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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Footwell insulation, shiny side in or out

I just got some R-3 1/8" insulation, that has a thick foil bonded to a tight foam . The foam side is glued.

I want the carpet under my seats to be removable with the insulation

I was wondering if I should glue the carpet to the foam side and have the foil side facing the floor and tunnel?
It seems logical to face the shiny side towards the heat your trying to reflect. Every car I've seen has the foil up, am I missing something?

??Phil??


Phil Burke

Phil,

I installed our insulation foil side down, cut to fit each section, and secured the carpet with snap/studs in the corners.

Regards,

Larry C.
Larry C '69 Midget

Think about it, the foil is FOIL -- silver on both sides -- so it doesnt really matter.
Mick struggling with the wiring

From the reflective aspect, I don't think it matters, as Mick says.
But if your thought is to glue the insulation to the back of the carpet so that the foil "skin" is downwards, then I would expect the soft foil surface to get damaged and worn away by friction with the steel floors. It would only need a bit of grit or dirt to get under the carpets and the foil would quickly deteriorate.

The other aspect is that part of the sound deadening achieved is by bonding the material to the steel and therefore reducing drumming effect of the panels.
Guy

Normally you'd install the insulation with the shiny side to the hot surface, to reflect radiation from the hot surface back.

But sticking the shiny side to the hot surface negates that effect to an extent, by heating it up to the temperature of the surface. (Of course, shiny foil is a poor radiator, too.)

I'd ask the manufacturer.

A
Anthony Cutler

I presume the insulation is for sound deadening rather than thermal, so from a performance point of view it doesn't matter which way up it goes. However, as the floor of a midget can get get damp, eg when it rains, then best NOT to put the aluminium foil in contact with the metal to prevent electrolytic action and corrosion. You'd be amazed how quickly aluminium foil will deteriorate in such conditions. Perhaps it would be OK if there's a really good paint film to act as a separator but in my experience there's usually some surface corrosion on midget floors to start the reaction going.
Peter B

Im not sure it matters as I dont think the foil will help much.

Foil reflects radiant heat .. Not real heat, (for lack of a word)

Take this example..... wrap a patato in foil and bake it for an hour, then grab it with bare hands,,,, yepp 3rd degree burns,,, now grab a corner edge of the foil by its self not touching the patato,,,, nothing... no burns,,,,, just like the guys in space, as long as there foil suits arent touching there skin, its a good day in space, if the foil suits touch there skin, well you would have instant "human space fries"...probably not vary tastey

The heat is being transfered thur the foil from the patato...not radiant heat,,,,, use that same foil on a beach sun umbella, and you will be nice and cool, ... It because of the air space

So think of your car as a bake patato.... So to get the most heat reflect, make your soft top out of foil, and then you got some cooling effect.

But as long as the foil is makimg direct comtact with a heat source, all its doing is transfering the heat to you un-apindix thur the foil from the heat source un-less it has a air space between the heat source and the foil.



Prop
Prop

This thread was discussed on 14/06/2011

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