Ive heard that C6's have an issue with the exhaust tunnel warming the center console. Does the same thing happen with the C5 or C5 Z06?

 

Yes...and this is why...

 

but there are aftermarket products to help mitigate that heat..

 

Yes there are.

Many use the thicker tunnel plate (heat shield) from ELITE ENGINEERING USA or the foil backed product from DYNAMAT.

 

My C6 was far worse than either of my C5's for generating heat in the glove box/cup holder area. If you put a cold drink in the cup holder of a C6 it was pretty warm in no time. Great for hot coffee though.

 

Yes, and here's a good solution to the problem.

 

Not too bad if you are moving Better if you are moving FAST

The stainless steel exhaust keeps the heat in the pipe better than mild steel but it still gets hot.

 

And that will take care of it!

 

Who sells those and how much are they?

 

I'll take Elite Engineering for $200..

 

I fixed my C5 coupe heat problem with some of the insulated foil from Lowes. Cost was less than $50 and enough time to get it installed....

 

Hi,

I found a method for reducing interior heat.

As pictured in another note, the primary contributor to heat in the vehicle comes from the exhaust tubes in the tunnel.

You can install a heat barrier (there are many types) between the floor / tunnel sides and the carpet, but this adds bulk to an already space-challenged situation, and eventually the insulation material heats up and begins to radiate heat on its own.

Insulated tunnel plates help, but they only block and do not remove the heat.

You really need some method for removing the heat mechanically.

If you take a look at where the mufflers and cat converters are located, you will see that GM has installed metal heat shields that are spaced away from the surface that they are protecting.

The air space allows for a mechanical removal of heat (as the vehicle is driven) instead of attempting to block the heat with insulation.

So, following the GM engineered model, I designed an aluminum plate to surround a portion of the exhaust tubes (on three sides) while still leaving a 3/8" air space between the plate and the tunnel sides and the tunnel closeout panel.

Designing the plate and having it fabricated was a little tricky, but there is adequate room if you measure carefully.

I took heat measurements at the base of the tunnel before and after I installed the shield and I measured a 30 degree heat reduction under medium load conditions (driving in hilly areas) and a 20 degree heat reduction when cruising (flat roads).

If you are interested in more detailed information about the design, send me a PM.