.

josephsc

Was the car blessed with the upper top bolt on the heat shield? This thread is useful for that: https://rennlist.com/forums/944-turbo-and-turbo-s-forum/211836-the-wastegate-out-new-pics-loaded-in-first-post.html

ckathens

Unfortunately the stuck (and now stripped) bolt is the top of the two 17mm bolts. UGH! I think I may take your advice and do a little clipping of the corner of the heat shield and re-install it with just one of the 17MM bolts. Then when I do the exhaust/wastegate/downpipe in a couple of months, i'll be able to get a ratchet on the bolt, and put a new heatshield on.

Joe: Thankfully, it looks like there isn't a top bolt on the heat shield. That looks like a pain in the ***!

Thanks for the assistance, all!