When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I'm doing both and yes you need it. The tunnel will get hot especially with headers.
I used 2000 degree adhesive /reflective material on the bottom side instead of the stock tunnel insulation. It is much thinner. Not sure how effective it is though...
I'm using dynomat and high quality carpet insulation in the cabin side.
Last edited by Corvettedave02; Sep 13, 2023 at 01:08 PM.
Anything you can do to help keep the heat away from the floor is way better than trying to stop it inside once it's already heated up the floorboard. Not to say it's not worth adding sound and heat barrier to the inside.
Blanket, DEI floor/tunnel shield and the horse collar on the outside
Noise and sound deadening on the inside
And trying to keep some of the heat inside the pipes in the first place, at least until they get back past my butt
Horseshoe collar (or pool noodle) is #1, aluminum heat shield/bubble wrap on the BOTTOM of the transmission tunnel.
The factory "heat shield" was this foil-wrapped cardboard thing. 99.99% of them have gone MIA in the intervening years. Doesn't look real waterproof; I've got one
sitting in my garage! Impossible to install without dropping the tranny.
Thing is it would have to be installed PROPERLY to do any good --- on standoffs, not just shoved between the tranny & the tunnel. Create a layer of trapped air between
the pipes and the shield, the shield and the tunnel. Trapped air does the insulating, not the aluminum foil which merely reflects heat.
Once the tunnel heats up all the foil wrap in the world applied inside the cockpit isn't going to help. As another stated, the heat shields on the Shuttle go on the OUTSIDE.
Here are my tips on keeping the C3 cockpit cooler.
Tunnel insulation is a good idea. So is replacing the foam heat shield that installs just behind the bell (or converter) housing on the top-side of the transmission. That kept the engine/exhaust heat from entering that tunnel area. The aftermarket foam replacements are pretty junky. You could make one yourself out of some more durable (and oil resistant) foam.
Is there a suitable foam (preferrably high-temp) from, say, McMaster Carr ...anyone might recommend?
If a pink or neon green pool noodle is too pedestrian for you -- they have round pipe insulation at Home Depot, black in color, that should withstand a higher temperature before it melts or ignites.
It's worth the effort to do the tunnel on the out side and inside. My Corvette is the second car I have insulated. The Corvette inside was done by the previous owner. It is pre cut and any must have come with the new carpet. I usde DEI in the tunnel. I second the 3M foil tape on the seams. I'm less than happy with the DEI tape I used on the seams
Very nice job on the insulation. If I ever drop my transmission this is exactly how I plan to do it.
The foil insulation under the carpet in my car was/is next to useless, as best I can tell, but don't try and tell anyone that.
OTHER things I did to reduce cockpit heat that had noticeable benefit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Corvette/co...ed_to_have_ac/
Last edited by wadenelson; Sep 15, 2023 at 08:37 AM.
Very nice job on the insulation. If I ever drop my transmission…
Two battery cables: heavier cable goes to the starter. #4 cable goes to a BMW fuse panel to feed FITech, cooling fans relays, in tank fuel pump relay, under dash fuse block via horn relay, alternator feeds this board, likely head light relays.
-- they have round pipe insulation at Home Depot, black in color, that should withstand a higher temperature before it melts or ignites.
