Gearbox Tunnel Insulation
Posted By : Douglas Foreman, 15-Mar-2004, 11:00am
I tried some stick on heat reflective material on mine , no differance at all .The best thing i've done is to make sure that the tunnel is well sealed
,even to the point of gaffer taping round the edges to stop any air flow.Other than that it's open the windows and the sunroof and drive very fast.
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Gearbox Tunnel Insulation
Posted By : Tim Bancroft, 12-Apr-2004, 07:24pm
I have done likewise Doug (Good to see you here by the way). I've still got my fibreboard gearbox tunnel, I have glued (used copydex) a foil based heat reflecting/sound absorbtion product I bought from Demon Tweeks (Bloody dear), I then fitted the cover using screws including the 2 on the bulkhead (I used 1/4 inch unf nuts and bolts to fix these two with a couple of penny washers and tightened using a mole wrench on the engine side- use new fixings)and then gaffa taped all the edges. On last years 10CR, temps in Nice were 35 degrees C and it was quite comfortable. I also insulated the exhaust using a Cool it thermo wrap, bit of a prob. as owing to gearbox oil leak, the wrap got impregnated with gear oil- after 2 days smelt like I bathed in EP90!
I have tried a fibreglass cover and thought the fit was very poor.-
Gearbox Tunnel Insulation
Posted By : Graham Reeks, 13-Apr-2004, 07:56am
Tim, Doug (don't I know you both from somewhere?)
Having tried both fibreboard and fibreglass tunnels, and even expanding foam to seal the fibreglass one (won't try that again!) I gave Tim's gaffa tape suggestion a go last week. It's not hot enough yet to tell whether or not it will make a difference to the in car temp. but I'm getting withdrawal symptoms now there are no fumes coming into the car, and it's a bit warmer round the ankles than before. My old man said he tried the insulation idea a long time ago and he reckoned it cooled the car but restricted the airflow out of the bay leading to potential gearbox and overheating problems - although he wouldn't of spent out on fancy middlesex spacecraft insulation like your man Bancroft
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Gearbox Tunnel Insulation
Posted By : Don Cook, 13-Apr-2004, 05:50pm
Tim, Doug, Graham (don't I know you three from somewhere?)
Our gearbox tunnels give us two main problems: noise and heat. Answer - ear plugs and open windows!
Ahh...coasting along the banks of Lake Magiori looking at the fireworks across the water...is it July yet Willcocks??-
Gearbox Tunnel Insulation
Posted By : Colin Lindsay, 13-Apr-2004, 08:34pm
I love the smell of EP90 in the mornings... smells like... gearboxes-
Gearbox Tunnel Insulation
Posted By : Graham Reeks, 14-Apr-2004, 07:27am
well it's just set me up for the morning ... 35 miles of fumes, and now for a coffee chaser!-
Gearbox Tunnel Insulation
Posted By : Don Cook, 14-Apr-2004, 01:06pm
You two are so romantic - how do you fight the girls off??-
Gearbox Tunnel Insulation
Posted By : Graham Reeks, 14-Apr-2004, 01:34pm
I can't speak for Colin on this one, obviously, but personally I put on a Don Cook/Homer Simpson mask, then proceed to impress them by 'downing' a packet of crisps and doing fancy parking manoeuvres between french cars.
Does the trick every time
More to the point, Don, how do you stop them from running away? Surely not Essex charrrrrm?
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Gearbox Tunnel Insulation
Posted By : Alice Hickman, 14-Apr-2004, 01:37pm
Heheh.....try being a research chemist guys....24/7 solvent fumes!!! Incidentally I live above a bike shop/garage and was the only one in the flat not to moan about the permanent engine smell...
Ally
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Gearbox Tunnel Insulation
Posted By : Nathan Gabbott, 16-Apr-2004, 09:29am
I recently installed a replacement gearbox, and at the same time replaced my previous insulation attempt with a glass fibre type matting with aluminium layer, I aquired this from work. Combined with a bit of attention to sealing the cover with aluminium tape(great for this kind of work as the glue doesn't goe crispy like gaffa tape), I have seen a massive reduction in tunnel temperature and interior noise. Aluminium tape is now available from halfords and its good for lots of stuff, not ultmately strong like gaffa but very resistant to liquids, peel and time. Also make sure you put some goo around all of the grommets and holes in the bulkhead as the rubber will have srunk/torn by now...
Bear in mind that even on modern cars the target for seat rail temperature is around 38deg. on max load up the stelvio pass. So if we get close to this we're doing okay.
Cheers
Nathan
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Gearbox Tunnel Insulation
Posted By : Peter Boxshall, 15-Mar-2004, 01:12pm
Ian,
I have got sound insulation inside my (fibreglass) cover which seems very effective both for sound & heat insulation. It has a self adhesive peel off backing and is around an inch thick but squashes easily. I held a sample piece against a boiling kettle as a test of it's capacity to withstand heat. It did not melt or change colour and it has been on the car since last summer. I don't notice any heat from the cover through the carpet (I used to before) and the cover is well sealed all round.
The insulation came from RS components.
Peter
I have got sound insulation inside my (fibreglass) cover which seems very effective both for sound & heat insulation. It has a self adhesive peel off backing and is around an inch thick but squashes easily. I held a sample piece against a boiling kettle as a test of it's capacity to withstand heat. It did not melt or change colour and it has been on the car since last summer. I don't notice any heat from the cover through the carpet (I used to before) and the cover is well sealed all round.
The insulation came from RS components.
Peter
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Gearbox Tunnel Insulation
Posted By : Andrew Booth, 25-May-2004, 10:48am
Hi Peter
I have a fibreglass tunnel on order from Canley, and your solution sounds one of the best. Was the insulation that you purchased from RS components described as "Non combustible polyurethane foam" (&163;15.50 / sheet)?
Also, how did you get on with sealing the tunnel?
Regards
Andrew-
Gearbox Tunnel Insulation
Posted By : Peter Boxshall, 25-May-2004, 12:35pm
Andrew,
the material I used is RS stock number 370-5815 and I used that particular type because I had some to hand. It does seem effective for both sound and heat insulation. I sealed the tunnel with frame sealant (without the standard original rubber seal) and then a strip of duck tape.
Because the insulation pretty well fills the air gap around the gearbox in places, I have added a length of ducting pipe (flexible plastic also from RS) from the front of the car under the bumper, terminated with a conical funnel to act as an air scoop. The rear end of the pipe points upwards on the top nearside of the gearbox. The pipe is held on to the underside of the chassis using nylon cable wraps.
Unfortunately I do not have any photos of the arrangement (at the moment).
Regards,
Peter
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Gearbox Tunnel Insulation
Posted By : Yan Holland, 07-Nov-2005, 04:59pm
I have used a cheap solution to this problem and it cures to a degree not only the issue of heat in the cabin but airflow around the box too.
I started out by sticking some standard carpet underlay (the horse hair type stuff) on both the inside and outside of the tunnel cover. I then lined the inside of the tunnel cover with a roll of metal tape (its shinny, very stick and quite reflective) This pulled the insulation clear of the 'box and O/D. Finally I stuck the standard seals onto the tape around the edges of the tunnel cover.
After using the car both this summer and now it really does make a big improvement. I still get the odd whiff of 'box oil when I push it hard but all the engine bay related odours have gone and it no longer gradually cooks my left leg during a trip. The tape is still well attached and has been on there for over 4 years (Not done a huge amount of mileage though) and really lets air flow around the box as well.
I will get some pics and post them up next time I have the car on the ramp, its a bargin solution at under &163;20 for all the bits and you will have plenty of underlay left over for the rest of the car!!
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