Transmission tunnel insulation

[Rainer S.]

I have an earlier(dec 20, 62 built) 63 coupe I am restoring. Its had never had any tunnel insulation installed.(No brackets riveted into body). When did GM start installing this insulation ? Will I loose judging points, if I install insulation ? I kind of like the idea, to have this insulation for heat barrier. Also, who sells the best repro ?

Rainer

[Mike M.]

Re: Transmission tunnel insulation

i had a 63 built in 2nd week of dec 62 that did not have tunnel insulation. best source for this is Paragon. doubt judges would catch you as its not an easy judge area. mike

[Loren L.]

The Tech Svc Bulletin says installation

began on Dec 1, 1962.

[Richard W.]

My SWC was built in the 3rd week in Dec...

and had the insulation at one time.

[Joe L.]

Re: Transmission tunnel insulation

Rainer-----

If it were me, I'd install the installation. GM did not add this to the cars because everything was perfectly fine without it. After GM added it in early 63, it remained in use right through the end of C3 production. Even more heat insulation was progressively added in years after 1963. Once again, it didn't get added because the cars didn't really need it.

You want the reproduction which has the aluminum foil covering all of the inner foam material. Some of these insulators, including those sold in SERVICE by GM for awhile, lack the aluminum foil on the very bottom edge of the insulator, where the inner foam core is exposed. You don't want this kind. It was never used in PRODUCTION for any C2 and, if it was ever used on C3s, it was not until the later versions and well after 1975.

The reproductions sold by Dr. Rebuild and Paragon are of the correct configuration.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Transmission tunnel insulation

I bought one a few years ago from GM. It was a Paragon piece. I had a good laugh on that one.

PH

[Mike M.]

Re: Transmission tunnel insulation

agree withn joe in that paragon's repr completly covers the foam. What the general should have done is insulate not only the tunnel but also the toe board areas of the floor-pan underside. C-2 are hot as hades as are the c-1s but not nearly as sweat-productive as the c-3's. on drivers, i install plastic traping air pocket insulation sheets wrapped in alum.foil that the street rodding community uses in their sleds. i install this on top of the floor pan underneath the carpets. much more comfortable ride. mike

[Ralph E.]

Re: Transmission tunnel insulation

Did C2 side pipe cars have tunnel insulation?

[Joe L.]

Re: Transmission tunnel insulation

Ralph-----

Yes, they did.

[Ralph E.]

Re: Transmission tunnel insulation *Thanks* *NM*

[Loren L.]

PS - having recited the date given by

the TSB, it would be my CONTENTION that that refers to the date that the boys started putting the retainers into THE FLOORS - Now all you have to figure out is how many floors did they already have on hand in December?
IF YOU'RE SURE that it was built in the first 2 weeks of December and it SHOWS NO SIGN OF THE RETAINERS, I would NOT add them - except for the heat protection benefits, of course.