engine and drivetrain Firewall insulation Question?

[Tiger75]

I am thinking about replacing mine but is it really neessary? Mine has a big hole in it that was burned when my exhaust manifold had a leak. The replacement part is $140 and is called Sound Insulation. I have insulated for sound on the inside. Can I just remove the old one and forget about it or is it needed for heat insulation?

Anybody running without it?

Has anybody replaced the fire wall insulation without removing the engine?

Do you slide it in from the bottom or the top?

[BLUNT]

go without it if youre not concerned about looking in there and seeing it. i would not spend 140 on it for my 69. i would if i were doing a resto. but not for a driver..besides, to do it correctly the motor and pedal box should be out.

[JackF]

I replaced mine in place. It was just so much fun;/ I had just replaced the floor pans etc inside and in an impetuous moment cut out all the factory wire. Removed the down pipe and fuel lines etc going through the firewall . Working from under with jackstands, on a creeper I fed the insulation over the trannie from the drivers side. I did cut the insulation where it surrrounds the brake booster. Gooped it back together with some Wurth product and it came out pretty good. Once you clean up the firewall penetrations, it is not a bad job, and it looks good. Do it! I don't want to be the only damned fool out here! It does look good with it in there. Besides, what else would you do with $140!

[Ian]

In your case I'd try painting it with SecondSkin's Firewall paint. It's a ceramic paint that is used to block primarily heat, but also sound. I'm going to paint it on my firewall (engine bay side) and transmission tunnel. In the engine bay I'm going to spray over it with body color to make it blend in. Seems like a reasonable product, you can check it out here:

http://www.secondskinaudio.com/thermal-acoustic-insulation/firewall.php

Ian

'76 M2