I installed a B&M short shifter in my car last week, and I'm having the heat shield rattle problem.

1) Has anyone ever successfully taken a hammer from *inside* the car and hammered it down? I mean, remove the shift boot and plastic trim, and smack it around the shifter. Possible? Sounds alot easier than going under the car, dropping the exhaust, and then pulling the shield again.

2) How difficult/easy is it for you to get into 5th gear? All the other gears engage smoothly for me except 5th.

Thanks.

Don't hammer the shield. Just put a couple of washers on each screw between the shield and the bottom side of the car. The more washers you use the more room you will create and it will get rid of the rattle.

Which ones, specifically?

If I remember correctly there are 2 in front of the cat heat shield and 1 or 2 near the rear of it. Just drop the shield and place 2 or 3 washers between the shield and the car and it will do the trick.

Heat shields?!?!
Man , take that crap off.
I guarantee it wont rattle.
And it doesnt feel like its hotter up in the cab.

I dont have a 5th so I cant help you out there.

I took mine off.

No more rattles and smooth shifting.

Take off the damn heat shield. I kept mine on for a while, all dented up, then I thought...WHY? and I took it off :)

I beat my heat sheild up pretty good, but it still rubbed a little when I put it in to 5th. After I got it on the back car, I took a long screwdriver and put the end down there at the heat sheild, then beat the screwdriver to clear it a little. I get very few rattles, now.

Originally posted by Fast91SER
Take off the damn heat shield. I kept mine on for a while, all dented up, then I thought...WHY? and I took it off :)


You didn't get alot of extra heat up there or anything with it removed?

Take it off, it'll be fine. Mine's been gone for years.

Chris

Originally posted by chriscar
Take it off, it'll be fine. Mine's been gone for years.

Chris


Wow.... I can already feel decent heat coming through in stop and go traffic... I can't imagine without the heatshield.

Also, anyone have info about 5th gear?

Storm, I agree, I noticed a lot of extra heat coming through the shifter area. I have no trouble with 5th gear, I actually think it feels smoother than my OEM one. I have the OBX btw.

I cut a hole in mine. I got a little rattling, so I used a large pry bar to adjust it further.

I wonder why that is. I thought I replaced the heat shield properly but I still alot more heat than before with the stock shifter.

i took a hammer to the heat shield and dented it pretty good. no problems w/ rattling or 5th.

if you can tolerate the heat w/ the shied off, take it off but i would not recommed cutting a hole. i cut a hole to prevent rubbing (per instructions) and in some freak chance a rock got kicked up and lodged between the shifter and shield. being stuck in 1 gear isnt fun.

Originally posted by Michael T. DeLoach
Don't hammer the shield. Just put a couple of washers on each screw between the shield and the bottom side of the car.
i havent thought of this but sounds like a good idea...assuming the increased space doesnt hit the exhaust piping...which may case more rattling.

I have the B&M, it never rattles and easily goes into all the gears. The only time I touched the heat sheild was when I removed and put it back on during the shifter install.

I have the SMC SS and mine rattled for a lil bit with the flex pipe. I put a crow bar to it and that solved the problem. Very minor rattle but it did have it. I can feel the heat on the shifters handle sometimes after driving for several hours.

take that thing off. it does get a little roasty in the summertime but oh well.

Originally posted by SERsentra94
take that thing off. it does get a little roasty in the summertime but oh well.

Yup i just turn on my AC and i Dont feel teh heat anymore =)

I was gonna put it back on but I threw it away and the night I installed my B&M they came for the trash...

BTW I would recommend using the stock shift knob for the summer, cause that metal one gets pretty hot, when left in the sun.

Originally posted by Storm88000
You didn't get alot of extra heat up there or anything with it removed?

Oh you feel it a little, but only if you actually shove your hand down in that area. Its not bad at all.