News:

This forum is run by RPM and donations from members.

It is the donations of the members that help offset the operating cost of the forum. The secondary benefit of being a contributing member is the ability to save big during RPM Holiday sales. For more information please check out this link: Membership has its privileges 

Thank you for your support of the all mighty FJ.

Main Menu

Is heat shield necessary for a fibreglass belly pan?

Started by Stainesy, June 12, 2013, 01:38:40 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

Stainesy

I recently obtained a fibreglass belly pan to replace the broken and cracked plastic belly pan on my 3XW.  I can understand why the plastic factory belly pans require heat shielding but I'm not convinced that a fibreglass belly pan requires it, so I would appreciate members thoughts on this matter. 

I've searched the forum and while there are one or two threads about heat shields, they refer to OEM belly pans.

Stainesy

Dan Filetti

I think I'd install it simply as a matte of course.  Why not?  It's cheap enough, and may serve other purposes such as vibration dampening -not sure.  If it were a hundreds of dollars decision I may take pause, but given that you can likely do it for, maybe $20, I don't think I'd not do it...

My $0.02

Dan
Live hardy, or go home. 

nurse

I had a caterham super 7 for a few years.  That was fibreglass and the manifold and block was less that an inch away in places, never had a problem! If your worried pop down your local breakers yard strip out some heatshirld from under the exhaust run loads of cars have it and cut to suit or look at something like made for purpose sheet material (I have used stuff from a company called zircotec in the past with great results).

Try these!

http://www.zircotec.com/page/heatshield_products/97
A life has been well lived, if you have planted trees under who's shade you do not expect to sit.

I'm told I'm cynical, pessimistic and generally miserable. I say that I'm realistic! The fact that reality sucks is not my fault!

FJmonkey

The heat shield pattern has been posted thanks to a member that offered it for a digital scan. http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=9407.0
The glass is not half full, it was engineered with a 2X safety factor.

'86 Ambulance - Bent frame, cracked case, due for an overhaul
'89 Stormy Blue - Suits my Dark Side

Stainesy

I also posted his question on the UK FJ/FJR forum and the general view seems to be that I might as well fit some heat shielding because it doesn't cost much and if the fibreglass belly pan or the new paint that it will be covered in is susceptible to heat or bubbling then it should be protected.  Prevention rather than cure.