Triumph Repair: firewall insulation, insulation blanket, 3m adhesive

Question
QUESTION: Jim:  

as always, thanks for all your great advice.  I have a new challenge for my 1965 Spitfire.  I want to install heat insulation on the engine side of the firewall.  I bought a firewall insulation blanket from Victoria British.  Do I just glue it in or use self taping screws and brackets to hold it in place.  I'm assuming this will reduce the heat coming into the cabin.  It really gets hot in the Summer.

Thanks

Jeff

ANSWER: Jeff,

I've never dealt with installing insulation... in Texas we just accept the heat and bear it.

Obviously, if the area is oily/greasy there's no way glue will hold it in place.  Also, if it gets too hot the glue may not hold anyway.

What does Victoria British recommend?


Cheers,

Jim

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks.  Vicki Brit sells a 3M adhesive but my reading tells me that few glues will take that kind of heat.  I plan to use 1 inch self taping screws and brackets.  Is there anything behind the firewall that I should avoid as I drill into it?

Answer
Jeff,

In the footwell area?  Peel back the carpet and make sure that nothing has been rerouted there.  

Typically on the Spitfire the heat is coming in from around the trans cover.  Usually something simple like duct tape around the edges of the tunnel (or a new plastic tunnel if the cardboard is too bad) and a new shifter boot will take care of most of the heat coming into the car.

Or are you planning to place it under the carpet in the footwells?  In that case you probably could just use the 3M adhesive.


Cheers,

Jim