Improving the FM2 turbo heat shield

[★ revlimiter ★]

This heat shield a pain. It is held in place with three bolts. Two of these bolts are easy to reach. One of them is damn near impossible. It is directly under one of the small heater hoses on the firewall. You CANNOT get your hand in there without shoving said heater hoses all around and scraping your knuckles on something. I hate it. I mean, I love the shield, but I hate that one hidden bolt.

So I fixed it.

I sliced a small notch out of the heat shield. You can see it above. One bolt hole is unmodified. One has a notch. So now I can just slide the shield under the bolt.



This is the cursed bolt. Imagine trying to get the shield in place juuuust so. Then somehow lowering the bolt into place. Then somehow tightening it. I’ve done it a dozen times. And now with my spiffy slot mod, I no longer have to struggle.



What was once 20-30 minutes of cursing is now 30 seconds of easy work. I use a GearWrench and loosen the hidden bolt just enough to slide the shield free. Then I leave that bolt in place. No more shoving delicate heater hoses all around. No more struggle. Just easy work.

Anyone with an FM2 should do this mod.

[— Phatmiata —]

Excellent Write up! As usual, I hope to one day have some boost. For now I shall just drool over your pictures hahahaha

[fitftw]

Surprised it took so long for you to figure this out good tip!

[★ revlimiter ★]

^ I know. lol! I shoulda figured this out the first time installing that shield. Or at least the 2nd.

[— Phatmiata —]

I want to see a picture without the shield, I like snails.

[—RotorNutFD3S—]

Did you relocate the ground when you installed the turbo kit or was it for some other reason? Asking since the stock ground strap is secured by the cursed bolt.

[★ revlimiter ★]

Yes. I moved the ground back a little and used this crazy 2 gauge battery cable in place of the stock braided one. Not sure if I have a photo. I just used one of the other holes on that shelf after scuffing said hole with some sandpaper.

I never once tried to put both the heat shield and ground strap on that same bolt. I saw they were going to use that same spot and relocated the ground immediately.