Exposed (unwrapped) fuel rails on my 240z?

[Dadsun]

Is it kosher to leave the fuel rails exposed instead of wrapping them in heat shield? (I currently have original flat top carbs on my 1973 240z, fyi, and they are wrapped in two layers of ugly mess.)

Started wondering about it since I've got my fuel rails off right now -- part of my end to end cleaning of gas tank and fuel lines. 

I see pics like this with exposed fuel rail:

  

 

 

[Zed Head]

Are you planning to drive the car?  Download the document that shows why the heat shields were added.

 

[Dadsun]

Yes, I plan to drive it a lot.  Not daily driver, but I bought it to enjoy it on the road.  It doesn't currently have the heat shield, but I did order a used one.

[siteunseen]

5 hours ago, Dadsun said:

Is it kosher to leave the fuel rails exposed instead of wrapping them in heat shield? (I currently have original flat top carbs on my 1973 240z, fyi, and they are wrapped in two layers of ugly mess.)

Started wondering about it since I've got my fuel rails off right now -- part of my end to end cleaning of gas tank and fuel lines. 

I see pics like this with exposed fuel rail:

  

 

 

There's two differences in these pics. Can you pick them out? Hocus Focus. 

 

[Dadsun]

Ha, ok. Well, today I decided to pull the trigger on paltech roundtops. On order. Does that change the discussion? :-)

[siteunseen]

Yes it does to me. Those flat tops are good when they're right, which I've only heard 2 members on here that have that "don't quit" attitude when it comes to the later carbs. Like Zed Head precluded to above there is a reason the Nissan Corporation put out the fuel improvement for '73 and '74s.

[SteveJ]

After doing the Patton Machine fuel injection, I wish I could have done the conversion with the flat tops years ago when I had them. I bet they would have made good throttle bodies.