Race Prep Miata race-only chat.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Ideas for insulating underbody/floorpan from cat?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-20-2016 | 10:55 PM
  #1  
scenturion's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 408
Total Cats: 61
From: SFBay
Default Ideas for insulating underbody/floorpan from cat?

Hello all,
I recently had a floor pan drop kit installed in my Miata.

The catalytic converter ends up uncomfortably close to the floorpan, and I'm worried it's going to get very hot on the long drive to/from the track.

Here's a picture as it sits now:





I was thinking maybe some adhesive backed heat wrap
like this like this
,
but I'm concerned it may shred the first time it gets wet.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Attached Thumbnails Ideas for insulating underbody/floorpan from cat?-img_20160220_152103.jpg   Ideas for insulating underbody/floorpan from cat?-img_20160220_151243.jpg   Ideas for insulating underbody/floorpan from cat?-img_20160220_152103.jpg   Ideas for insulating underbody/floorpan from cat?-img_20160220_151243.jpg  
Old 02-20-2016 | 11:44 PM
  #2  
Scaxx's Avatar
Elite Member
 
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,651
Total Cats: 885
From: Seattle, WA
Default

Could do some lizard skin and maybe another heat shield in between the cat and the pan.
Old 02-21-2016 | 12:11 PM
  #3  
sixshooter's Avatar
Moderator
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 21,117
Total Cats: 3,142
From: Tampa, Florida
Default

That stuff is what I use. It is on the shelf at Lowe's / HD. It worked. I later also added sheet metal held with radiator hose clamps around the pipe to keep the heat out of the transmission as well.
Old 02-21-2016 | 02:12 PM
  #4  
JasonC SBB's Avatar
Elite Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,420
Total Cats: 84
Default

adhesive engine insulation - Walmart.com
Old 02-21-2016 | 02:23 PM
  #5  
ryansmoneypit's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 3,398
Total Cats: 458
From: A cave in Va
Default

Something like this




Stanless sheet, bend it how you like it. I used thin- .024". Super cheap on ebay. I think it was 20 bucks shipped for 36x36".
Attached Thumbnails Ideas for insulating underbody/floorpan from cat?-80-20151229_195342_6e339ad0efa7a5819541d7be254c7584e553a2cf.jpg  
Old 02-21-2016 | 04:25 PM
  #6  
EricJ's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 241
Total Cats: 27
From: Flower Mound, TX
Default

Here's what I used: https://www.designengineering.com//c...-sound-insulat
Old 02-21-2016 | 08:55 PM
  #7  
scenturion's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 408
Total Cats: 61
From: SFBay
Default

Originally Posted by EricJ
Cool, how does this attach to a surface? Do you bolt/rivet it?
The adhesive backed stuff is pretty appealing in terms of the ease of installation.

Edit - this is adhesive backed. Kinda expensive, but looks good. I'll go ahead and order the 4ft x 21".

Edit2 - available for cheap on amazon. sweet, thanks.

Last edited by scenturion; 02-21-2016 at 09:06 PM.
Old 02-24-2016 | 05:49 PM
  #8  
Der_Idiot's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,489
Total Cats: 28
From: Saint Paul, MN
Default

I have it as well, it sticks on using a very sticky adhesive, not something that's forgiving for retry of application so make sure you cut things to fit beforehand. Use cardboard to make a template beforehand as it's MUCH easier to shape. The aluminum shielding is thick and tough to bend cleanly, you'll need tin snips or you'll have a fit cutting it to suit.

Application notes;
-Scrub the attaching surface and hose it down with brakleen (I used a rag and liberal brakleen use) until it's grease and dirt free. It would sure suck to have it fall off on the track or fail to stick, removing it would be a PITA.
-Go at least the drain bolthole on the transmission and as far forward into the engine bay as you can, I went up the firewall behind the engine and put some between the exhaust and the FW to protect the cabin. When I remove my tranny again I'll do the whole tunnel back to the shifter hole.

Here's a post of me using another shielding as well as this. Hope this helps.

Last edited by Der_Idiot; 02-24-2016 at 07:28 PM.
Old 02-24-2016 | 06:13 PM
  #9  
shuiend's Avatar
mkturbo.com
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 15,194
Total Cats: 1,687
From: Charleston SC
Default

Go to home depot racing and get this. Also get some spray adhesive. Clean your trans tunnel with brake cleaner and rags. Then spray up the adhesive and put on the stuff linked above.

I drove to Atlanta last August in my 94 turbo car with zero interior of heat shielding on the trans tunnel. It was pretty miserable for my right leg along the trans tunnel. I talked to Sixshooter and he recommended that stuff. I added the insulation and wrapped my down pipe with heat wrap. Later I drove to NC, about the same amount of time on the interstate. There was a big decrease in the temperature of the trans tunnel. My right felt fine.
Old 02-24-2016 | 07:25 PM
  #10  
afm's Avatar
afm
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 983
Total Cats: 508
From: Berkeley, CA
Default

Get a Dynamat application roller. I used one for some self-adhesive insulation (I used Thermo-Tec Suppressor because I had it on hand) on the underside of my tunnel, and it really helped get it stuck.
Old 02-25-2016 | 12:53 PM
  #11  
scenturion's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 408
Total Cats: 61
From: SFBay
Default

Thanks for the advice everyone!
I used the DEI insulation and it was much higher quality than the stuff I linked in the first post.
I made cardboard templates and then cut the insulation with some fancy shears. I tried two set of tin snips, and they totally failed because the fibers would get caught in the teeth.

I didn't do as much of the tunnel as I would have liked because I cut the first template backwards and also messed up trying to install one of the other pieces, but I still managed to cover all of the parts of the floorpan and tunnel closest to the catalyst.

I sealed the edges of the material with aluminum tape and then sprayed the front of the pan with 3M underbody sealant.





I would have liked more coverage directly above the catalyst, but I'll just wait until the next time the midpipe is off the car.
Attached Thumbnails Ideas for insulating underbody/floorpan from cat?-img_20160224_215207.jpg   Ideas for insulating underbody/floorpan from cat?-img_20160224_213732.jpg  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
estephens13
DIY Turbo Discussion
8
03-06-2018 04:37 PM
therieldeal
WTB
6
02-27-2016 02:35 PM
scenturion
Miata parts for sale/trade
2
02-23-2016 02:07 PM
Stronghold1985
Prefabbed Turbo Kits
18
02-23-2016 12:33 AM
jko
ECUs and Tuning
5
02-19-2016 05:55 PM




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:25 AM.