Ok so my new starter came in the mail. AC Delco is going to take the old one back and I'm going to plug in the wire on the new starter and use some heat shrink tubing and dielectric grease and cover the metal terminals on the wire.

The question still remains about the heat shield. First, should I use the one AC Delco provides shown in picture? It press fits on. I don't think it would ever fall off off-roading but maybe it could. I can always just use the mopar "taco" heat shield as I have a brand new one I've been using for the past year.

If the general consensus is to use the mopar one and not AC Delco, does anyone have a picture of how it's supposed to go?

 

I went with the AC Delco press fit shield for now. I guess it could fall off during heavy wheeling but it would have to be one heck of a hit I would think. The old starter bold was definitely wobbling and could have left me stuck at anytime. The wiring was also all tangled and zip ties that were way too tight constricting the wire and causing it to rub. I'm glad I went in there and cleaned things up from the dealers terrible work.

Then I thought to myself....If they do the upper oil pan gasket leak will they have to pull the starter? FML