The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Cab heat

When the truck is running - where does the majority of the heat in the cab come from? My cab is not too hot when I get in but gets hot after the engine gets hot. If it's the engine - what is the best way to insulate the firewall and floor? I have insulated the floor but have not found out how to get insulation up on the top of the firewall. I know there are pads available, but is there a difference between the soft one and hard plastic one?

Thanks

I used some stick on mat , with the jute pad and abs firewall pad

...pic...

Don't have any issues with engine heat

Thanks for the reply. Did you use any brand of stick on mat? And I see you used the hard plastic firewall cover and not the soft one. There seems to be about $100 difference and I wondered about the difference.

Thanks again

I used the thick abs pad due desert area I live in.
Not sure if its worth the extra cost, but it works great.

Dad,
Tried to send you a PM but your box is full.
My question is where did you get the nifty case hanging on your front seat?
Looks like it is a handy item.
Harold
PS.
Great looking kids!

Thanks for our comments I appreciate it


If your referring to this
...pic...

That's something a coworker turned me on to.
At a job I had once we drove utility trucks and carried a metal clip board for service orders and paper work.

I now use it for my thermos, coffee cup and small tools in the 50

We picked them up at a uniform supply place.
It didn't come with the canvas pocket drape. I added that later.

Try a uniform shop in your town.

Hope that helps

Thank you

I used the jute on the floor too, under the rubber mat

...pic...


The soft firewall pad may help and might be easier to installing an assembled truck.
Under dash work is no fun.

I'm about to purchase the firewall pad. What is the difference between the black rubber face and the abs? Will I be sorry if I used one and not the other?
Thank you

I didn't know what to expect but I used the ABS in my panel and it fit and turned out very well. I know the rubber is easy to work with but the ABS was easier to work with than what I had thought.

Hi Alvin. Thank you. Did you use any other insulation under the pad? I'm thinking of either the peal n stick from lowes hardware or the jute. I lean towards installing the peal n stick because it should cut back on noise and help lower the heat. I'll pick up the pad from the car and truck shop in Orange, CA. It's nice that the shop isn't to far away.

Thanks again to all

Dennis, I had painted most of the under dash with POR15. I did use the jute. Don't get in a hurry. Just take your time and you'll have a nice looking job.

...I also have asked the question if the rubber mat goes Under the ABS or lays over it. Seems to be debatable at the best. I tucked the top edge of the rubber mat under the lower edge of the ABS as I like it better that way. I also tucked the edges of the rubber mat under the metal strip that holds the lower cab windlace that goes against the door when it closes. Not sure how it came original but I like it tucked under as well. The only problem is you have to take the metal strip up to get to the battery if needed. No big deal, just do it your way!!

Thank you Alvin

Move up north.

If I was to do it again, I would insulate the roof of the cab. Hot summers and cold winters. The firewall is where most of the heat comes into the cab. The floor is where most of the noise comes in. With some of the good felt backed, foil covered stuff from a friends Hot Rod project(free, hard to beat that) and some fatigue mat, the cab is much more comfortable. The one thing left to think about, is the firewall hard cover. Hardboard/cardboard or ABS....dollars and time will tell. What is the best? I would guess, it will be a matter of opinion, and preference. Unless some one wants to measure, thermal efficiency, and take sound measurements. Along with moisture and durability tests.

Alvin,
The floor mat originally went over the firewall pad and over the lower windlace retainer.
The original mat had an approximately one inch border where it meets the firewall pad. Most of the reproduction mats lack this border.
I have a '50 which has the windlace retainers that screw into the side of the rocker panels (rather than the top like the later models), which allows for tucking the mat under it without having to take out any screws for battery or master cylinder maintenance.
Carl

I bought the ABS insulator. Do I need to drop or take out the steering column, or can the two supports be removed (or raised) to allow me to install the pad?

Oye! This is not an easy task

Thank you

Not sure,

It is not going to be easy on an assembled truck.
My cab was empty and I had to trial fit it a few times to mark for trimming and cut outs for my heater.

My pictures are not organized very well but if you look in this folder
...click...

You will see a few pics of the abs pad

I used some gasket hole punches to open up a few of the holes, if I remember right I had to trim the sides and a slot for the wires.

Hopefully yours will fit better.

Get some skinny kid to help you.

Thank you Dads50. Your advice and pictures are great.

In looking and measuring it would appear that either the steering column or top braces will need to be removed. I wished I would have, and would recommend, this being done when the cab is empty. I didn't have the money at the time. Oh well, move forward.

Again, thanks for all responses and pictures