how do i remove/replace this exhaust heat shield?

1998, 4x4, manual trans, 3.4L v6

The exhaust on my truck has been rattling for a while now, regardless of engine temps soon as i hit about 2000-3000 rpm there is a loud, sharp, metal-on-metal rattle coming from the back/drivers side of the engine. only ever seems to rattle on acceleration not coasting or decel.

by tapping on the exhaust with a rubber mallet and feeling for vibrations I think i've managed to isolate the location of the rattle to be coming from the heat shield on the section of exhaust that runs horizontally behind the engine from the drivers-side manifold to the downpipe. I also took a picture

(see below - perspective is looking up from below the drivers side of the engine. the bolted flange you see is where the drivers side exhaust manifold and this crossover pipe are joined. there is a crack on the heatshield that i highlighted with a red circle)

my question is how do i remove this heatshield? i cant feel or see any bolts or clamps anywhere and would like to figure out a plan of action before i try disassembling the intake/exhaust to get at it. i tried searching but couldn't find much

 

haha that would be an ambitious job for JB weld, i think the entire shield is rattling loose not just rattling at the crack

i know i could take that entire section of pipe out then remove the shield but those flange bolts are seriously rusty and would rather avoid that if there's a better way to go about it

 

cant you just slip a hose clamp over it and tighten it down? rattle gone, job done, forget about it

 

that is a very simple idea that i did not think of... hah. i will do that in the meantime but would still like to know if that heatshield is replaceable or not. surely someone on here has had to remove one at somepoint before

i imagine a regular ss hose clamp would probably last a while anyways, the heat cycles and vibrations on that spot right off the engine are pretty strong though

 

as long as its not one of those cheapo china clamps it should last the life of the truck.

in tight places like that when no mounting bolts can be seen, sometimes those shields get welded on or perma riveted in place and just aren't removable, that's how they do it on motorcycles all the time. on my last motorcycle I had to squish a big blob or high temp silicone under it to stop the vibration "buzzing"

 

ok great, i picked up some larger hose clamps today i'm going to slap one or two on tomorrow and see how it works out.

yeah i think thats most likely the case here too, thanks for your input appreciate it

 

wouldn't hurt to slip some exhaust pipe wrap tape under it before clamping it down for added spacing and sound (buzz) proofing

I graduated from "figure it out, shade tree mechanical school" so I have done my share of "creative rigging" lol

 

haha no doubt, well you can't beat a fix as cheap and easy as that! $1 hose clamp and 2 minutes under the truck and the rattle is completely gone now, no buzzing/humming or anything either. i bought a few extra clamps too in case anything else starts knocking around later on haha. thanks again man