|
Insulating the lower half of IM...
Tomorrow I'm going to order
a 48"X48" piece of Thermo-Tec "Cool-It" insulating mat. This is a composite
high heat relector material that you can read about at the enclosed link.
If I've done my math correctly I should be able to get 12 "cut-to-size" pads
for the IM lower half including the runners that bolt to the head. This will
provide far cooler charge air than we're seing now as it should eliminate
90% or radiant heat the intake manifold absorbs from valley pan area as well
as heated air coming thru the radiator.
I have no idea of cost of this product as that really doesnt concern me. I'm
going for max efficiency and whatever the cost associated with that I'm
willing to pay. Besides, how much could it really be? Hell even if it were
$300, which I VERY seriously doubt, that'd make each manifold heat-shield
run about $25. A dirt-cheap price to pay for the return expected. And it'll
likely be less than half that.
(UPDATE: I just found the material online for $53.88+ shipping. That would
make each IM done with this product after cutting to size and with shipping
around $10.)
I'm willing to bet this isn't just something that would show up on an IR
heat gun or on a ported/polished IM but something we'd be able to feel in
the seat of our pants on a stock or modified IM. Should keep the car
performing all day like it feels now when you first take it out for a drive
on a cool morning before heat-soak drives the intake temps up. And that
translates to HP/TQ full-time. The one thing this wont do directly is add
power after the 4100RPM manifold switchover occurs except by virute of the
IM plenum being cooler due to less radiant/migratory heat from those lower
runners... especially if the Glyptal is used. But it will definately
increase power at sub-4100RPM's before switchover occurs. And who here
seriously spends even 1% of their time behind the wheel at 4100+ RPM's??
Additionally at this state of tune on an intake manifold who can really say
"oh I dont want/need something like that. "If you're gonna be a dog,why be a
chihuahua!?!"
My original plan was to form a heatshield but it would've cost lots more and
only been maybe 40-60% as efficient as this material.
I'll keep everyone up to speed on my order status, what it's going to cost
and post pics soon as it arrives and after it's been applied to my IM. My
plan is to use silicone adhesive for it's high-temp qualities to affix this
to the lower IM after it's been test-fitted and the two manifold halves are
bolted back together. It could be adhered before the two halves are bolted
together but would require 4 holes to access the center long bolts that hold
the two halves together.
|