Hey guys, Stephanie with AmericanMuscle.com, here with the DCI Underbody Heatshield for
all 2015 and up S550 Mustangs.
The DCI Underbody Heatshield kit is a good option for the owners out there that are concerned
with cabin temps being affected by the exhaust or the underbody in general. This could apply
to both stock and heavily modified cars. And either way, if you have high underbody temps,
it could have an impact on the driving experience and I don't mean a positive one. Underbody
temps may seem like a trivial topic, but I'm going to go ahead and disagree with that.
I'm sure a lot of you guys have already heard by now, but if you haven't, there has been
a safety recall in the EcoBoost due to elevated underbody temps. The temps that are being
created by the EcoBoost exhaust are much higher than expected and it's actually creating a
safety issue. Ford is fixing the safety issue, but this has nothing to do with the cabin,
so the fixes from Ford could still leave the cabin hot.
This kit is designed to block the underbody heat from entering the cabin, therefore reducing
interior cabin temps and luckily, this kit from DCI is going to fit all 2015 and up Mustangs.
This means the V6, EcoBoost, GT and, Shelby GT350 models.
And this isn't just relevant for the EcoBoost either. It's ideal if you're running an aftermarket
exhaust since they tend to create more heat and in the world of exhaust, more heat isn't
necessarily a bad thing if you're thinking about performance. Keeping the exhaust temperatures
high keeps the velocity high and you want a high velocity exhaust. It means improved
exhaust scavenging and this is relevant for both NA and forced induction cars. So we want
the heat, we just don't want it in the engine compartment or near us.
This kit has a few different pieces to it. It's going to protect the floorboards and
the center bearing from the heat and it's going to work alongside the factory shielding
so you won't be removing anything, just adding on for some extra protection. The front floorboard
and center bearing shields are rated at over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit and this kit also
comes with exhaust pipe shields that are rated nearly the same. The high temp ratings make
the kit usable in all applications: street, strip, and drag applications.
So usually, one of the first concerns with a kit like this is weight. A lot of times,
weight can be a downside, but that isn't an issue with the kit from DCI. It's very lightweight,
which is good news. When it comes to price, this kit costs just over $350. It is a five
piece kit that is pre-cut and will work on all S550s. It comes with the new hardware
and another plus is the easy install.
So, like I said, this will be an easy install and you don't need much mechanical experience.
The kit installs with mechanical fasteners, so you won't have to make any permanent modifications.
And like I mentioned earlier, this kit works in conjunction with the factory components
that are already installed, so you won't have to uninstall anything either unless you're
an EcoBoost and in that case, you will need to drop an exhaust hanger.
The kit can be installed in less than an hour and I'm going to call it a one out of three
wrenches on the meter. You will need a few different sockets for the install and I'd
also recommend some safety glasses and gloves and a long-sleeved shirt for the install if
you have allergies that might be affected by the material. You're going to need to get
under the car, so either a lift or jack and some jack stands will be needed and your best
bet is to let the car cool before starting the install.
DCI suggests installing the center shield first, then the front extension shield, which
will fit behind the factory shield and share a fastening position with it. These pieces
are just bent into place so they line up with the mounting locations and you just want to
make sure that you're bending them so they line up and sit tight up against the car,
up into the contours of the fore, and away from the exhaust. The kit comes with washers
and nuts to attach the shields with and the clamps for the pipe shields, which just install
between the exhaust and the fuel tank with the clamps.
Wrapping things up here, the DCI Underbody Heatshield kit is an effective way to keep
underbody heat from entering the interior in the cabin. The kit works with the factory
shields to give some extra protection and all components are rated for extreme heat,
which makes the kit suitable for all different kinds of applications. You can check it out
more online and see if it's for you right here at AmericanMuscle.com.