On a first gen Pathfinder, you do not get anything roasted by removing those heat shields. Whoever said anything about roasting components without the heat shields is a moron. Nothing comes close to those exhaust manifolds to even be roasted. Also, those ground straps can be attached elsewhere besides the hot exhaust manifolds and be just as close to the engine. The exhaust manifolds would be the last place I would put ground straps. Putting ground straps on exhaust manifolds or even heat shields is a stupid idea because heat creates resistance.