TheSamba.com :: View topic - Insulating, expanding foam for automobiles

Sat Oct 25, 2008 8:43 am

There was a long, 9-page thread in the Bay Window Bus forum about boosting the heating system of a Bus. There was some talk about insulation (which has it's own, very long thread) and expanding foam. A guy who works with windows said don't use the expanding foam from the hardware store (i.e. The Home Depot, Lowes, Ace, etc.) as it's OPEN CELL. They don't use it because it allows moisture through. He said to get CLOSED CELL, low expansion foam. This will insulate better as well. He gave a link on where to go and this is the stuff I think that should be used:
http://www.crlaurence.com/ProductPages/F/F0M0875_5858.html?Origin=

Here's the author's original post:
bljones wrote: Low emissivity window films are a great idea. they do a great job, as noted, at keeping heat in in the winter time, with the added benefit of taking advantage of solar gain to add heat. In the summer, they keep the vehicle cooler by reflecting heat away from the interior.

Some foam info- DO NOT use the "crap in a can" as we fondly call it in the window industry. The stuff you find at the home improvement type stores is a high expansion open cell foam, which means two problems in one. The high expansion rate means that the stuff will bulge interior panels. The open cell part is the bigger problem. the stuff absorbs and traps moisture, causing big trouble from a rust standpoint. what you want is a professional grade, low expansion closed cell foam, like this stuff (handi seal- the can on the right)
http://www.crlaurence.com/ProductPages/showLine.asp?GroupID=3040&Path=::330::3040

Sat Oct 25, 2008 9:35 am

The bigger question is can it be trusted? After all, it's the bay window forum. :wink: JK!

Interesting. If it works as advertized it'd be good in a camper.

Sat Oct 25, 2008 9:55 am

localboy wrote: The bigger question is can it be trusted? After all, it's the bay window forum. :wink: JK!

Interesting. If it works as advertized it'd be good in a camper.

Or, to replace the factory foam.

Sat Oct 25, 2008 10:49 am

The problem with this stuff is it can squeak as you're rolling it down the road and the metal moves against it. Also, if the panel it's behind ever rusts, you have a lot of tearing apart to do because you'll have to get it out before you can weld unless you want a smouldering fire inside.

Sat Oct 25, 2008 10:59 am

Hey, you can carve and shape it, and paint right over it.
Great for Bay buses.

Sat Oct 25, 2008 11:07 am

Russ Wolfe wrote: Hey, you can carve and shape it, and paint right over it.
Great for Bay buses.

:lol: Cold...but funny.

IF I ever restore my Westy, I'll probably just stick w/ the plastic bubble wrap stuff. Cheap, functional, doesn't absorb H2O and can easily be removed if need be.

Sat Oct 25, 2008 1:26 pm

localboy wrote: ...
IF I ever restore my Westy, I'll probably just stick w/ the plastic bubble wrap stuff. Cheap, functional, doesn't absorb H2O and can easily be removed if need be.
Agreed!

Sat Oct 25, 2008 2:50 pm

what i've always thought would be a great product, yet have never seen, would be a combination of rust-killer and expanding foam.