Date:         Thu, 19 May 2005 14:54:38 -0400
Reply-To:     terrapincampers@OPTONLINE.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim King <terrapincampers@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Exhaust system insulation
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I covered the headers on one of my VW's with one of those fiberglass wrap kits JCWhitney had and I'm not sure it really helped keep the engine compartment that much cooler, but it did make it noticeably quieter. You'd be amazed the amount of sound coming from just the tubes.
The wrap started off looking really funky, did not clean off well, and it only got worse as it aged... kind of like "the Mummy"!

As for heat transfer inside the van, I put a square of foil covered bubble wrap (Reflectix, TekFoil, chunk of auto window foil shade, etc) cut to fit the deck over the engine and under my Westy's bed.
The stuff also makes great covers for the windows, canvas popup sides & over coolers to keep the sun's radiant heat out, so you can sleep-in late!
I think the absolute best variety of the stuff is TekFoil made for use under concrete slabs with radiant heat, as the aluminum foil layer is coated with white poly. It's not cheap, but a roll goes a long way, and you can make some great insulated can/bottle covers with the leftover project scraps.

HomeDepot has Reflectix, and FarmTek.com has the Tekfoil and lots of other goodies you can use for camping, like woven 70% sun block shade panels and tiedowns.

Jim King
86 Syncro Westy (Terapn)



----- Original Message -----
From: jimt <camper@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
Date: Thursday, May 19, 2005 1:09 pm
Subject: Re: Exhaust system insulation

> Insulated all of my hi performance engines on my bugs when I was
> runningthem.  Cant say it did anything for noise but it kept the
> heat from the
> exhaust away from other things.  As for the heat seeping into the
> van after
> parked...nothing other than a really heavy isulating of the
> firewall and lid
> area will do anything about that.
>
> On the bugs I had a double layer firewall with a cover of sheet
> metal.  Both
> for heat insulation and sound insulation.
>
> jimt
>
> On 5/19/05 7:43 AM, "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET> wrote:
>
> > I've given some thought to putting an insulating wrap on the exhaust
> > system  of my van to help alleviate some of the heat that soaks the
> > engine area and to help dampen noise.
> >
> > I know there is a trade off when this is done. Heat held in the
> exhaust> will burn out the pipes sooner. But that heat escaping
> through the pipes
> > cooks everything back there, especially  in the summer time, and it
> > seeps into the vehicle interior as well, when the engine shuts down.
> >
> > Has anyone had any experience - positive or negative - with
> applying and
> > insulating wrap to the pips??
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > John Rodgers
> > 88 GL Driver
> >
> >
>