Caa I take the shield off of my factory GSR header If I did this would it increase/decrease my hp.

 

Not sure if you would gain/loose hp, but your engine bay would definatly get hotter which is always a bad thing.

 

it will make your engine bay hotter, thus, a in hp due to warmer intake air.
Just paint it with high heat paint, low glass black and it will look

 

Yes, but unfortunately your underhood temperature will increase, adding more heat to the intake path, thus decreasing horsepower. You won't notice it though. Don't take it off unless something's rattling or buzzing.

 

Took my stock heat shield off cuz of some rattling and didnt notice a loss of hp. But the engine bay did get warmer. Not that it matters too much since I got an AEM CAI. Although on the other hand, I have friends who had aftermarket headers like DC and the like and their engine bay is just about as hot as mine...

 

I've heard it can cause the plastic overflow container to melt.

 

So when you get a after-market performence header do you have a shield?

 

no, i think it is pointless, and cant keep the heat down that much, the sheild still gets hot.

 

You can't get heat shields for aftermarket headers.

 

I took mine off once to see if thats where a rattle was comming from and it started melting the foam type insulator stuff over my AC line that runs to the condenser.. I would leave it on.. but take it off it you want.. aftermarket headers are coated this isnt..