Exhaust Pipe Heat Wrap
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6,499
Likes: 4,343
From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner- Unmodified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
1. Firstly, thanks for all the info thus far. There is a lot of experience and practical thought on this forum, myself excluded. 🙈
2. If I become inclined to install tunnel insulation, this is the kit I would use (unless I change my mind…):
https://specialty-auto-materials.net...e-heat-shield/
Elite Engineering is excluded from my vendor list and I’ll leave it at that. As far as the rigid plate nick nack goes, I too would like to see some test results.
3. I have already fully insulated and sound deadened my interior. It not only decreased road noise dramatically, but footwell/console heat has been mitigated. The heat is diminished, but I want it gone. Like zip, nada, none. Well…that’s my goal anyway.
2. If I become inclined to install tunnel insulation, this is the kit I would use (unless I change my mind…):
https://specialty-auto-materials.net...e-heat-shield/
Elite Engineering is excluded from my vendor list and I’ll leave it at that. As far as the rigid plate nick nack goes, I too would like to see some test results.
3. I have already fully insulated and sound deadened my interior. It not only decreased road noise dramatically, but footwell/console heat has been mitigated. The heat is diminished, but I want it gone. Like zip, nada, none. Well…that’s my goal anyway.
Last edited by vette4fl; Dec 14, 2021 at 09:09 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,057
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
1. Firstly, thanks for all the info thus far. There is a lot of experience and practical thought on this forum, myself excluded. 🙈
Elite Engineering is excluded from my vendor list and I’ll leave it at that. As far as the rigid plate nick nack goes, I too would like to see some test results.
.
Elite Engineering is excluded from my vendor list and I’ll leave it at that. As far as the rigid plate nick nack goes, I too would like to see some test results.
.
....its sorta like the fake news media to me...all i know is what i feel when driving fast around curves and corners and now it feels like i'm on rails...Did you have a bad experience with them ? I hope not. I actually spoke with them today and they still have the Tunnel plate i bought from them 15 years ago...no changes...I think i paid around $225 at that time...like everything else it has gone up but still a bargain in my opinion for what it does...they have sold thousands of them and i never read one complaint in all these years...great company and i do not care about their exact address as long as they are legit...
and by the way...it is not just a "knick knack"...it is the real deal and it definitely improved the performance of my Vette...
1/4" Thick Aluminum Ceramic Coated Tunnel Plate WITH Thermal-Abs $315.00
If i did not have one, i would have now paid twice that just to get one...
Good fortune with whatever you decide to do...
.02 registered
Last edited by Yello95; Dec 14, 2021 at 02:57 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6,499
Likes: 4,343
From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner- Unmodified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Well for me, test results don't do crap..and that crap is just on paper...sorta like when you are training a puppy to crap on paper... in a certain place.......its sorta like the fake news media to me...all i know is what i feel when driving fast around curves and corners and now it feels like i'm on rails...
Did you have a bad experience with them ? I hope not. I actually spoke with them today and they still have the Tunnel plate i bought 15 years ago...no changes...I think i paid around $225 at that time...like everything else it has gone up but still a bargain in my opinion for what it does...they have sold thousands of them and i never read one complaint in all these years...
and by the way...it is not just a "knick knack"...it is the real deal and it definitely improved the performance of my Vette...
If i did not have one, i would have now paid twice that just to get one...
Good fortune with whatever you decide to do...
.02 registered
....its sorta like the fake news media to me...all i know is what i feel when driving fast around curves and corners and now it feels like i'm on rails...Did you have a bad experience with them ? I hope not. I actually spoke with them today and they still have the Tunnel plate i bought 15 years ago...no changes...I think i paid around $225 at that time...like everything else it has gone up but still a bargain in my opinion for what it does...they have sold thousands of them and i never read one complaint in all these years...
and by the way...it is not just a "knick knack"...it is the real deal and it definitely improved the performance of my Vette...
1/4" Thick Aluminum Ceramic Coated Tunnel Plate WITH Thermal-Abs $315.00
If i did not have one, i would have now paid twice that just to get one...
Good fortune with whatever you decide to do...
.02 registered
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,057
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
When you look at the chassis stiffness of the C5 Corvette, GM stated the convertible had a 22 stiffness, the coupe had 24 and the FRC had 26 hertz of stiffness. That is the reason many of those who raced the early C5 wanted the FRC introduced before the Z06 was introduced. A larger tunnel plate on a Vert will be more responsive than on a FRC, etc. While it may not stiffen the chassis, the plate will stiffen the interior cockpit of the car and give the driver a more secure feeling.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6,499
Likes: 4,343
From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner- Unmodified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
When you look at the chassis stiffness of the C5 Corvette, GM stated the convertible had a 22 stiffness, the coupe had 24 and the FRC had 26 hertz of stiffness. That is the reason many of those who raced the early C5 wanted the FRC introduced before the Z06 was introduced. A larger tunnel plate on a Vert will be more responsive than on a FRC, etc. While it may not stiffen the chassis, the plate will stiffen the interior cockpit of the car and give the driver a more secure feeling.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6,499
Likes: 4,343
From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner- Unmodified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Evidently GM recognized some benefit to a stronger/thicker plate and beginning with the C6 went to an aluminum plate that that was twice as thick as that of the C5. (1/8” perhaps?).
According to tests by Elite Engineering (hey…it was the only tests I could find; ironic...), the stock C5 tunnel was 212* vs the C6 tunnel at 165*. They claim the thermal stick-on reduces C6 temp another 30* down to 135*. Their 1/4” plate with the insulation stick on brought the temp down to 115*.
Seems like the smart money for temp reduction is the stock C6 plate with stick on thermal insulation.
According to tests by Elite Engineering (hey…it was the only tests I could find; ironic...), the stock C5 tunnel was 212* vs the C6 tunnel at 165*. They claim the thermal stick-on reduces C6 temp another 30* down to 135*. Their 1/4” plate with the insulation stick on brought the temp down to 115*.
Seems like the smart money for temp reduction is the stock C6 plate with stick on thermal insulation.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 456
Likes: 144
From: Frederick Colorado
I am probably thinking about this incorrectly.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Evidently GM recognized some benefit to a stronger/thicker plate and beginning with the C6 went to an aluminum plate that that was twice as thick as that of the C5. (1/8” perhaps?).
According to tests by Elite Engineering (hey…it was the only tests I could find; ironic...), the stock C5 tunnel was 212* vs the C6 tunnel at 165*. They claim the thermal stick-on reduces C6 temp another 30* down to 135*. Their 1/4” plate with the insulation stick on brought the temp down to 115*.
Seems like the smart money for temp reduction is the stock C6 plate with stick on thermal insulation.
According to tests by Elite Engineering (hey…it was the only tests I could find; ironic...), the stock C5 tunnel was 212* vs the C6 tunnel at 165*. They claim the thermal stick-on reduces C6 temp another 30* down to 135*. Their 1/4” plate with the insulation stick on brought the temp down to 115*.
Seems like the smart money for temp reduction is the stock C6 plate with stick on thermal insulation.
Yeah and they are cheap. I have a thread from here bookmarked where somebody did just that. You can get the C6 plate for like 60 bucks from fleabay. I'll find the link on my PC at home and post it if no one else finds it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,590
Likes: 3,317
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
Evidently GM recognized some benefit to a stronger/thicker plate and beginning with the C6 went to an aluminum plate that that was twice as thick as that of the C5. (1/8” perhaps?).
According to tests by Elite Engineering (hey…it was the only tests I could find; ironic...), the stock C5 tunnel was 212* vs the C6 tunnel at 165*. They claim the thermal stick-on reduces C6 temp another 30* down to 135*. Their 1/4” plate with the insulation stick on brought the temp down to 115*.
Seems like the smart money for temp reduction is the stock C6 plate with stick on thermal insulation.
According to tests by Elite Engineering (hey…it was the only tests I could find; ironic...), the stock C5 tunnel was 212* vs the C6 tunnel at 165*. They claim the thermal stick-on reduces C6 temp another 30* down to 135*. Their 1/4” plate with the insulation stick on brought the temp down to 115*.
Seems like the smart money for temp reduction is the stock C6 plate with stick on thermal insulation.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,057
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
...not really important at this point...as long as i can feel the difference in cornering, a lot less leaning of the front end on curves and turns and a lot more stable over bumps and cooler in the cabin...and i can relay my experiences to others who want better handling, that's all that matters to me...all that **** on statistics on paper do not mean a thing in the real world...
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Yeah I looked into it awhile back. I could buy two C6 plates for less than one EE plate. And you'll never see it so... I'm cheap too. Haha
Whenever I modify this car I kind of take into consideration what I actually paid for it and it stops me from doing a lot of high dollar stuff 😂
Whenever I modify this car I kind of take into consideration what I actually paid for it and it stops me from doing a lot of high dollar stuff 😂
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 12,414
Likes: 1,750
From: DFW TX
That is exactly what I did. I bought 2 C6 plates and insulated the one facing the exhaust. The car immediately felt different. I was a doubter but by the end of the block, a believer. My car has very stiff VBP springs & Konis, which likely makes it easier to feel the change. Good upgrade for the $$.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6,499
Likes: 4,343
From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner- Unmodified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Beginning to look like a consensus. Reasonable cost for big improvement. If we can get 90% of the benefit for 1/2, or less, of the cost it doesn’t sting so much.
Im going to bag the exhaust wrap for the time being and go with the C6 plate and an insulation kit for it. You guys are very persuasive!
Im going to bag the exhaust wrap for the time being and go with the C6 plate and an insulation kit for it. You guys are very persuasive!