Cobra Cloth

[John J Phillips]

Has anyone used the Cobra Cloth, a Heatshield product, on the footwell or elsewhere to minimize heat gain in the interior? I saw it recommended in You Tube video that was documenting a FFR Mott College build.

[edwardb]

No experience with it, and haven't seen it mentioned on either forum. How were you planning to use it? Their webpage is a little confusing. Says it needs at least 1" air gap and is supposed to be applied on the cold side of a panel or component. But then it says it reflects radiant heat way. Not going to do that if under the carpet in the footwells, for example. How and where was the video describing it to be used? At $185 for a 36" x 56" piece (Summit) pretty pricey too. I think there are a number of other proven options.

[John J Phillips]

The video was a You Tube with two guys, an automotive show of some sort, and they were documenting the Mott College build school. They were using the Cobra Cloth on the engine / exhaust side of the footwell and explained a simple peel & stick approach. Breeze Automotive also advertises an aluminum fiberglass insulation to be applied on the footwell and transmission tunnel (exterior). I haven't really seen anyone complaining about the interior heat, but it just seems that would be an issue with the exhaust so close to the footwell.

[edwardb]

Found it. https://youtu.be/kK6mPgQDx6c I remember that show from a year or two ago: http://twoguysgarage.com/factory-five-racing-mk4-roadster/

In the video, he's actually putting it on the inside of the footbox panel being shown. Also mentions using header wrap, which is often discussed and some use. But most don't. You are right to be concerned with managing heat. Also you want to think about managing sound with your build. Both topics are discussed a lot on both forums. I once gave a ride to a guy at a charity event and his first words before getting into my car were "Is this going to burn my feet like the last one I rode in?" I assured him it wouldn't.

There are a number of variables. Which engine you choose makes a difference. A small block has more air space than a big block, for example. Whether or not you're using cats makes a difference. Those things generate a lot of heat. Heat can be managed a number of ways. From the engine side, the interior, or both I guess. I've seen some builds where guys went to amazing lengths with shields, standoffs, coatings, etc. on the engine side. Nothing wrong with that, but won't do much for sound. For both of my builds, I've put heat and sound insulation on the inside, under the carpet, and I've had zero issues with either. I happen to use a spray-on product called Lizard Skin, which has a product for sound and heat, applied in two coats. But there are other equally effective stick-on products. Just happened to be what I've chosen for my two builds. We've done lots of long cruises, and heat in the footboxes has never been an issue or even noticed for that matter. Wind, noise, and heat from the outside (that would be the sun) wear us out way before heat in the footboxes. In addition to insulation though, I would encourage you to also look at some type of ventilation or circulation. There are several ways this can be done. Keeping air moving is also important IMO.

Don't overlook the sound aspect, and the product you referenced won't help that. Guys will say there's nothing you're doing to do to make these quiet. Especially with side exhaust blasting away 18 inches from your ear. Some truth in that. But .040 aluminum, which is plenty strong mechanically, can and will resonate sound. Dampening with insulation gives the car and overall solid feeling and controls sound from the engine, road below, etc. The combination of insulation and then carpet over the top works very well in my experience.

[russelljones48]

Has anyone used the Cobra Cloth, a Heatshield product, on the footwell or elsewhere to minimize heat gain in the interior? I saw it recommended in You Tube video that was documenting a FFR Mott College build.

John,

I'm building a MK4 with the Coyote and heat is a bit of a concern for me too. There are a number of products out there that could work - although I've not run across the product you mention I'm looking at a couple of products from www.coolmat.com and some racing material as well. (will post product name later). Coolmat actually makes a pre-cut set for the FFR Roadster of their signature product - this is also sold by Breeze (I'm told). My preference at this point will be to use a product that attaches to the footwells on the engine bay side because I'm trying to keep the car as light as possible and may not use interior rugs and upholstery. So, I'm leaning towards a material that has a reflective outer layer with an insulator layer behind it and than an adhesive layer that will attach to the footwell panels. However, there's good advice below - I know of a "smallblock" installation where the owner has no shielding or rugs and says he's never had a heat problem in the cabin - and we're in NC.

[russelljones48]

The product I mentioned is "TeknoFibra" here's a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqlcZme8AS0

[BEAR-AvHistory]

I used Thermo Tec from Summit racing on all surfaces that face a heat source. Its a peel & stick space age product good to 2000*. The inside of the cockpit was covered in Reflectix which was glued down with 3M-90 contact cement. The carpet was then glued to the Reflectix from Home Depot. Reflectix is an attic insulation 1/8th" thick two sided aluminum over a bubble wrap type core.

Combo did not pass any heat from a heat gun in testing. So far its only been up to 85* here, final test will be the first 100* day.

As a side note I used the Thermo Tec to line the backside of my sidepipe heat shields.

[durk]

I cut two pieces of an old stop sign and used it as a spacer with 3/4" standoffs on the outside of the footboxes