Heat shield: Important, or just for giggles?

[nfpgasmask]

I have heard of some folks replacing heat sheilds with that silver foam tape stuff too. Probably not a long term fix...but. Anyone else know about the heat sheilding tape? I know I have at least one or two of my heat sheilds making the "jar of change" sounds under my VX.

Bart

[WyrreJ]

When the heat shield on my previous car rusted off, I asked around and was told that it's primary purpose in life was to keep heat in, in order to protect anything I parked over - like grass in a field - from catching on fire. The car ran just fine without it.

[Triathlete]

The tape will work just fine if you have enough room to get in there. Most of the comp buggies use it and have exhaust sytems that at times run very near their body (the human type) parts and often have open floors.

[etlsport]

so where is this heat shield? i was under my vx looking for it because ive got some crazy rattling going on under my vx.. didnt really see what i was looking for.. i did see a plate that looked kind of loose.. had TOD stamped on it, one of the clamps holding that down was loose so i pulled it off and put a new one on... anyone have photos of the heat sheild in question?

[PHO2GR4]

It's a two-piece, rusty, rattling wrap-around cover for part of the exhaust pipe. Passenger side of the engine compartment.