Trans blanket and TTI headers

Is anyone running a DJ Safety blanket on a 727 with TTI W2 headers? It fits on my Duster, but the collector flange is right up against it. I'm trying to decide stick with it or scrap it and run a CSR shield. I have the clearance to run the shield, but I have no plans to be running under 10's anytime soon.

Could you possibly use some thermo wrap stuff on the pipe right there? The CSR is great but you have to cut the "ears" off the trans. and run a cable shifter.

When I take my street racer to the track or if im gonna spray it hard I put the big blanket on that covers the deep 727 pan but before I do I have to wrap the tti W2 headers with std. header wrap, about 12 inches of the collector area on each side them wrap a little SS wire around the wrap.

I hate it but really its not too bad.

To keep the trans linkage from getting in a bind under the blanket area I have 1/2 of a cheap metal for sale sign I make into a C shape and stuff it in along the shifter cable and linkage under the loose blanket then tighten up the blanket.

Ive never run a shield but I can get the blanket on and off the car with the trans in.

I had a RCI trans blanket on a 727 in a A body, but with a 440. Ran it with fenderwell headers, but when I switched to TTI headers, I bought a CSR shield, because I was concerned with how close the headers were going to be to the blanket. Didn't notice a different in tranny temps between running one vs the other.

The Pros of the blanket:

Cheaper
Don't have to cut off ear or tranny
Easier to install, esp the motor, when you need to jack up the tranny to try and help mate the 2 together.
Don't have the bend the lip of the trans tunnel up (maybe just a big block thing, but not sure)

The Pros of the shield:
Fits the tranny nice
More coverage for better protection
Doens't interfere with shifter cable

I just installed TTI headers in my Dart (408 , Indy 360-1 heads, 904 CSR shield ) a few weeks ago and am surprised how close the collectors are to the trans. My old Tubular Automotive headers hung lower and cleared the trans better, I can see how a trans blanket would be a problem. I had to modify the clamp that holds the cable for my Cheetah Shifter as it was hitting the collector. The TTI headers are nice and the best thing i like is I was able to eliminate the 90 degree oil filter adapter which always seemed to leak. The CSR shield is nice and I did have to cut the ears off the trans and it added another hour or so to trans removal. Although my car is 10 second capable it is ran on a stop to run 11.50s were it isn"t required I am glad I have it just in case.

This topic comes up a couple times a year. Wrap the trans blanket around the torsion bars. Make a strap bracket that holds the blanket up away from the driver side headers as necessary.

As I have said before, I have seen the results of a tranny explosion with a shield, the shield did nothing but turn into a yellow ball of yarn. I have seen another documented incident with a photo, same results.

I just don't believe physics supports the belief that a shield provides the ballistic protection that a blanket can.

I would love to see how a shield is tested, but I doubt it is an effective test.

I run fenderwell headers and a blanket. But as SportF said I have seen several explosions with a shield, metal was inside the car every time. The blanket is much better protection.

My RCI red Transmission blanket is tight on the drivers side with my TTI headers in my Dart. It has a few battle burns from the blanket hitting the side of the header, I used nylon ties to try and keep it off the header.

I went with the blanket in the first place for the better protection it provides. I was planning on thermal wrapping my headers anyways and I'm already running a cable shifter. In all honesty if it wouldn't cook the tranny and I had the room I would run both. I'm just glad no one said to run a 'glide

I attached thermal patch on the trans blanket were it comes in contact with header problem solved.

What thermal patch did you use?

Ok, here we go. SFI tests these blankets by shooting at them! They have to contain a 17 grain, steel faceted projectile at 1143 feet per second "50%" of the time. This means it can "fail 50% the time" and still be certified. The Robin Hood blanket passes SFI's test 100% of the time! Right now, robinhoodblankets.com has one designed for a A-727, B-727 with fender well headers. Blankets for the old push button transmission (which is used a lot in S/S racing) is under development right now as we speak. They are also working on a heat shield solution for under the chassis headers. They also offer a re-certification program. I have seen almost all the soft blankets on the market. No one offers hydraulic hump "AND" bell housing protection like this one.

Hey Dave, look at this. robinhoodblankets.com

I cut a piece off a fire proof glove and silicone it to the blanket works great

I use a Lofgren blanket, it's short and stops before the header..old pic but the only one I have..

I made 6" long sheet metal shields that bolt to the header collector flanges. The 3/4" or so air gap between the shield and the header keeps enough heat away that the blanket can rest right up against the shield. No more burn holes !!