Managing heat is one of those subjects that people tend to overlook until they are out on the trail sweating bullets and wondering if a part of their rig is going to burn up, blow off, or break down-and once faced with this situation, attempting to control excessive thermal energy is a lost cause. The fault in this scenario typically boils down to a lack of preparation, motivation, or anticipation.
With our long-standing Teal Brute project, our oversight was the latter. We never thought to address the matter of excess heat created by the 5.7L Hemi V-8 we swapped in ... that is, until we had to deal with 120-plus-degree weather in Southern California's Death Valley one unforgettable summer afternoon. Somewhere between the lack of A/C (not working at the time) and the fact that ambient underhood air temperatures were capable of popping corn, we realized that we needed to address a few issues related to engine cooling, exhaust shielding, and thermal evacuation. The extreme heat generated by our V-8 was radiating into everything from floorboards to frame-rails, and as a result, the whole rig was fast becoming a furnace for occupants. It wasn't just a matter of discomfort, either; the high temps were actually damaging wires, burning the underside of our carpet kit and cooking the newly installed Rhino Lining. Yes, Teal Brute was in a state of meltdown. So we got to looking at what could be done to help dissipate our carbeque. We discovered a whole assortment of products designed specifically to prevent these troubles and we decided to take action. Follow along now as we resolve Teal's front burner issue-once and for all.
When addressing heat-related problems, an infrared laser thermometer like the one shown here is a very handy tool. We found this little unit at a local hardware store for under $40. Notice our Hemi engine is lacking a fan shroud? We planned to have a custom shroud built to fit our application. However, upon further investigation we've decided to swap out the beltdriven fan in favor of an electric fan with a built-in shroud. With electric fans you gain extra horsepower and mileage thanks to less engine load. We'll cover that in a future segment, but for now just keep in mind that a fan shroud is vital to proper engine cooling.
With underhood temps close...
With underhood temps close to 230 degrees, we were desperate to rid Teal's engine compartment of heat. We discovered a company called Race Ace that builds these trick RunCool Hood Louvers to help vent warmth away from the engine bay. We like these vents because they are easy to install and they come powdercoated with clean-looking stainless steel pop-rivet fasteners. Our good friends at Train's 4x4 and Off Road of Salinas, California, made quick work of the installation.
This shot shows how DC Customs...
This shot shows how DC Customs of Ukiah, California, wrapped Teal's Magnaflow muffler with the Thermo-Tec muffler heat shield. Essentially, this cut-to-fit blanket clamps around the muffler or cat to help trap heat inside. Once installed, it was painted with a generous coating of Thermo-Tec's Hi-Heat black spray paint.
Here you can see the clamp-on...
Here you can see the clamp-on heat shield as it was installed on Teal's Magnaflow high-flowing Universal Spun Catalytic Converter to insulate it from the floor of the Jeep.