Excessive Heat in Passenger Compartment

[DC]

I've got a 2000 TJ with a swapped-in Dodge Magnum 5.9L V8 engine, and between the headers and overall heat output of the modified engine, it heats up the firewall, tunnel, and floors to the point of getting the passenger compartment overly hot (especially on a hot day of trail riding), and on a worst case basis, it's almost like running with the heater on.

I don't want to wrap my headers for obvious reasons, and beyond that, they aren't the only source for heat delivered to the passenger compartment. I have come to the conclusion that I am going to have to go the route of installing some temperature insulating material, such as Thermo-Tec's Cool It adhesive-backed heat barrier/insulating mats on the passenger compartment side of the firewall, as well as the tunnel, and floor boards. The main problem with this material is that it is pretty pricey stuff.

Anyway, if anyone has any other ideas or knows of places where I can get Cool It products at a discount, I would sure appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks,
Don

[JeepGal]

Are you running without carpet?

I had Chris put the carpet back in for this reason. Im sure that the bigger engine exacerbates the problem. I actually ended up with prickly heat on my legs, and minor burns due to prolonged exposure on our trip home from Rubicon last year.

Tam

[DC]

No, we still have the full factory carpet in there. It's definitely the swapped-in V8 that's putting the heat into the passenger compartment (and the Dodge 5.9L is known for generating a fair amount of heat for a V8, even over the smaller displacement 5.2L).

[Jerry Bransford]

Have you looked in the roofing dept. of Home Depot or Lowes? I have seen rolls of foil-backed thermal insulation for sale there that look like the same stuff to me but far less pricey due to the application being different.

[DC]

No I haven't Jerry, but that's a good idea. I don't know if the Home Depot/Lowes stuff has the same insulating value as the Cool It material, but if it's close, I am sure that would cost a lot less. Anyway, I'm heading over to Grand Junction next week, so I'll check it out.

[Jeff Weston]

Don,

I'm using the stuff that Jerry is talking about in my early Mustang, mostly for sound it does help with heat. I got it at Lowes and put a layer down underneath the carpet.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_13358-56291-...04_4294937087_