Hi everyone, I am new to this forum, so I apologize if this has been addressed before. I just bought a '74, L-82, convert, 4 speed in excellent condition. One issue I notice is heat being radiated from the drive tunnel hump. The carpeting appears to have insulation under it already, but most of the heat is coming through a vinyl overlay on the upper half of the drive tunnel hump that houses the gear shift and parking park.

Ideas ?

Bill C


[IMG]local://upfiles/5799/AB2CA41FD2E541D4A09A6E2DD3DBF5C2.jpg[/IMG]

 

Hi billc, welcome to the best forum going. The C3's are notorious for hot cockpits, GM installed a foam rubber seal between the bellhousing and the hump to help the heat problem, I don't know specifically what years had it but it is available through many of the after-market suppliers, also adding extra insulation throughout the cockpit is a very common up-date. If this is your first Vette and plan on working on it yourself you'll be gathering lots of info and literature, as you read through some of these threads you'll see reference to some of the Vette suppliers, they all have catalogues with lots of goodies. Good luck with all of your endeavors and don't be afraid to ask questions.

 

thanks, I figured there had to be addtional insulation or heat block kits....the vinyl overlay on top of the drive tunnel does not look easy to remove...any one have experience with this ?

bill C

 

I completely gutted the interior in my '78, installed all new insulation along with additional after-market insulation and new carpet, I don't have the A/C working yet so it's a little tough to tell how well it's going to do. You might have to pull the seats out to roll the carpet up enough to gain access to the tranny hump.

 

I put on a covette central exhaust, true dual system that eliminated the catconverter; which resulted in a 50% cockpit heat loss in my 79 coupe.

 

I have a 69 big block with side pipes so I do not think that it is the exhaust for me, but the drivers side is almost un-bearable if driven more than a few mins. I have put some dyno-mit when I put in my new carpet. Besides where the shifter is it is covered pretty heavy. Is there a spot that I might have missed? Or an area I need to look at. Help a brother from melting his shoes!

 

Well azvetmn, I was going to welcome you to the forum but you made me so jealous reading about your Vette, now your on your own with that fire breathin' rat motor and side pipes. I don't think you can do much to quench the incredible amount of heat that the big blocks produce. Anyway we're glad to have ya join us.

 

Welcome to CF, azvetmn!
Run that insulation as far up the fire wall as possible, if you havn't already. Other than that, it sounds like ya got it all covered.
Oh, one other thing......
Are ya gettin' hot air from your heater vent? In hot weather, I bypass the heater core by looping my heater hose back on itself. Know what I mean?

 

Hi Billc and Azvetman and welcome to the forum, take 78 Buckshots advise and get the foam collar and get the underbody transmission tunnelinsulation, it will make a world of differance. ( www.riksvet.com part #shf125 ). Hope this helps, PG

 

Besides the foam collar that goesbetween the bell housing and tranny tunnel and the foil backed (both sides) insulation that goes between the tranny and the tunnel, there are also a couple of foam pieces that fit between the body and frame. Here's all of them from Dr. Rebuild: http://www.docrebuild.com/dr-r-web/1298009.html I couldn't get the pictures to load when I tried.

You might try some of the foil covered, rigid foam board between the splash shields on the sloping part of the firewall and underneath the floorpan.