MGA MGA question - floorboard and firewall question

[tdskip]

Hi folks,

What is behind the wood floor board material that sits on the slanted/vertical upper firewall section under the pedals / passenger foot well?

Do those two remaining wood panels actually serve as the firewall between the foot well and the engine compartment or is there metal behind the floorboards?

I ask since a couple of the screws as stuck and I think I'll need to removed the board first then the screws.

Thanks!

 

[billspohn]

No metal, just plywood.

 

[tdskip]

Thanks Bill!

 

[ronzet]

tdskip,

I, too, have been restoring an A. Upon examination of my original floorboards I have noted the 'heat through' areas on the front floorboard as well as the area above the exhaust pipe. I am considering using a coating that may be a bit more heat resistant than the original painted wood. So far I have not been able to find anything that will suit the purpose. I will be using a thermal blanket under the carpeting but that will not address the outside areas...

The Austin Healy uses fiber shields on the firewall and above the mufflers that work well but are too thick to use with the A....

Any suggestions LBC fans????

 

[DrEntropy]

Drat! I can't find th' link! Nunyas and (I think) Stewart have used a non-porous insulating material on their cars. Hopefully one of 'em will see this and post the site link. I'll spur th' process... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

 

[ronzet]

DrEntropy,

Thanks...

I was thinking that I could get some sheet metal and cut to fit on the wooden floorboards, then paint flat black... none would be the wiser...

What cha' thimk... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

[DrEntropy]

Re: MGA question - floorboard and firewall questio

I think an insulative "blanket" material would be better. Metal against the wood would (eww!) not do much in the way of either heat insulation or moisture (read: condensation/ROT) dissipation.

 

[ronzet]

Re: MGA question - floorboard and firewall questio

Dr. Entropy,

Sooo, OK... I didn't think of that.... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif

Beside, the original floorboards lasted 50 years.. Once replaced they will outlive me and I get to be the LATE DPO... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif

 

[DrEntropy]

Re: MGA question - floorboard and firewall questio

Think: "Comfort!" You could fry an EGG down there. Rob will be along shortly with the info, certes.

 

[Nunyas]

Re: MGA question - floorboard and firewall questio

sorry... still at work here, so I apologize for the delayed response.

I used a product from https://www.SecondSkinAudio.com called "Damplifier" for insulating and damping the floor boards of my B. The stuff weighs slightly less than 1lb/sqft. 21 sqft was enough to cover my B from fire wall to the back of the floor board and tranny tunnel, with enough left over to apply some to the "package shelf" and to the rear bulkhead. The material is non-tar based so it doesn't smell and it with stands heat very well. It has a thick foil backing to help with the heat insulation. It's also what I would call a "peal and stick" application. However, the glue they used is unique, in that you can pull it up and reposition it if you don't like the first position. The glue gets stronger over time and pressure. Once the glue cures its in there permanently.

It works very effectively in damping road noise and isolating my feet from the heat that radiates from my catalytic converter (directly beneath the driver's feet).

At less than half the cost of "Dyna-mat" I highly recommend this stuff to anyone that wants to add a bit of floor board insulation and road noise damping.

 

[apbos]

Re: MGA question - floorboard and firewall questio

I'll be using https://www.wrisco.com/nualum.htm Nu-alum on my floors and firewalls of my '49 Triumph Roadster. It is used in the sign industry, and therefore used outdoors. I have a sign shop next door to my office and have the material ready to go. I'll paint the edge with Por 15 and it should last! If you see a large road-sign on the highway in Ca this is the type of material they use. It should out last longer than most of the other wood in the car.


Paul

 

[billspohn]

Re: MGA question - floorboard and firewall questio

I'd use plywood of the right grade - heavy duty. Installed correctly the wood should last years if you paint it first.

I added some metal strapping for the seats to mount through - haven't been a fan of seats bolted through wood since my race car MGA had the seat and floor rip out on a short oval track about 35 years ago.

You can also get some nice thin modern heat reflective material to position over the exhaust pipe to prevent any possibility of burn-through.

I do not like alloy floors although I do use them on the race car. Much too hot plus you set yourself up for galvanic action between the alloy and steel of the frame - and don't say you'll use sealer - that flooring HAS to contact steel somewhere, even if it is only at the bolts.

 

[Nunyas]

Re: MGA question - floorboard and firewall questio

https://www.SecondskinAudio.com has ceramic based firewall coatings ( https://www.secondskinaudio.com/viewproduct.php?id_product=312#tab3 )that you can use to coat the underside of the floorboard and firewall before painting it black/body color. Using this on the "outside" along with the Damplifier I mentioned earlier on the inside is probably the most effective way to insulate your feet from radiated exhaust heat.

If and when I get around to stripping my B down for a respray, I'll be coating the underside of the floor boards, firewall, and tranny tunnel with this stuff, and then laying in a layer of Damplifier in the passenger compartment.