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Topic: Cockpit Heat Reduction

in Forum: C3 Interior


Cockpit Heat Reduction

Posted: 10/14/05 12:55pm Message 1 of 18
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New Zealand
Joined: 10/8/2005
Posts: 28
Vette(s): 1978 L48 350ci Coupe, Silver/Dark Grey, Manual Transmission, Still Left Hand Drive.

It's approaching summer down is this neck of the woods, though the way the weather has been lately you wouldn't think so.

The internal cockpit temperature in my 78 is nice in winter but it's gonna be a killer in summer (aircon doesn't work yet), so apart from fixing the heater, romoving the T-Tops or winding the windows down, are there any suggestion you guys have to reduce the heat in the cockpit.

I have heard of a product by Thermo-Tech called Cool-It, which looks to be a foil lined fabric that you can installed under the carpet so it reflects the heat back to the engine bay and gear box but I cant get it down here (distributor doesn't stock it). I'm contemplating importing it myself.

1. Have you heard of it and is it any good?
2. Do you know of any alternatives that will do the job?

It would be great to be able to buy preformed/cut section for my 78 rather than having to buy sheets and cut it myself, lazy I know.

Cheers




Kiwi Doug

aka Harry Tasker
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Cockpit Heat Reduction

Posted: 10/14/05 7:54pm Message 2 of 18
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Kiwi Doug , you might want to thumb thru this post, and see if it can give you any hints/help.

Int. Heat Problems


Joel Adams
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Cockpit Heat Reduction

Posted: 10/14/05 10:41pm Message 3 of 18
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New Zealand
Joined: 10/8/2005
Posts: 28
Vette(s): 1978 L48 350ci Coupe, Silver/Dark Grey, Manual Transmission, Still Left Hand Drive.

Thanks for that, some interesting reading . I was out in it today and my right leg is now well done.

Cheers




Kiwi Doug

aka Harry Tasker

Cockpit Heat Reduction

Posted: 10/15/05 9:53pm Message 4 of 18
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Moses Lake, WA - USA
Joined: 4/16/2005
Posts: 2134
Vette(s): 1976 L48 4-spd, Mahogany Metalic exterior, Buckskin interior 350ci/350hp, 3rd owner, fiberglass spring, 255/50-16's Torq-Thrust II
When I redid my interior last winter I used Reflex from Home Depot and covered the floors, tunnel and back. Reflex is used to cover duct work in homes and looks like bubble wrap with foil on both sides and is 1/4 inch thick. It made the interior much cooler this summer.


Cockpit Heat Reduction

Posted: 10/16/05 4:14am Message 5 of 18
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Miramar, FL - USA
Joined: 3/16/2004
Posts: 672
Vette(s): 1972 coupe/350 cid/mild cam/4 spd/20 ft. paint (looks perfect from 20 ft.), but it sure runs nice.

You might try wrapping the exhaust pipes, under the cockpit area, with the insulating material used around header pipes(don't recall name). It comes in a roll and you can find it at Summit Racing or Jeg's. It's not a cure-all but it's gotta help some. Good luck.

JR 




Cockpit Heat Reduction

Posted: 10/16/05 5:53am Message 6 of 18
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Fayetteville, NC - USA
Joined: 2/13/2005
Posts: 244
Vette(s): 1968 Corvette Convertable, 4 spd, 350 SB, Daily Driver

Harrytasker, did my interior with the reflects heat foil.  Easy to work with, cuts with plain old siccors and glue down with spray adhesive.  Only drawback is you have to pull the carpet out.  Even so, I say it is well worth the effort.  Might be a good excuse to get new carpet.  Anyway, here is a link to a picture of mine with the insulation in.

http://www.c3vetteregistry.com/member_uploads/7101_7200/7104 /int%20insullation.JPG




Cockpit Heat Reduction

Posted: 10/19/05 12:02am Message 7 of 18
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New Zealand
Joined: 10/8/2005
Posts: 28
Vette(s): 1978 L48 350ci Coupe, Silver/Dark Grey, Manual Transmission, Still Left Hand Drive.

Thanks for all your inputs guys . I surfed the net looking for the products mentioned and ended up purchasing a Dynamat Xtreme Kit from Summit Racing Equipment. Their price was quite good compared to what Dynamat and other distributors were advertising.

Now I just have to contemplate ripping the interior of my car out, something I'm not looking forward to.

Cheers

 

 




Kiwi Doug

aka Harry Tasker

Cockpit Heat Reduction

Posted: 10/19/05 9:20am Message 8 of 18
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PLATTSBURGH, NY - USA
Joined: 11/21/2001
Posts: 54
Vette(s): 1978 Silver Coupe (Andy)L48 with leather Oyster interior.(Born March 22, 1978) 2003 50th Anniversary Edition (Annie) Born January 14, 2003
We also have a 78 that had the same issue when we first got it. Very hot
cockpit. It seemed like the heater was always on. There is an adjustment
under the dash for one of the cables that was way out and also the heater
vacuum valve was leaking by. After I replaced the valve and adjusted the
cable the interior is now a lot cooler. When I redo the interior we are
going to put the insulating material under the new carpet. However, it
seems now that we really don't need it anymore. The heater control valve
it seems needs vacuum to turn off, so if its not getting enough vacuum or
is not closing all the way for some reason or another, the heat will seep
into the cockpit. It felt like it was coming up through the floor, but it was
coming out the bottom vents at a very slow rate. Just a thought.


Cockpit Heat Reduction

Posted: 10/19/05 9:41am Message 9 of 18
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Edgewood, KY - USA
Joined: 10/26/2003
Posts: 339
Vette(s): 1981, Black/Black, Engine bumped to about 400HP.Ext/int mostly stock.

I know each model year is different, but my experience mimics that of ammo6.  I put a manual cutoff valve in my heater hose and that solved ALL of my cockpit heat problems.   That may be all you need to do.




Cockpit Heat Reduction

Posted: 10/19/05 10:29am Message 10 of 18
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York, SC - USA
Joined: 9/4/2005
Posts: 534
Vette(s): 1974 mille miglia red with oxblood interior 355ci, 320hp

chesh,

i like your idea of the installing that cutoff valve.  it seems like a good idea to try that before ripping out carpet.  where exactly in your heater hose did you put it?

 




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