Tunnel plate
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
Tunnel plate
Anyone here put the stock metal plate on over top of the new alumunum C6 plate. I have an 04 vert and I think the original plate over the aluminum one would help strengthen the chassis even more without adding too much weight. 
I plan on installing them tomorrow.
I plan on installing them tomorrow.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 743
Likes: 1
From: Bartlett IL
It might, but not to the point whare it would be noticable. It might just induce a rattle from the 2 pieces vibrating together from the exhaust harmonics. You could try it but if it vibrates you would have to drop your exhaust center section again.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,346
Likes: 5
From: Mustang OK
Personally I wouldn't do it. As mentioned above, there might be some vibration that could possible cause some noise. Also, the C5 was designed from the very start with the vert in mind and is already one of the most rigid verts ever built.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Winter Haven Fl
put a few quarter sized blobs of methyl methacrilate (Plexus) between both panels and bolt them in place. same stuff i use to bond metal, fiberglass and anything else that you don't want to have come apart, forever and ever........
"AlohaC5" Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,562
Likes: 44
From: Madison, AL
I have the tunnel plate and its much thicker/stiffer than OEM. I wouldn't recommend using both plates. If you use both plates you most likely reduce clearance for the 02 sensors on the headers if you already have them or plan to install them in the near future.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 5
From: Fredericksburg VA
Dave Farmer commented on this a while back in the Roadrace/AutoX forum... The tunnel plate does nothing to stiffen the ride according to dave's research/ experience and others who race the C5 seem to think the same...
I put some double insulations in between the torque tube and the factory plate and that helped with the heat issue.
Mike
I put some double insulations in between the torque tube and the factory plate and that helped with the heat issue.
Mike
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 1
From: Morganton, NC, USA
I mentioned doing this some time ago. Use the thin stock steel tunnel plate as a heat shield beneath the aluminum replacement T.P.. To properly do this, it needs to be spaced away from the aluminum T.P. in order to form an air gap. Stacking several washers at each bolt hole and longer bolts would do this. There would not be much of a gain in stiffness and you would have a slight weight gain. But if one really wanted to reduce the heat in the tunnel, which mainly comes from the catalytic converters and exhaust pipes, this should really help. I did something similar as I still have the stock T.P. I had some mirror finish aluminum .062" sheet available that was wide and long enough to cover the catalytic converters. I used 1/4" X 1" X 1" aluminum blocks with a hole in the middle as spacers to mount this heat shield. Sorry, but no before and after temperature measurements. 
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,510
Likes: 240
From: Coconut Creek FL
I was toying with this "heat" concept in the tunnel area on my 97 - now that I am going from shorty headers to long tube headers with high flow cats and x-pipe, I understand the heat will increase considerably...I just purchased the 1/4" Aluminum heat traeted plate from A&A Corvette for $169. Its coated with some type of heat treatment to reduce the heat as well as being thicker and lighter...I will probably get some insulation to stuff around the torque tube area while I have it out for install...
I like the aluminum plate idea...both for the weight\strength and heat treatment capabilities.
Good luck
I like the aluminum plate idea...both for the weight\strength and heat treatment capabilities.
Good luck
Burnout
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,437
Likes: 12
From: South Surrey (White Rock) British Columbia
Heat Sheild
Originally Posted by byte_me
I was toying with this "heat" concept in the tunnel area on my 97 - now that I am going from shorty headers to long tube headers with high flow cats and x-pipe, I understand the heat will increase considerably...I just purchased the 1/4" Aluminum heat traeted plate from A&A Corvette for $169. Its coated with some type of heat treatment to reduce the heat as well as being thicker and lighter...I will probably get some insulation to stuff around the torque tube area while I have it out for install...
I like the aluminum plate idea...both for the weight\strength and heat treatment capabilities.
Good luck
I like the aluminum plate idea...both for the weight\strength and heat treatment capabilities.
Good luck
If you want to eliminate as much heat as you can make sure you have your Long Tubes Ceramic coated inside and out and most of the heat should stay in the tubes.
it's what I did with my Dynatech Supermaxx's and It is noticeable. It will also help in firing up the rear cats.
mrgil