Heat Protection ideas needed

[Jim Wehr]

My 20 year old MKll has about 18,000 miles on it. It has seen a lot of autocross time so it is a driver, not a show car. I have the original FFR sidepipes that are barbeque painted. They are loud but still holding up fine. I have a stainless perforated shield on my wife's side to keep her from snake bites, but I really don't like the look. I was thinking of wrapping the pipes with some heat resistant material like they used to do years ago on track cars. Does anyone have any ideas or links to products that might look good/vintage/ and also work?

[rthomas98]

I was going to get a set of these.

https://www.ptpturboblankets.com/products/ptp-cobra-mini-exhaust-sleeves

[AC Bill]

I recall seeing mainly rac cars of various types using wraps on their exhaust pipes. I presume it's what's sold as header wrap. I imagine it may be tricky to get a good tight wrap that looks good, without first taking the side pipes off. So make sure you have some new gaskets on hand for reinstallation. I have had good luck with the DEI heat products, so their wrap product is worth considering.
https://www.designengineering.com/black-titanium-exhaust-wrap-2-x-25/

One fellow I know that swears his side pipes having been ceramic coated have dropped the heat off of them tremendously. He claims to be able to touch the pipes after a drive, and not be burned.

Drummer Mikes heat shields are/were available in a unpainted version, (vs polished ss). In my opinion, they actually look the best of the various shields offered, and you could simply paint them BBQ black to match your pipes, and allow them to blend in better. Here is an example.

https://www.factoryfive.com/whats-new/patrick-bashor-graduates-mkiv-roadster-build/

[Jim Wehr]

Thanks for the great ideas. Trying to decide.........
Car is green with silver BBQ painted pipes. Black might be best.

[AC Bill]

Thanks for the great ideas. Trying to decide.........
Car is green with silver BBQ painted pipes. Black might be best.

Well if you wanted them to blend in you could paint them silver Hi Temp paint.

[Alan_C]

Watch this episode of Engine Masters as they try many of the available heat shielding, and as it turns out amplifying, materials. Some real surprises and some expected results. Well worth watching IMO.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29420396/

[GFX2043mtu]

Just put a common 100% cotton bath towel in the car. When a passenger gets out of the car double or triple it up and lay it over the pipe. Once they are out put it back in the car behind the seat or trunk. Cheap, highly effective and it’s quickly installed and removed. FYI, all heat wrap materials can get hot enough to burn.

[CraigS]

I used a wrap similar to the DEI AC Bill posted. It helped a little. Later I got the flat black shields from Drummer Mike. They worked. I would go with those and paint them with the same paint as you currently paint the pipes. Since they run cooler than the pipes, the paint will last longer.

[JohnK]

One fellow I know that swears his side pipes having been ceramic coated have dropped the heat off of them tremendously. He claims to be able to touch the pipes after a drive, and not be burned.



I'm very skeptical of this claim. I had my side pipes ceramic coated by Jet Hot and they will definitely still burn someone badly after a drive.

[jrcuz]

I've read of using welding blankets to drape over the exhaust. No experience doing this however.
JR

[phileas_fogg]

I drape a welding blanket (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N6B2DZ6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1) over the passenger side shield & pipe to protect inexperienced or younger riders. I chose this size blanket because I can double it up & still cover nearly 18" of pipe while completely covering the pipe opening. I can say for a fact it works, because my son inevitably throws his bare leg out the door and onto the end of the shield / tip of the pipe. No burns, and I can hold my hand to the blanket indefinitely.


John