Heat shield for tunnel plate
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 1,668
Likes: 54
From: Brisbane CA
Heat shield for tunnel plate
I am installing a thicker tunnel plate on my 99 auto C5. The question on the table is that should I order a thermal shield for the tunnel plate for $120 of make my own shield with Dynamat material
Racer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 270
Likes: 113
From: SF Bay Area
If you are using the Elite 1/4" tunnel plate (as sold by TPS Motorsports), it already has a layer of thermal shielding.
Also, the regular TPS tunnel plate shows heat shielding in it's product description and photos.
Also, the regular TPS tunnel plate shows heat shielding in it's product description and photos.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 1,668
Likes: 54
From: Brisbane CA
My plate said E2 on it with no thermal shield. I was wondering is it worth $120 to add the TPS Motorsports thermal shield on it or make my own shield with insulation materials. I heard it will reduce the heat to the center console and reduces drone
Last edited by Caveboy; Apr 4, 2018 at 05:22 PM.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 270
Likes: 113
From: SF Bay Area
I checked the TPS website and the price difference between the 2 Elite products (insulated vs non-insulated) was $94.00.
Both versions advertise "reduces heat transfer.." on the TPS site. Jegs sells a 6"x 14" panel (rated @ 1100 F radiant & 500 direct) for 24.99
I would not use Dynamat or related product in this area as this is not the proper material for this application.
Both versions advertise "reduces heat transfer.." on the TPS site. Jegs sells a 6"x 14" panel (rated @ 1100 F radiant & 500 direct) for 24.99
I would not use Dynamat or related product in this area as this is not the proper material for this application.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 20
Likes: 5
From: Jefferson Maryland
DEI has started making tunnel heat shields for the C5. They have the main center section for $67 and they also have a tunnel side kit for $95.
http://www.jegs.com/p/DEI/DEI-C5-Cor...04244/10002/-1
http://www.jegs.com/p/DEI/DEI-C5-Cor...04244/10002/-1
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,542
Likes: 76
From: Houston TX
I think your best bet is to wrap your exhaust and put better insulation inside the car. I have the 1/4" tunnel plate with the thermal coating and it does not make much difference. After long drives in the summer I still feel like a baked potato.
I picked up the pre cut insulation kit from vettnuts and plan to install that along with wrapping the x-pipe for now (headers will have to wait). I am hoping that these two items will help keep the interior heat levels down.
I picked up the pre cut insulation kit from vettnuts and plan to install that along with wrapping the x-pipe for now (headers will have to wait). I am hoping that these two items will help keep the interior heat levels down.
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,776
Likes: 500
From: West Seneca NY
I have the Thermo-Tec tunnel shield, not sure if it is still available, but it works.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...de-tunnel.html
Lg has what looks the same, they are not cheap but they work, I also have a layer of sound deadener inside the car that I added a couple of years after the tunnel blanket that has a foil covering & has also helped.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...de-tunnel.html
Lg has what looks the same, they are not cheap but they work, I also have a layer of sound deadener inside the car that I added a couple of years after the tunnel blanket that has a foil covering & has also helped.
Last edited by 6speedsteve; Apr 5, 2018 at 06:38 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,225
Likes: 1,080
From: South Florida
I went to the junkyard and found a bunch of cars with their engines out that had nice heat shields. Some Fords have a material that is easy to bend and even tears in their tunnels. Some BMW have a thinner, stiffer materials. I also found a ton of "insulation" that carpet-like stuff that tears into tiny fibers.
I brought at least 30lbs of it various sizes and shapes to the counter and the lady was like "what the F@(#* is all that" and charged me $10
I test fit each piece(s) in the tunnel until I found some nice matches, then installed rivnuts so I could bolt it in place.
I brought at least 30lbs of it various sizes and shapes to the counter and the lady was like "what the F@(#* is all that" and charged me $10
I test fit each piece(s) in the tunnel until I found some nice matches, then installed rivnuts so I could bolt it in place.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 51
I went to the junkyard and found a bunch of cars with their engines out that had nice heat shields. Some Fords have a material that is easy to bend and even tears in their tunnels. Some BMW have a thinner, stiffer materials. I also found a ton of "insulation" that carpet-like stuff that tears into tiny fibers.
I brought at least 30lbs of it various sizes and shapes to the counter and the lady was like "what the F@(#* is all that" and charged me $10
I test fit each piece(s) in the tunnel until I found some nice matches, then installed rivnuts so I could bolt it in place.
I brought at least 30lbs of it various sizes and shapes to the counter and the lady was like "what the F@(#* is all that" and charged me $10
I test fit each piece(s) in the tunnel until I found some nice matches, then installed rivnuts so I could bolt it in place.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,225
Likes: 1,080
From: South Florida
You have to consider the tunnel first. Then, any added materials pre-existing, whether or not you are leaving them. The insulation type materials go deepest, or first, as close to the actual interior as possible. And you might even add a bit to the interior as well on the other side of the tunnel in fact.
From there, after the insulation, you would want a reflective type material with airspace between the trans and itself. the air serves as a fair insulator and the reflective materials keeps the IR off the tunnel insulation. If in your application there is a preexisting plate, it's material and construction may play a role. I.e. if it were reflective vs insulative it could act in conjunction with either type. Most insulating materials from junkyard cars already have a highly reflective surface and are quite water resistant in my experience. The one from Ford particularly, very light weight, can tear it by hand if you really want to, but its the sort of material that does not initially tear easily if you get what Im saying. I used it near the ground to prevent splashing up in some places, as between the oil pan and road for example.
From there, after the insulation, you would want a reflective type material with airspace between the trans and itself. the air serves as a fair insulator and the reflective materials keeps the IR off the tunnel insulation. If in your application there is a preexisting plate, it's material and construction may play a role. I.e. if it were reflective vs insulative it could act in conjunction with either type. Most insulating materials from junkyard cars already have a highly reflective surface and are quite water resistant in my experience. The one from Ford particularly, very light weight, can tear it by hand if you really want to, but its the sort of material that does not initially tear easily if you get what Im saying. I used it near the ground to prevent splashing up in some places, as between the oil pan and road for example.