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HOT FEET
by Ben Prince
As many of you will attest, when T-series cars are driven in
hot weather, one's feet may get mighty warm. I recall one story
where a TD driver was in the Mojave Desert in the summer, and
the rubber sole on his right shoe supposedly melted because of a
very hot metal pedal. The story is perhaps exaggerated, but I
think most will agree that the "foot compartment" at times is
quite uncomfortable.
The solution is rather simple -- insulate. Most auto parts
stores sell insulation that will work. The material that I used
is about 3/8 inches thick, consisting of a fiber layer that is
glued to reflective aluminum. About three years ago, I
purchased a four-foot by six-foot roll from JC Whitney for less
than thirty dollars. This size was adequate to thoroughly
insulate our TF. Also, the material is advertised as fire
retardant.
Before applying the insulation, it is important that all
holes in the firewall, floorboards, and any other heat access
points be covered. Large openings should be closed with plates,
and clear silicone applied to smaller holes. Openings for
electrical wires and cables should already have rubber grommets
to avoid chaffing. But even with grommets, there still may be a
flow of hot engine air -- so use the silicone liberally.
The next step is to install the insulation. The aluminum
side should face the heat source. Using scissors, cut pieces to
cover the firewall, the transmission housing, the floorboards,
and any other region that allows heat to reach one's feet and
legs. The insulation should be placed under the rug. Use 3M
weather-strip adhesive as necessary to glue the pieces in place.
After insulating, you will find that your feet are
significantly more comfortable. As a side benefit, much of the
annoying engine noise will be muted.
There are those who scoff at insulating, claiming to prefer
the heat in the winter in trade for the foot roasting in the
summer. I suppose one can argue that it is a choice of "naming
your poison". Since we drive our T-cars much less in the
winter, however, insulating for summer driving, then, appears to
be the way to go. The real solution is to insulate to keep
one's feet from frying in the summer, and install a heater for
winter use.
Another heat source to consider is the exhaust system
running immediately under the right floorboard. There is an
asbestos pad on the under side of this wooden floorboard on our
TF that keeps the wood from catching fire. Make sure that you
have a heat shield here also.
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