I’ve been doing drag and drive events for 21 years now, and have been very vocal over the years about what it takes to be successful when it comes to completing these events and having a good time. There are many topics that we’ve discussed, about all different aspects of these events, but one that I am not sure folks listen to enough is heat management. Everyone knows they need a good cooling system, but there is more to it than just that. It’s one thing to be able to drive down the road at 65 for an hour. Four hours on the other hand is a completely different thing.
Here’s why.
When you drive your car down the road for an hour, the engine is at operating temp and things under the hood are warm, but the longer you drive the hotter all the other things in the car get. As all those things heat soak, it becomes harder and harder to get heat out of the engine compartment. At that point, things that don’t have active cooling start having to work harder. Think about ignition components, throttle bodies, intake manifolds, fittings, pumps, electronics, etc. The engine has fluid running through it and your radiator, working together to keep the engine at the temp you want.
But all the things that are bolted to the engine, or that surround it in the engine bay, don’t have a cooling system. They have whatever hot air is traveling through the engine compartment, and nothing else.
Those components rely heavily on their ability to work in those temps, or on insulative and reflective products to keep them from getting hot in the first place. That’s where exhaust heat shields become important, especially in a turbocharged application where downpipes can get glowing hot in the worst conditions.
So how do you combat heat on your downpipes?
Wraps, solid shields, and everything in between have been used for years. But how about those factory style embossed stainless shields? Can you install those yourself on your own ride?
Our friend Bill Armstrong has an insanely rad twin turbocharged drag and drive Ford and he’s going to show us how to install this trick, embossed, stainless insulation as he installs it on his own ride.
Video Description:
Secrets revealed, installing and welding embossed stainless exhaust heat shielding. See how to cut and install the fiberglass installation, embossed stainless sheet and weld it up with a battery powered Amazon spot welder.
Product links below
1. https://a.co/d/09ZN5hiu – spot welder
2. https://boostproductsusa.com/products… – embossed heat shield
3. https://boostproductsusa.com/products… – Thermal insulation
