DF500 Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Coming back from Le Mans, the transmission tunnel on my Duratec R500 was so hot I ended with burns on my leg. Anyone else suffer from this and do they have a solution - apart from wearing asbestos trousers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_pank Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Asbestos tunnel cover? A blanking plate to go around the gearbox and stop the air running down the tunnel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkySon Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Pretty common problem that's still not fully resolved judging by my conversation with CC when I had my 500 serviced a few months back. If memory serves there are a few things that you can try to alleviate the problem: 1 heat reflective / insulating material on the inside of the transmission tunnel. 2 lag the primaries 3 carpet 4 You used to be able to get a fabric mesh replacement for the gear lever gaitor / hand brake which allows the hot air to escape from the transmission tunnel. Sadly carbon bits is no longer around. There's probably more if you search the old posts on here. Duncan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noet Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Hi, When rebuilding my car, I changed all tunnel panels with carbon and had the exhaust ceramic coated inside and outside. Not even close to the temp build up in the alu.panels. Engine is Duratec 2.3 /seq.gearbox. 666 Roadracing did mine and probably still have the template I gave them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted June 19, 2012 Member Share Posted June 19, 2012 *arrowup* Isn't carbon fibre a good conductor of heat? Sounds like the exhaust treatment might be the relevant difference... Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul jacobs Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 I assume you have the transmission tunnel carpeted? If this is still letting too much heat through, then put some underlay under the carpet. that should stop your leg getting burnt, but the cabin will still get pretty hot I imagine. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noet Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Hi Jonathan,-yes, carbon is a conducter for heat and electricity. From my experience less than alu. But I agree that the coating make a major difference. Egil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannylt Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Surely as an anisotropic material, it's a good conductor *along* the fibres, but less so across? Just like wood - 2 or 3 times better along the grain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Ive used garage door insulation reflective material to line the inside of my cockpit and pedal box. Plus I have the usual lining material on the transmission side of the cockpit and the exhaust heat wrapped. The heat is now fine even after 6 hours at 30C ambient heat. We showed Oxted trimming the cockpit lining and they took up the idea and produced some very nice insulated carbon effect ( same as the R500 boot cover) stick on panels for the interior cockpit sides These are now available from Oxted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkySon Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Quoting Paul Jacobs: I assume you have the transmission tunnel carpeted? No carpet in an R500. Minor burns come as part of the package. Quoting Dave Jackson: We showed Oxted trimming the cockpit lining and they took up the idea and produced some very nice insulated carbon effect ( same as the R500 boot cover) stick on panels for the interior cockpit sides These are now available from Oxted Would be interested to know more. Any idea on price? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davedlr Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Oxted's Caterham specific products can be purchased online @ : http://www.thundersport.co.uk/ I can't see the panels Dave talks about, but their contact details are on the site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Give them a call and ask for Sam (bloke - so dont be disapointed). Then ask about Greggs insulated interior side panels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted June 19, 2012 Member Share Posted June 19, 2012 Greggs? Is this a subtle VAT/ temperature joke? Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James.S Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Kit availble from CC - Think it is listed for the CSR. Stuart @ Fauldsport sources a great one that completely stopps heat soak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 James - the panel I've mentioned are for internal surfaces, used in addition to the insulation on the engine / gearbox side of the tunnel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trotsky Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 I used 4" kingspan to line the cockpit of mine , no heat whatsoever gets thru it, unfortunately I cant get in the car anymore. 😬 has anyone ever come up with a solution for getting cool air into the footwell, its not a problem limited to R500s, im sure they all get hot enough to burn, paricularly if the tunnels naked ali,In Italy a few years ago mine got hot enough to melt the adhesive holding the carpet in place, the carpet slipped and I got red hot sticky adhesive on my leg ouch ya Batsard ,I reckon knacker ducts would be a good call. 😬 Trotsky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted June 19, 2012 Member Share Posted June 19, 2012 Knowing nothing about this... where does the heat come from? * The exhaust plumbing * The engine * The gearbox? If it's from the exhaust is it carried as hot air or by conduction from e.g. the firewall into the tunnel? Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mic Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 All three! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul jacobs Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Quoting Paul Jacobs: I assume you have the transmission tunnel carpeted? No carpet in an R500. Minor burns come as part of the package. So what is the complaint all about? If minor burns are part of what the R500 is all about, I don't understand! If I didn't like getting burnt, I would make sure my tunnel was insulated, otherwise, just keep it to yourself, until you have taken sensible steps to protect yourself. For goodness sake............................................ Yea, I know, words fail me sometimes. 😔 Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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