Timothy Lottes

Looking for some advice on what works and what doesn't work for heat management for my C5 build.

Of the three (or more) methods for dealing with tunnel heat, (a.) exhaust wrap, (b.) insulated tunnel plate, or (c.) on tunnel thermal barrier, what works best in practice? What is the minimal amount required (I'm doing HPDE, no enduro events)?

What about a metal firewall? Thermal insulation important?

96CollectorSport

This stuff is awesome - it's backed by a rigid aluminum and there is a self adhesive on the back. I've used various products in the past and it doesn't handle the wear and tear (especially at the base of the tunnel by the drivers feet). It's a little pricey but it really works!

http://www.hrpworld.com/index.cfm?tp...action=product

0Xplosive Performance

I agree with 96CollectorSport 100% you might also want to look at http://www.xplosiveperformance.com/R...h-_p_3388.html
We use this in our car and many of our customers
It's a little thinner and easier to mold around a driveshaft tunnel, we also have it on our firewall works great

victorf

Amazon has the basic DEI-050501 for $35 + Free shipping. Two $ cheaper than that ^^^site before shipping.

I'd bought DEI-050501, among other heat insulations from Amazon.

Just purchased Redline Oil, I normally go Amazon first. Great place to shop with free shipping and not getting raped by most online vendors with their high added on shipping and handling charges.

davidfarmer

all of the DEI products are great. You want to do it UNDER the car, with the drivetrain out, for best results. Wrapping the interior of the tunnel is fine, but best to keep the out from ever getting inside of the car.

Timothy Lottes

Thanks for the material suggestions.

I'm more inclined to try exhaust wrap starting on the mid pipe back (no wrap on the headers). Then a some thermal barrier on the underside of the tunnel but only in the header area.

Wondering if anyone is running with that configuration with success.

Hope here that exhaust temp in the mid-pipe isn't high enough such that exhaust wrap would be a problem.

Also I'm thinking about running without the tunnel plate since I have a full cage, hoping that exhaust wrap is as good of a thermal barrier as the stock tunnel plate.

RX-Ben

I would not wrap the mid-pipe, temps can still be blazing. I burnt up my pre-fab'd tunnel heat shield.

RX-Ben

For the inside (cabin side) of the firewall and trans tunnel, consider "Mighty Matt" that is sold on ebay (comes with aluminum foil on one or both sides in 1/4" thickness, foil on one side only for 1/2"). It is thick enough to actually have an "R" value and is pretty inexpensive. The DEI tunnel shield stuff is good for the outside (engine side) of the trans tunnel and firewall.
Definitely keep the tunnel plate in place since it also functions as a heat shield (very important one, given the fuel lines and the wiring that are above it).

Timothy Lottes

Thanks for all the suggestions, from this and conversations offline, looks like I'll need to use the tunnel plate, and run extra insulation on the plate and sides of the tunnel underbody.

Still thinking about wrapping exhaust after the mid pipe in an attempt to avoid heat transfer to the transmission.

RX-Ben

You can wrap that are, but wrapping stainless will promote its untimely demise. Get those pipes thermally coated - the Swain white coating is very effective and even the regular Jet Hot type stuff will help a bit.

rfn026

I used the DEI material on my starter and clutch slave. I got it from Amazon.com. I'll let you know how it does after this weekend at Sebring.

Richard Newton
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JRitt@essex

Check out Teknofibra. They have a couple different thicknesses and types of barriers. We use these products in pro racing. Killer stuff...very versatile and effective!