Topic: Is interior heat shield worth it?
in Forum: C3 Interior
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Lifetime MemberC3VR Founder
Eagleville, PA - USA
Joined: 11/1/2001
Posts: 18381
Vette(s): Used to own a 1979 Corvette now owned by JB79
Mid America sells a complete set that they say "We even improve your ride quality because we include, at no extra cost,
the industry's only foil-backed, heat shield and sound deadening
underlayment."
And at $329, doesn't sound all that bad for my 79.
Anyone have any experience with the Mid America sets I'm speaking of?
And at $329, doesn't sound all that bad for my 79.
Anyone have any experience with the Mid America sets I'm speaking of?
-Adam Wartell
NCM Lifetime Member #1222
Founder: C3 Vette Registry
C4 Vette Registry, C6 Vette Registry
My first Vette, now owned by JB79:
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Lifetime MemberC3VR Founder
Eagleville, PA - USA
Joined: 11/1/2001
Posts: 18381
Vette(s): Used to own a 1979 Corvette now owned by JB79
Maybe I'm easily intimidated, but the install sounds complex:
http://content.madirect.com/pdf/666511.pdf
Is it as complex as it sounds? Could I do this myself without help and without the aide of someone that has done it before?
http://content.madirect.com/pdf/666511.pdf
Is it as complex as it sounds? Could I do this myself without help and without the aide of someone that has done it before?
-Adam Wartell
NCM Lifetime Member #1222
Founder: C3 Vette Registry
C4 Vette Registry, C6 Vette Registry
My first Vette, now owned by JB79:
Lifetime MemberIndianapolis, IN - USA
Joined: 9/3/2006
Posts: 2429
Vette(s): Silver 1974 Convertible - L82 4 speed
Low miles (was only 8,900 when I bought it in March 2006) - Now 54K miles. Original owner bought it as an investment for son's college expenses.
2008 Jetstream Blue Convertible
I'll admit it gets hot in the 74, but I've never had a real issue with noise. The wife would probably appreciate the heat barrier though. She has been known to have me turn the A/C on with the top down...
I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!
2014216132127r.jpg)
Lifetime MemberManteca, CA - USA
Joined: 11/20/2005
Posts: 3623
Vette(s): 1978,two tone,Metalic Rootbeer & gold
1975 L48 4 speed
It's not as bad as it sounds. It's impressive that they want to cover every little detail, and necessary if you hadn't a clue and had all winter to do it ( you could reread it over and over 'til it made sense). It doesn't all fall right in to place, but the big suprise is the rear compartment doors. If you choose to go this far, you're expected to remove the hinge pin, and the fragile plastic door trim to replace the carpet. I ended up replacing all the door trim and the hinge wire reinsertion was a big stinker (if there is a trick to this, I wish some one would tell me). But then, you guys have all winter for these projects, don'cha ?
Jimmy B.
Just can't wait to get on the road again. 
Click to see larger views!
Yes it is worth it IMO.
I went the Dynamat Extreme. It is pricey. So if the budget is a little tight (which it does get for some of us) you can go with the Autozone or Lowes insulation.
I removed the seats, seat belt anchor bolts, storage/battery compartment doors, left, right & rear carpeting, console side skirts, door sill trim. It's not hard at all, just time consuming.
Clean up the bare floors real good. While I was cleaning the floors, I had found a crack in my driverside floor at one of the bolt holes. So I welded that up and gave it a shot of rustoleum paint. Then commenced to cutting and fitting the Dynamat to cover from the firewall back to the rear panel including covering the rear wheelwells.
Michele noticed that her shins aren't roasting anymore on her side. Both catalytic converters are under there so she gets the worst of it. My side was much cooler too. And it did dampen out quite a bit of road noise. Plus, the A/C doesn't need to be on MAX all the time either.
Good luck!
TKO500 5 spd.
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975
Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.
Lifetime Member #26
The factory installed a vacuum controlled water shut off valve in the heater hose which opened when you moved your controls to heat and hot. Most of these valves rusted or sprang leaks over the years and people removed them. If you want to keep a little more heat out of the car. I recommend replacing it. You will feel a big difference when you add under carpet insulation. Make sure you run it up the sides of the trans tunnel. I also recommend putting it in the rear compartment to reduce the road noise from behind your head. Two more pieces to install to reduce heat and noise are the under side trans tunnel insulation and the foam seal that installs at the edge of the trans tunnel and seals against the bell housing.
New Idea..
When I go out into the woods, I take a space blanket, you can buy them at a sporting goods store. They are very thin, you can fold them up and put in your pocket, easy to cut and handle. cheap, I think I paid $2.50 for a 10'X10'sheet. Last year I sent some fish to my uncle in France. The fish was sent cargo plane from Anchorage to France and then trucked to his home on the coast, my point, it took 8 days to get there. I used a space blanket to cover the fish in and you know what..It stayed frozen..My uncle could not believe it..If I needed to insulate the cab, this has the same benefit but easy to work with.. Just an idea..
"I Love all Corvettes! LifeTime Member #60..Terry" 
Former Member
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Mounds View, MN - USA
Joined: 5/24/2007
Posts: 1031
Vette(s): 70 LT1 coupe, 69 350 HP coupe, 69 390HP 427 coupe, 71 LS5 convert, 85 coupe, 93 coupe
There is a very good quality form fit heat barrier available. It
is very thin and easy to install. We carry it at Corvette
Specialties - 763-784-8577
when we had the interior redone, had the heat shield put in and it made a huge difference. Sue's legs and feet would burn from the heat, not anymore. It is defiently worth the money.
Adam, the advice I got from someone on here was to warm up the carpet first to make it easier to mold into place. (Over the humps etc.) This can be done by placing the carpet out in the sun, or in the attic. I plan on replacing mine this winter and I probably will use Mid America too.
in Forum: C3 Interior
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