The transmission tunnel on my 73 gets hot on the driver's side, which is normal, I guess, due to the exhaust being on that side. While I've got the interior out, I'm trying to insulate the tunnel. I put on two layers of Raammat, followed by a layer of Ensolite, and then took it for a drive. I also did the same under the drivers seat and up the luggage riser.

I have to say that I'm not impressed. I don't think the tunnel is any cooler than it was with the stock jute insulation. I wonder how many layers of this stuff its going to take to knock down the heat. Anyone have any experience using it for heat blockage?

I will say that when I put the old jute and new carpet on top of the raammat/Ensolite on the floor under the seat, it does make a big difference on the heat that used to come up from there. I suppose I'll just keep adding more insulation, but man this stuff is nasty to work with. The raammat consists of black tar like stuff that gets everywhere. I may try to put it in the fridge overnight to thicken it up and make it less gooey during application. I was going to use it on the doors, but the thought of someday having to stick my hands inside the doors to work on something, and getting covered in black goo isn't appealing. I'll have to think about that a bit. I'm also leary of putting over the entire floor, as I sorta like being able to pull up the carpets and check the floor for rust monsters. Couldn't do that with this silver backed goo stuck to them...

Matt

Raammatand Ensolite are really sound deadners. I used a layer of rammat then ensolite. Then a layer of the aluminum bubble wrap stuff from lowes then a layer of aluminum backed jute from pep boy's. then the tunnel cover. In my case it was carpeting not vinyl. My tunnel is cool as can be no matter how long I run it.

Derek

  Derek said:

Raammatand Ensolite are really sound deadners. I used a layer of rammat then ensolite. Then a layer of the aluminum bubble wrap stuff from lowes then a layer of aluminum backed jute from pep boy's. then the tunnel cover. In my case it was carpeting not vinyl. My tunnel is cool as can be no matter how long I run it.

Derek

Did all the extra thickness from all those layers cause any challenges fitting the carpeting and console back on?

  Inf said:

Did all the extra thickness from all those layers cause any challenges fitting the carpeting and console back on?

Well the carpeting was aftermarket and it was in 2 halves so that wasn't a problem. Stock vinyl could be an issue though. I did the same treatment to my rear shock towers and the vinyl has a bit of a "sausage" look to it. I thinned the area out just below the dash so that the console would fit.

Derek

Matt,

I just ordered RAAMmat and Ensolite for the sound deadening on my '70 restoration. For the heat issues, I am spraying Lizard Skin inside on the tranny tunnel, floorboards and firewall. My paint shop guy has used Lizard Skin for quite a while and has had great results. One custome drove his gutted performance car to the shop and looked like he had been swimming when he arrived it was so hot from the engine and exhaust heat. After spraying the Lizarrd Skin, it was cool inside and very driveable. Here's a link if you aren't familiar with it: http://lizardskin.com/

Terry

I just picked up some reflectex from Home depot yesterday. I checked around and it is supposed to work quite well. I used some ducting insulation on my old show truck that worked great in the past and this is supposed to be superior.

Unfortuneatly, I wont be able to make a before and after comparison as I havent actually driven my car yet!