De-Tacofication of a Red LE

[hawgheaven]

My take is, the "taco" is a good idea. It has a purpose... IT'S A HEAT SHIELD FOLKS!! And it works well. Good Gawd, get over it. It's there. Ya' don't like it, then remove it. Period.

[Darko]

With me, and most people, I think, the issue isn't the taco, but more the shape of the handle strap.

[ReyJ]

Jules, are those just the regular taco handle straps bent into that more square shape, or are they replacements of some kind? And if replacements, where do you find them?
Thanks!

Those are stock straps that i reshaped.

How'd you reshape them? Because after looking at mine, I think I'll have to do that to install wood handles.

[Jules V.]

/quote]
Dismantle the strap.
Cut off at the red line as shown on the photo.

Fully flatten/straighten the strap.
Bend it  to shape.
Drill 2 holes for the bolts.
Cut off excess and round off the tips.
Polish the strap.
Use fiber washers/gaskets on both sides of the lid.
The fiber washers allows you to use a regular nut and fully tighten it without damaging the porcelain. 

Stainless nuts and 1" fender washers. 

Without the taco shell. The stainless strap doesn't look right so i decided to use the taco.

There are all types of high heat fiber  washers/gaskets but  i actually use flexible graphite.