I recently replaced my Stock Exhaust Manifold with an LSJ manifold.
I removed and retired the old rusty bolts that secured the manifold to the downpipe with stainless steel bolts from Sears. When I got the manifold all installed and good to go, I realized the heat shield would no longer fit, so i just left it off.

The result?

Well, I live in upstate NY which means 40 or colder every day. I hate driving around in a car that takes forever to heat up!, well to my suprise, the car heats right up within 2 mins of driving and is already pumping out heat by then! Also, the car never goes over 192 degrees, same temperature as before. So if you're tired of waiting for you car to heat up, I'd suggest you remove your heat shield for the colder months, and reinstall in summer!

 

Why wouldn't your heat shield fit? And how about your wiring that runs along the Top-Back of the Engine Compartment? it all fine. I know I've got the LED wiring running there... and the black plastic heat shield melted when I was stock... that was summer time though. Interesting... Like to know how it works out for ya in the long run.

 

The Bolts that I used on the manifold dont use the threads on the manifold anymore, the are about 2.5-3" long and each one has its own separate nut.

I have no problems whatsoever so far, and its been about a month

 

Nifty. I'll have to think about it... I never liked the look of that ugly Heat shield anyway. But the guy who wired my LED's was an idiot and put the wire (and it's cheap black-plastic heat shield thing) right across the top-back of the engine compartment... it started melting when I was STOCK!