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MrPolak
Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2004
Posts: 1027
Location: AG ,atnaltA
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 Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 5:53 pm Post subject: Transmission tunnel insulation replacement - PICS |
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If your Westfalia is over 20 years of age, I recommend you have a look at the insulation above the transmission in the "transmission tunnel", for lack of better words.
You may find something like this:
That is a sagging mess of old, cracked backing and disintegrating foam which has lost much of its usefulness. When you pull it out it will look like this:
Next time you do a clutch or a job that requires for the trans or the engine to come out, you may want to consider to replace that mess with something a little more effective. I chose aluminized Refletix 25'' x 16' "bubble" insulation that comes in rolls.
After I pulled out the old insulation in pieces I put the puzzle back together to get a good idea of the size I needed to fit:
I used aluminium tape to seal the folds and to give it a finished look. I also cleaned the transmission tunnel area. It was remarkably clean with only some glue residue and minor dust.
When I finished it looked like this:
I also added a few patches of sound insulating material behind Reflectix. This should do a better job of keeping the heat from the transmission away from the passenger compartment, and do a decent job of suppressing the noise. |
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tencentlife
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 9654
Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
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1621
Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2006
Posts: 2174
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:13 pm Post subject: |
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Very nice work! I did something similar, but not quite as thorough as you. I had an additional sheet of Motor Mat Pro from a different project that I used. http://www.secondskinaudio.com/thermal-insulation/motor-mat-pro.php I simply took some measurements, trimmed to fit, and put it over the existing insulation. It tucks nicely under the wires holding the original stuff in place. It does make a bit of difference (not scientifically tested), and keeps things clean. Also, you don't need to remove the transaxle to put it in place.
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'85 Westy |
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MrPolak
Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2004
Posts: 1027
Location: AG ,atnaltA
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| Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 5:21 am Post subject: |
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Thanks!
The material is held up in place with original wires that clip into place - if you look at the "old" pictures you can see them.
I think the Second Skin material has better noise absorbing properties. If It were available to me I would have used it along with Reflectix.
FYI, I folded the Reflectix material in half and taped it for a thicker application. |
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the caveman
Samba Member
Joined: August 09, 2004
Posts: 885
Location: island state of Montreal
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| Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 10:40 am Post subject: |
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| Everyone should get rid of that foam. It holds water and rots metal behind it. |
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mediaguy99
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2011
Posts: 46
Location: Boulder, CO
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| Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 2:49 pm Post subject: "Everyone should get rid of that foam" |
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| Quote: |
| Everyone should get rid of that foam. It holds water and rots metal behind it. |
Which product are you talking about? |
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randywebb
Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2005
Posts: 3815
Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
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| Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 4:28 pm Post subject: |
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your pics are gone - can you repost them?
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans. |
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vanagonjr
Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2010
Posts: 2549
Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
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| Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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Hoping someone can provide some direction, or alternatives (especially since the pictures are gone). My engine and tranny are (still) out and I just noticed how bad my insulation looks.
I'd like to know what people have successfully used as options and how it was held in.
Thanks!
_________________
John - 86 Wolfsburg Westfalia "Weekender"
Flint reversed 1.8T W/Passat 5-Speed
LiMBO (late model bus club) www.limbobus.org
LiMBO is on Facebook too! https://www.facebook.com/groups/
FAQ thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798 |
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candyman
Samba Trout Slayer
Joined: December 20, 2003
Posts: 2435
Location: Missoula MT
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| Posted: Fri May 08, 2015 8:50 pm Post subject: |
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| vanagonjr wrote: |
Hoping someone can provide some direction, or alternatives (especially since the pictures are gone). My engine and tranny are (still) out and I just noticed how bad my insulation looks.
I'd like to know what people have successfully used as options and how it was held in.
Thanks! |
I have a set of the original wires that held the insulation in place. They are in great condition no rust. Pm me if you are interested in them |
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Gnarlodious 
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Joined: September 28, 2013
Posts: 1630
Location: Adobe Jungle USA
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GypsyDriver
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Joined: November 06, 2012
Posts: 190
Location: Columbus, GA
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Merian
Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014
Posts: 4876
Location: Orygun
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| Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 11:30 am Post subject: |
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there is a place that specializes in custom fab of heat and sound insulation panels - forget the name but they mostly do stuff for the Detroit hotrod market
worth a search - somebody could even ask for bulk pricing and do a resale
what does GoWesty do when they refurb a Van? |
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madmanvan
Samba Member
Joined: December 20, 2010
Posts: 139
Location: Louisville
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| Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2016 4:52 pm Post subject: Re: Transmission tunnel insulation replacement - PICS |
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What about not putting anything back? Is that nuts?
I'm doing the rattle trap INSIDE the van for noise reduction.
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Madmanvan
1967 Bus turned Westy
1985 Vanagon Weekender (SOLD)
1971 Super Beetle
2017 Golf AllTrack
2015 Golf TDI pollution machine (SOLD back to VW)
Current Build: '67 Kombi goes Westy
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8343416#8343416 |
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pbrown
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2008
Posts: 287
Location: Seattle, WA
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| Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2016 5:10 pm Post subject: Re: Transmission tunnel insulation replacement - PICS |
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How about this?
http://www.gowesty.com/product-details.php?v=&id=24371&type=
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Patrick Brown
1971 Squareback (sold)
1970 Porsche 914 (sold)
1986 Vanagon Syncro Poptop
2006 Jetta TDI
2015 Audi Q5 TDI |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 23590
Location: North West New Jersey
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Merian
Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014
Posts: 4876
Location: Orygun
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| Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2016 5:50 pm Post subject: Re: Transmission tunnel insulation replacement - PICS |
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| madmanvan wrote: |
What about not putting anything back? Is that nuts?
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not at all - it's in the back and there will be plenty of wind noise to drown it out 
the foil material above is mainly for heat |
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madmanvan
Samba Member
Joined: December 20, 2010
Posts: 139
Location: Louisville
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| Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 6:57 am Post subject: Re: Transmission tunnel insulation replacement - PICS |
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I'm going to call my style "zen": I'd like to delete anything that isn't 100% necessary. I can live with a little extra noise at the benefit of not having anything hold moisture against metal.
Same with the rear heater delete: the idea of coolant running into a relatively hidden spot in the van is nuts to me.
The front heater I guess I gotta have for defrost, but also doesn't seem as bad of a design - and I'll know sooner if it is leaking. The sweet smell of hot coolant.
The AC that a PO had begun to delete, I've finished and now my radiator area looks nice and tidy.
_________________
Madmanvan
1967 Bus turned Westy
1985 Vanagon Weekender (SOLD)
1971 Super Beetle
2017 Golf AllTrack
2015 Golf TDI pollution machine (SOLD back to VW)
Current Build: '67 Kombi goes Westy
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8343416#8343416 |
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