Burned Carpets in Footwell

[phn]

When giving the Chim a deep clean today I noticed the carpet was crumbling away to the left of the clutch pedal (looking forward). I removed the crumbled carpet and the back of it was totally black / burned. I've not really looked at that area of the car before so I guess this could have happened any time in the last 20 years! Photos below.

I'm guessing this is heat soak from the exhaust manifold coming through the bulkhead into the car.

Although there is heat shielding near to the manifold on the inside of the wing, I guess it must be past it's best for this to happen. As well as replacing the heat shielding I was thinking about lagging the manifold in an effort to reduce the under bonnet temperatures.

Has anyone experienced the same blackened carpet, and / or lagged the exhaust, and did this work well? Thanks!

[Belle427]

I would expect to smell burning if it was that, maybe it’s just the carpet breaking down/rotting with old age but I can’t explain the blackened colour.

[phn]

Yep, can't say I have ever smelled burning in my ownership so I'm now wondering if it's a historical case of heat that did this.

Tomorrow, I'll check how hot that area gets when the engine is up to temperature, and also take a more detailed look at the condition of the heat shielding.

[asd2001]

I’ve had similar, but can’t ever think of smelling burning, so expect it was historic. I still get a few bits of crumbly carpet falling off now and again but it’s out of sight and the rest of the carpets are ok so will live with it.
My heat shield was a bit rough near the manifolds so repaired it a year or two ago and it doesn’t seem to get that hot around there now. I used thick foil adhesive tape from Screwfix (thanks to whoever on here suggested it, I forget) and covered the old heat shield on both wings after giving them a good clean. It wasn’t difficult to do and still looks great.

[Zener]

Degrading under-bonnet heat shields or previously , cylinders one and eight primary ex tubes have the potential for this damage

[Steve_D]

Have seen this on a customers car.
The heatshield had failed then (i assume) the resin either caught fire or smouldered. There was a patch of the body about 80mm diameter which was now only glass strands. The customer was completely unaware of this and we only found it when it came in to us for other repairs. As in your photos the carpet and underlay was burnt but not enough to be seen from inside the car.

Steve

[jamescooper47]

asd2001 said:

I’ve had similar, but can’t ever think of smelling burning, so expect it was historic. I still get a few bits of crumbly carpet falling off now and again but it’s out of sight and the rest of the carpets are ok so will live with it.
My heat shield was a bit rough near the manifolds so repaired it a year or two ago and it doesn’t seem to get that hot around there now. I used thick foil adhesive tape from Screwfix (thanks to whoever on here suggested it, I forget) and covered the old heat shield on both wings after giving them a good clean. It wasn’t difficult to do and still looks great.

Wow, great tip. My heat shields are terrible and wondered for a better solution, especially when the manifold comes off.

Could you share the Screwfix part no. And maybe a pic? That would be great

[Belle427]

Maybe you could use some of this to make a heat shield?
https://www.carbuilder.com/uk/embossed-aluminium-h...

[asd2001]

Here’s the stuff I used - 4415V × Diall Aluminium Foil Tape
Silver 45m x 75mm.
And a photo


Yes, there’s no sealant on the clutch master access cover - about to replace the master….

[phn]

Thanks for all the replies, after a run out today, I can confirm that the area the carpet came away from is too hot to touch.

The het shield on the other side looks to have degraded. (See picture)

I'll be getting this sorted as soon as possible - do you think the sticky tape method mentioned in this thread would work, or would it be better to replace the material entirely?

Thanks!

[asd2001]

Yes - should work. Mine looked pretty ropey near the manifolds.
I gave it a good wipe down with degreaser first, although not sure if necessary if it’s been that hot!

[Steve_D]

When you use that tape you will think it is quite thin but it is easily twice the thicknes of the foil on the original heat matt.
Also on the kits of replacement matts the foil is even thinner than the TVR factory matt. I'm fitting a (customer supplied) set at the moment and it is very fragile.

Steve

[Badgerchim]

Hi. I'm just in the process of doing mine and got mine from Chimaeraparts on line

Telephone: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Size and thickness appear comparable although others are available.






|https://thumbsnap.com/fA7AWahR[/url]

Hope this helps

[phn]

Badgerchim said:

Hi. I'm just in the process of doing mine and got mine from Chimaeraparts on line

Telephone: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Size and thickness appear comparable although others are available.






|https://thumbsnap.com/fA7AWahR[/url]

Hope this helps

Hi, that helps, and after a chat with my local TVR specialist, I've decided to also order this set from Chimaeraparts online, and get that fitted.

In the interim (until I get the full kit fitted) I'll patch up the old heat shield material with the silver tape mentioned in this thread, so thanks also for this recommendation.

Edited by phn on Tuesday 17th May 16:17