What's the best practice for keeping heat from burning wires or other components? I've always thought unless the wires were touching the heat source you were safe.

My mechanic was showing me how my transmission wiring, which is ziptied to my crossmember, is too close (couple of inches) to my exhaust pipes and he said this was asking for trouble.

Thanks in advance.

exhaust pipes are about the hottest part of the car and anything near them can burn or melt. Id make darn sure they were as far from the pipes as possible and then wrap with heat resistant wrapping that folks use on spark plug wires if necessary.

The best way to make a heat sheild for exhaust is to take 2 exhaust clamps with the threaded end of the clamp facing the item you want to protect and install them on you exhaust pipe. Then cut a piece of sheet metal to fit over the threaded ends of the newly installed exhaust clamp. Install nuts again to hold the new heat sheild in place. Wrapping your wires or cables will cause them to hold heat as they absorb it.

Or as jim stated above you can use the heat insulating wrap on your exhaust.

Either works.

I'd call a couple inches enough clearance.

Have you been driving it a lot? If so, do the wires look melted? If the wires aren't melting, they aren't too close. If you want a more scientific test, get a K-type thermocouple and meter, and wrap the thermocouple around the wire. Worst case scenario for heat would be on a chassis dyno, but driving hard up a long hill is probably good enough. As long as the temp doesn't exceed the rated working temp of the wire's insulation, you're fine.

You can always put a piece of heat shrink around the wire, where you think it may be to close. If it shrinks around the wire... it is too close.

Have you been driving it a lot? If so, do the wires look melted? If the wires aren't melting, they aren't too close. If you want a more scientific test, get a K-type thermocouple and meter, and wrap the thermocouple around the wire. Worst case scenario for heat would be on a chassis dyno, but driving hard up a long hill is probably good enough. As long as the temp doesn't exceed the rated working temp of the wire's insulation, you're fine.

I haven't driven it at all. I put in the new trans in March, then took it directly to my mechanic to do the brakes and he was telling me how all the wiring we did was wrong. I don't know what to believe, since the guy that helped me with the install builds race cars mostly street rods and my mechanic has also built cars specifically Camaros.

I starting to believe my mechanic from the comments here. I don't have much clearance at all between exhaust and transmission cable.

Thanks for the help.

I'm also of the opinion that 2" is fine, but,,,, sometimes following your mechanics advise will stroke him (make him feel better) and he might return the favor. Your call.