Late last month I was preparing my '87 for a local judged show. Doing the final detailing under the hood, I decided I could no longer live with the dirty stock insulation pad. Not wanting to further endanger the aging paint on the hood, some kind of insulation was definitely necessary IMO. Since I only had a few days before the show, there was no time for an online order, so I was off to my local hardware store for a possible solution. I found two choices: a foil-backed adhesive foam and a reflective product consisting of a bubble-wrap core faced on both sides with foil. Since it was 16" wide, enough to cover all the "pockets" under the hood, I chose the latter.
Testing some material with both a heat gun and a cigarette lighter, I deemed it safe enough to try. I fashioned some paper templates to fit the areas I wanted to cover, and adhered the material with silicone caulk, so it could easily be removed if necessary. It's been a month now, and though I haven't taken any long trips where the motor has been running for hours on end, the material has held up well through the hottest weather of the year with no indication of any heat damage.
Here's a picture
http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee388/kaminokids/El%20Cam%20forum%20pics/IMG_1503.jpg

I'll continue to monitor the condition and keep you posted if anyone's interested in a low-buck, decent looking solution to underhood insulation.

Bill

That's the same stuff I used to insulate my new floors when I put them in (in my elkie). You can get it at Lowes up to 48" wide X 25 ft long, for about $30-35.

I have LOTS left over, and will use it on the inside of the roof (I'm recovering headliner), and on the inside of the outer door skins of the new doors I am modifying. Having done quite a bit of research on this, will also be gluing a 15" X 32" chunk of 1/4" thick conveyor belt (rubber impregnated canvas) on inside of each door skin, and a smaller piece to inside of roof skin. The rubber piece kills vibration/sound (as in "oilcanning") and the silver backed stuff helps kill the sounds too, but mostly provides heat insulation. Floors also have 1/2" thick foam on top of the silver stuff, just under the carpet. More sound deadening/heat insulation, and it makes the carpet feel plusher. Total package will REALLY quiet things down inside, especially since last time I was driving it regularly, it had HUGE gaping holes in the floors!

(see post "putting floors in a 5th gen" in body restoration forum)


http://www.elcaminocentral.com/showthread.php?t=36179&highlight=putting+floors+5th+gen

I did a similar thing by using a 4 x 6 sheet of foil covered floor insulation I bought at a local swap meet cut to the pattern of the removed stock insulation pad. I had purchased some new plastic caps to attach the shiny new insulation. I used some foil AC tape to "bind" the edges, looks great. Drove to the Belton Texas show, two hours each way and it has held up fine.
bill

Billy Jack - Looks very good to me! What did you do at the edges where you cut the material; did you put any kind of binding strip on it, or not?? How close did you cut it to the spot where the inner hood bracing and the sheet metal join up? A much-closer-up photo would be great.

Looks very good to me! What did you do at the edges where you cut the material; did you put any kind of binding strip on it, or not??



2 ways to go here. Either butt it right up against the joint of the hood and bracing, or use some of that plastic door edge trim you get at pep boys, adavance, etc. Cut to fit each edge, then glue it on. Or you could split some tubing of the right diameter and slip/glue it on. Can get that in colors too! If you want clear tubing, get a couple of nasal canulas that people on oxygen use. Comes in 10 and 25 ft lengths, and any medical supply shop will have it. (soak the clear tubing for 48 hrs in pure liquid Ritz Dye (undiluted), then let it dry for 48 hrs. Can dye the clear tubing any color you want)

Billy Jack - Looks very good to me! What did you do at the edges where you cut the material; did you put any kind of binding strip on it, or not?? How close did you cut it to the spot where the inner hood bracing and the sheet metal join up? A much-closer-up photo would be great.
Thanks, John.
The stuff I used is called Reflectix and is commonly available at any home center. It's only about 1/4" thick and cuts well with a sharp pair of scissors. The inner hood bracing has tapered sides, ending in a flange that is bonded to the hood skin. Due to this being a last-minute thing, I didn't cover the edges. I laid the material over the flange and the taper of the ribs left very little of the edge exposed. Between the time I spent making templates and stretching under the hood, I did the neatest job I could with the time available. Since I have so much left from the 16" X 25' roll, I'd like to do a second layer over the winter. I'll adjust my templates to be a little larger, then trim the core away from the facing and roll the edges over. This time I'll remove the hood, so I can save the gymnastics of leaning over the fender backwards. Personally, I like the look. The textured surface matches the texture of panels that are OEM in many new Chevy engine compartments, so it doesn't conflict with my stock appearing engine. But the shiny foil brightens up the area a bunch when the hood's up at a cruise or show. I'll get some a close-ups posted for you in the next day or so.

Bill

nice ideas guys always wanted to stop road noise and heat inside...im buying this:nanawrench::beer:

This is what I used, also bought from my local home improvement store.
I used 3M spray glue. Foil backed on both sides and 1/4 inch thick.
So far so good for me.
Sorry for the bad pics guys but you get the idea.
http://i1031.photobucket.com/albums/y379/centex396/037.jpg
http://i1031.photobucket.com/albums/y379/centex396/035-1.jpg
http://i1031.photobucket.com/albums/y379/centex396/038.jpg

Guys,
Not sure I was clear in my previous post. You can buy 2" aluminum foil tape with a paper liner that has to be pealed off. It is for AC work, matches the aluminum foil covered insulation perfectly, is much easier than splitting tubing, is VERY STICKY, not heat or weather sensitive, and folded over the edges makes a very clean binder no matter how big a piece you are creating.
Just another possible solution, have a great week,
bill

Hey Guys
I have this item under my hood. I bought it as a 48* wide roll about 10ft long in a roll at Home Depot for $35 I used the old insulation as a template and cut the bubble wrapped alum insul. with a scissor. I then took a heat gun and slowly moved along cut edges and it sealed itself real nice...sort of shrink wraps iteself and leaves a clean professional edge. Then I installed it with the original pop in buttons. Looks great and cleans nice. A cheap way to make a show car look. I recommend doing this.

Thanks for the contributions, guys!
I kinda had some doubts about this material as far as its durability in the heat. That's why I didn't post for a month after I did the job. I was checking it every few days in the August heat to make sure none of the plastic bubble-wrap core melted. I feel better when I read posts from members in Texas and Florida who used the same material successfully. That's one of the great benefits of membership in a group like this.

Bill

Yes...I too had some fears about fire. But I took a piece and let a heat gun on it for a few minutes 1/2" away....all it did was melt. never burned or went up in flame. So being that under the hood would never be that hot as direct heat gun as close range...I summarized it to be safe for install.

Yep, the only downside I saw was last winter, it took longer to warm up.
I only drive mine on nice days but I do start it once a week, just to hear it rumble.:twisted:

I used the same insulation, had to double it. I have a Ford econoline pickup with LT1 engine. It still gets hot in the cab. Won't need a heater this winter.

Billy Jack - Looks very good to me! What did you do at the edges where you cut the material; did you put any kind of binding strip on it, or not?? How close did you cut it to the spot where the inner hood bracing and the sheet metal join up? A much-closer-up photo would be great.

Here are some close-up shots that show the exposed edges. It's really not very noticeable, but I'll probably redo it over the winter when I have more time available. I'll likely just cover this job up with another layer with some nicely finished edges. Doubling up sure can't hurt anything.

Billhttp://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee388/kaminokids/El%20Cam%20forum%20pics/IMG_1562.jpg




http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee388/kaminokids/El%20Cam%20forum%20pics/IMG_1561.jpg

http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee388/kaminokids/El%20Cam%20forum%20pics/IMG_1565.jpg

I've been looking into a full on interior restoration.
I was looking fro some material just like this for under my hood, but if it works great under the carpet's foam too that's awesome!!! I'll still use a can of Boom Mat and maybe a thin layer of fat mat here and there. But yeah, this has really given me some food for thought.

I'm glad I read this post. I'm needing new insulation for mine.

Great idea, THANKS:beer:

I used the very same "bubble wrap" stuff looks great and lasted about three years like this (https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/117314976584856314572/albums/5564481248768649377/5564481298808669026?hl=en) before the debris blow up from the fan wore a spot right in the front & center ---- but no big deal its cheap enough and easy enough to replace.

Looks real good Billy Jack - nice job

Great looking job on that Billy !:smileyb: I used some of that on my floors also.

Fine job, looks great, how did the show come out?

Pretty decent. I wound up with my second win in the late-model stock truck class in an all-Chevy show.
http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee388/kaminokids/El%20Cam%20forum%20pics/IMG_1514.jpg

Can't say if it had any effect on the judges, but IMO the foil-faced insulation under the hood brightens up the whole engine compartment.

BTW, it's been three months now since I installed the material. No sign of any deterioration or heat issues. I'm well pleased with my $20 investment.

Bill

Another plus is that you can keep the area that would normally be covered nice and clean. Just makes the whole area look better.

Pretty decent. I wound up with my second win in the late-model stock truck class in an all-Chevy show.
http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee388/kaminokids/El%20Cam%20forum%20pics/IMG_1514.jpg

Can't say if it had any effect on the judges, but IMO the foil-faced insulation under the hood brightens up the whole engine compartment.

BTW, it's been three months now since I installed the material. No sign of any deterioration or heat issues. I'm well pleased with my $20 investment.

Bill

great info on this topic!

UNRELATED QUESTION: You El - does the paint have the real tiny red sparkle in it? My '80 has a color like that under a slopped primer paint job - not sure if it's a touch darker or not ... that's a sweet color on yours! :beer:

I've seen the lowriders in San Diego with mirrors where you have that insulation material, i don't think they ever drove those cars anywhere, trailer queens for sure

great info on this topic!

UNRELATED QUESTION: You El - does the paint have the real tiny red sparkle in it? My '80 has a color like that under a slopped primer paint job - not sure if it's a touch darker or not ... that's a sweet color on yours! :beer:
It is the original metallic paint. The"sparkle" isn't red, but silver metallic particles.
Thanks for the comment. It took a lot of work with Meguiar's products to get the sparkle back.

Bill