[TheBreeze]

HeyYa'll, This is my first post, and I'm thinking about buying a '31 Ford Model A Street Rod. Many years ago, I had a 1928 Studebaker Touring Sedan that was original, and the ENGINE HEAT coming into the car was sooooo HOT that you would sweat in the wintertime! Now that I'm back into the mindset of getting back 'into' cars, I would like to know if there is a way to prevent the engine heat from frying me, especially during the HOT HOT North Carolina summer days. Also, I've looked at several other STreet Rods, some do NOT have heat or AC; is that an hard/expensive addition? Right now, I'm just about finished restoring a 1992 1/2 Limited Ed./Special Ed. 5.0L Mustang Convertible. She is a sweet 'fox,' but I've got the Street Rod FEVER!!! Any help would certainly be appreciated, and I'm so happy I found this forum.

[poncho62]

Good floor insulation.........and lots of air through the engine compartment, to get that hot air out.

[chevyhotrod]

Originally Posted by poncho62

Good floor insulation.........and lots of air through the engine compartment, to get that hot air out.

And don't forget the firewall to insulate.

[ChevelleSS_LS6]

You can buy the heat insulation in sheets and cut it to fit. Also use header wrap on the headers, keeping heat in the headers keeps it out of the engine compartment.

[OneMoreTime]

As far as the insulation part is concerned one can go to a HVAC contractor and get some "duct board" this is a fiberglass material with aluminum foil on one side used to make heating ducts..it is rigid and provides a good insulation..cutit to fit the interior side of the firewall and floor boards..should help some..

A/C Vintage air makes a good setup for street rods if you choose to go that way..

OMT

[1931 steve]

I too have a 1931 Ford Model A that I will soon start working on. My plan is to use a SBC LT1 engine. I will be insulating the fire wall from the inside to cut down on engine heat transfer. Good air flow is another way to help this problem. Are you going to run the full hood and sides?

Steve

[lakeroadster]

One key is to keep the fold-out windshield. Henry Ford was quite the smart dude and he did this to the windshield for a reason. Also on a stock Model A the dash rail had what they called a ventilator. Basically this allowed air coming in thru the fold-out windshield to be forced down the back of the dash rail toward your legs.

If you can keep these two features and insulate the firewall and floor, you should be able to keep your cool.

I have a Model A Sedan, running a SBC & Block Hugger Headers. Not only is the fold-out windshield functional, but it looks way cool on a chopped car!

[Jacks77]

Why not just block the heater flow from the manifold with a shut off valve on the hose?

[lakeroadster]

Heater........ Who puts heaters in Hot Rods?

[chevyhotrod]

If you live in Holland, or England. Than you would definitely want an heater.

[RetroJoe]

I bought some insulation stuff from Summit and it made a big difference. I didn't get the top of the line stuff and it still made a big difference. I can only imagine if I stepped up for some of the better stuff how much more it would block out. I used to get alot of hot air transfer up from my floor boards and when I installed new carpet, I added the insulation along with it and it did make a difference. Grab a Summit catalog and check it out.

[farna]

Heck, go to Lowe's and buy a roll of foil/bubble wrap insulation. I forget what it's called, but it's relatively cheap, light weight, and works great. Looks just like the small bubble bubble wrap with aluminum foil on both sides (might be reflective mylar). I put it in the roof and doors of my car as well as BOTH sides of the firewall. Use aluminum foil tape for seams, spray on contact adhesive to stick on metal. It lasts under the hood and doesn't look bad either. Mine is a 63 Rambler wagon, you can see a pic of the insulation on the firewall in my album.

[TheBreeze]

Thanks for the replies. I never thought about using that foil/bubble wrap from Lowes, and its cheap too. It would probably help with noise too. My only problem now is: The $%^&*! man that agreed ('word/email' agreement) sold the 38 Chevy Coupe out from under me. I had already gone to the bank and had a Cashiers Check cut made out to him, and had already set-up a delivery truck, insurance, DMV, etc. and was waiting here all day yesterday for my Coupe to be delivered. It was not until late yesterday afternoon that I received a one line email from him that said, 'sorry, sold it to a man from Houston, TX for $3,000.00 more.' What a sorry, lying coward he is! Now my 'dream' car is a nightmare. I have posted a pic of 'Ruby' (I had already named her) so ya'll be on the look out for this car in the Houston, TX area.