Before you make fun of me for being a geek, my wife already beat you to it so please save your key strokes!

I'm the curious-type and like many people, I tend to dismiss claims that seem too good to be true, look like snake oil, etc.

As shared in a previous post, my newly acquired '73 is like an oven inside. I live in Houston, TX which is known for its oppresive Summer heat. To battle my cockpit heat problem, I plan on routing some of the cold air the aftermarket AC provides to the passenger area to the driver area AND seal things up AND put in a manual hot water shut-off valve. But using a liner / heat shield seemed like it would give the best bang for the buck.

I read reviews here, online and talked with a buddy who used Dynamat. I decided on a product called EZ Cool Automotive Insulation partially because of the reviews and particially because I'm selectively cheap. I will NOT compromise on u-joints but am more than willing to compromise or experiment with a $40 heat shield versus spending $100s of dollars to get to the same end point.

Using the HIGHLY scientific equipment I had around the house (hair dryer, dual probe meat thermometer, tape, stop watch app and a pencil and paper) I set up a little test this morning to see if the EZ Cool really worked. http://www.lobucrod.com/

NO, these are not entirely real-world conditions and YES I realize the exhaust pipes are probably a wee bit hotter than 210 degrees but still, I think it does prove a point.

How: One probe was placed ~3 inches from the business end of the hair dryer on the outide of the EZ Cool and the other was placed directly behind it but protected by 1 layer of EZ Cool. Temps at both probes were taken at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15 minutes. The dryer was cut off at 15 minutes and the temp came down pretty quickly and a final reading taken at 20 minutes.









In case anyone was wondering, I have no affiliation with EZ Cool. I'm just a guy with a hair dryer and a really hot corvette trying to solve a problem.

I'll post the install pics here at some point too.

 

looks like a good temperature drop, did you try gluing 2 layers together.
as a side note a lot of heat comes through the glass. i had a clear heat radiating film install on my windshield and glass t tops it made a tremendous difference. it is too difficult to form to the back window of my 79 but would be easy to use on an earlier car.

 

Good point. I read that somewhere too. You can do all you can from engine heat but a lot of heat radiates in from the glass and roof. The roof would be an easy place to insulate if it were a hardtop, but they are not.

Not to say that you can't make a difference by reducing heat from the engine/exhaust.

Jim

 

This rookie took everyone's word on the cabin-heat issue......







(and anything else that can receive a heat barrier WILL get "treated")

 

Excellent info here, i just pulled the interior on my 75.
I put one layer of the stuff from Menards with the sticky stuff on the backside.
Then put a layer of the bubble wrap with foil on both sides on top of that.Also use some sound insulation on that.

Will find out next time i get on the road if any of this helps .Have my heat gun ready to check out my mods

 

I have a 74 and live in Austin. It's just brutally hot here too.

I love the test!

I bought the same exact stuff a few years back. I lined the cockpit with it but I also wrapped the fuel lines on the frame where they pass by the header to help keep the fuel from boiling on it's way to the pump. Then I wrapped the fuel line from the pump to the carb also. (not a pretty mod but should help prevent vapor lock)

Cool test.

 

So it has been a year for you and I am faced with the same decision. Lot's of products out that there make a lot of claims. Not many with strong facts and measurements. EZ Cool seems to be the exception. What was your installation like? Where did you install it? What has been your experience with heat change? How about noise reduction? Claims are pretty strong on the noise reduction point.