[C2] firewall insulation
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 279
From: Portugal
firewall insulation
I just finished installing the reproduction firewall insulation. Wow, That was terrible. The stuff is supposed to be form-fit.
Well it's formed, alright. To fit what? I ended up having to cut it and bend it and rip chunks off the backside. Good thing it's so hard for anyone to see.
And, the little rubber plugs that hold it in? Again, wow. And, the tool that I bought that's supposedly made just to poke those thru? The tool poked thru two of them. I mean it went thru the rubber plug.
I did actually manage to get it all in using the damaged plugs and all. Probably nobody will ever know except me that two of the plugs have been ripped thru, etc.
One of the most frustrating things I've done on the car. I'd much rather tear down and rebuild an engine.
Rant over.
Well it's formed, alright. To fit what? I ended up having to cut it and bend it and rip chunks off the backside. Good thing it's so hard for anyone to see.
And, the little rubber plugs that hold it in? Again, wow. And, the tool that I bought that's supposedly made just to poke those thru? The tool poked thru two of them. I mean it went thru the rubber plug.
I did actually manage to get it all in using the damaged plugs and all. Probably nobody will ever know except me that two of the plugs have been ripped thru, etc.
One of the most frustrating things I've done on the car. I'd much rather tear down and rebuild an engine.
Rant over.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 812
Likes: 805
From: Chapin SC 29036
I don't have a C2 but have had similar issues when working on my C3. One thing I have found that kind of helps with the rubber plugs is to put a little liquid soap and water on the plugs which makes the tip a little slippery and helps them slide into the mounting hole a little easier. Some of the things the geniuses at GM did back then have had me scratching my head in wonder. I worked as an engineer at Siemens years ago and I was continuously asking some of the other people what they were thinking when designing something. They were always trying to over engineer a problem.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,459
Likes: 1,292
From: minneola fl
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 279
From: Portugal
Look at this thread, post #49. Easy peasy. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...t-s-for-3.html
If whoever had simply specified the hole diameter vs the plug's "cone" diameter differently, this would be no problem.
I'm done with mine now. I got them in.
I'll hopefully never have to do this again...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 279
From: Portugal
I also used a flat screw driver to cram the cone part thru the hole while pushing in the center hole.
That worked well enough.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 5,407
Likes: 1,216
From: Glen Allen VA
Been there, done that. There are two issues.
First, the part doesn’t fit well. At the time I installed mine, David Walker was interested in stopping by my house to see the difficulty. ZIP had just purchased the tooling and press from the original supplier. Unfortunately about the same time, ZIP was sold and I’m sure David lost interest in modifying the tooling.
Second, the plugs are made such that anything placed inside will prevent the flange from collapsing enough to be inserted. Fortunately our MidAtlantic NCRS club had a tool that inserted from the engine side and compressed the entering flange. Worked like a charm. The cut off screwdriver is almost worthless.
First, the part doesn’t fit well. At the time I installed mine, David Walker was interested in stopping by my house to see the difficulty. ZIP had just purchased the tooling and press from the original supplier. Unfortunately about the same time, ZIP was sold and I’m sure David lost interest in modifying the tooling.
Second, the plugs are made such that anything placed inside will prevent the flange from collapsing enough to be inserted. Fortunately our MidAtlantic NCRS club had a tool that inserted from the engine side and compressed the entering flange. Worked like a charm. The cut off screwdriver is almost worthless.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,265
Likes: 2,131
From: Bowling Green, Kentucky
Best firewall insulation available from DR REBUILD. Others did not compare.
One of our forum members designed and made a tool to install the rubber plugs. He made them available to anyone interested about 10 years ago. I still have mine.
Larry
One of our forum members designed and made a tool to install the rubber plugs. He made them available to anyone interested about 10 years ago. I still have mine.
Larry
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