I use Stainless Steel Shim Stock from MSC. They come in a tube 6" wide by 50" in all kinds
 if thicknesses.
I use the .01 to protect the inside of the cowling and thicker (0.025?) between carbs and exhaust headers.
I've also wrapped engine mount tubes with the thin stuff where exhaust pipes pass close to them.
And made little "half-boxes" around the rubber insulators in the engine mount.

http://www.mscdirect.com/PDF.process?pdf=1781&Keyword=Y

Of course there happen to be an MSC store in Clearwater, which made it an easy choice.

Finn

Thank you very much, Perry....I might just be on to something here.  The
    

heat shields you are referring to ....are these Mazda heat shields, or
home-brew?  Any pictures?    Thanks again.  If I go this route, engine start
can be next week.  Paul Conner