what is this?

[4wood]

I was crawling around under the k5 today, and I noticed a metal plate that doesn't appear to do anything. It's bolted to the frame rail above the exhaust pipe on the driver side directly beneath the driver seat. I can't feel anything above it and it's not touching the t-case or anything and appears to be just a random piece of metal. Anyone have any clue what this is and what-if anything-it does?

 

[trollporter]

Exhaust heat shield. Took mine off because it was rattling.

 

[tarussell]

My 1986 K5 had two exhaust heat shields on it . One for the converter and the other for the muffler .
Tom

 

[4xcrazy]

Interesting, i have never seen a heat shield bolted to the frame, i have always seen them bolted right to the bottom of the truck shell itself, with spacers of course.

Try to get a picture of it, curious.

 

[namkrow]

On my 77, there's a linkage mount for the auto trans shifter somewhere under there. Not sure if it's factory, as so much has been done to this truck.

If it's sheetmetal, then it's probably a heat shield. If it's thicker than that...some sort of link for the trans is my guess.

-T

 

[jarheadk5]

On my '87, the cat is right about where you describe the location of this plate. It's a heat shield, to prevent ass-roasting...

 

[4wood]

Yeah, after looking at it some more, I got pretty convinced it was a heat shield. I'll try to snag a digital pic and post it. Thanks dudes.