how to keep down engine heat?

[red99z]

Okay everyone,

today was the first day I took my cobra out and worked it a little. I took it to a near by parking lot (empty) and broke in the brakes. It was a 90 degree day here so I don't know if that played a factor... but it got pretty damn hot in the foot wells. As of now I have nothing under the carpet (as far a heat shielding) and my headers under the hood are exposed (no sort of shielding there either). any suggestions from the experts on how to keep the heat down? I had a blast and can't wait to get it inspected and on the road legally.

Thanks
Red

[Bud Man]

Red:

Assuming you have had a quality coating applied to your header pipes, (inside and out) I will offer a few suggestions:

First, it is important that your footboxes and firewall be carefully sealed to eliminate as much engine/exhaust heat as possible from entering the cockpit. Using the correct weatherstripping and a little patience, you should be able to do this very easily.

Second, I would thoroughly insulate the footbox surfaces where they face the engine compartment. While the traditional method has always been glueing a high quality insulation such as Thermo Tec, another very effective, more modern method is to use polished stainless steel sheeting that is cut to the dimensions of the footbox surfaces and mounted using screws and spacers (washers) that allow a few millimeters of airspace between the stainless steel and the surface of the footbox. While not traditional, it is very effective as it not only insulates but reflects the heat back due to the polished surface.

Insulation under the carpet won't hurt, either, but the above is, I believe, the most effective ways to deal with the heat problem.

Hope it helps. Good Luck

Bud

[Ron61]

Red,

I agree with Bud completely on this. I used the thermo-tec heat insulation on the firewall and all the way back through the transmission tunnel. I also have padding under the carpet to help keep down noise, and I have never had a heat problem except when it is over 110 degrees and then my bald head really gets hot. The stainless is great too but is harder to put in and will scratch if you let a screwdriver slip. But the stainless sure looks great, although the thermo-tec I just take a damp cloth and wipe the dust off of and it stilll looks as new as when I put it in. I even have my brake lines covered with it.

Ron

[The Dreamer]

Horner Road?