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Author: Subject: Fibreglass and heat
beaver34

posted on 20/2/12 at 10:40 PM Reply With Quote
Fibreglass and heat

How heat resistant is fibreglass?

I'm running a turbo not far from the bonnet, anyone have experiences of this what they combat heat with turbo blanket? Or reflective heat stuff on underside of bonnet?

Or cut a hole above the turbo and mesh it over

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daniel mason

posted on 20/2/12 at 10:44 PM Reply With Quote
id give it plenty of room. even sunlight on a hot day can mis-shape a bonnet






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beaver34

posted on 20/2/12 at 10:58 PM Reply With Quote
Haha,

Best do something about this then

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adithorp

posted on 21/2/12 at 08:54 AM Reply With Quote
The flash point is very high but it softens significantly earlier.

Some Fury's have set fire to the exhaust side pod/sill. As far as I know the exhausts in question were wrapped which keeps the gas temp higher. I also suspect they then had a crack blowing exhaust direct onto the GRP as Welderman on here had a hole/crack in his exhaust almost set fire to his side pod/sill.
I've heard of one that got road chipping collected in the sill, that retained enough heat exhaust to blister the GRP and seen another smoking after an "enthusiastic" run up the col du Turini, and a Pheonix bonnet (race weight) fold in half when being opened, after being left in the sun over lunch in Italy.

Heat proof mat and good ventilation are the best solution. In particular think about ventilation and air flow when stationary as thats when the temp really rises. My sill is open at both ends but got very hot when stopped. Opening up the bottom made a huge difference as then, fresh cool air came in the bottom as the hot rose and exited the ends, giving a through flow that didn't exist with just the open ends.





"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire

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matt_gsxr

posted on 21/2/12 at 09:58 AM Reply With Quote
Heatproof mat (CBS stuff is cheap and works well, get their adhesive too as you don't want to skimp on the glue).

I have a heatshield and mat on the underside of the bonnet. Before the heatproof mat the bonnet got to 95degC (measured with one of those IR heat things after only a gentle run). It is quite old so was flexible but didn't deform. Newer fibreglass starts to get wiffy at those temperatures.




Seems good now, although my aluminium heat shield (just shown at bottom) keeps breaking free of the manifold from vibration.

Matt

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pewe

posted on 21/2/12 at 10:23 AM Reply With Quote
My locost solution was to use a piece of fire resistant soffit board (kinda like asbestos board) attached to the ex. manifold by two of those big springy tool clips but standing off from it by packing them out with some of the board.
That stops the ex. heat rising directly onto the underside of the g/f bonnet.
Pics if you want them.
HTH.
Cheers, Pewe10

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b14wrc

posted on 21/2/12 at 12:30 PM Reply With Quote
Does depend on the resin you are using and if you have actually had it post cured also.....

Most 'GRP' tends to use polyester as the matrix. Polyester is at the bottom of the scale in terms of properties - but due to this, usually the laminate will be thicker to increase strength. Adding thickness and mass helps dissipate the heat better. You can buy flame retardant polyester and high heat versions, but if you wanted better over all performance I would move to a different matrix type. Cost does play a big part though....

Something i am working on at the moment for the locost is going to be made from Vinylester to improve the properties as mentioned above.

If you use as suggested a heat shield and give as much space as possible then i would expect your bonnet to be ok.

Rob





20vt powered rear engined locost

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beaver34

posted on 21/2/12 at 03:35 PM Reply With Quote
ill post a pic tonight of how it looks,

going to have to sort something anyway i want to keep away from wrapping or using a turbo blanked too if im honest as i dont think they are good in the long run

thanks

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DH2

posted on 21/2/12 at 04:13 PM Reply With Quote
Seen the pic - it's way close, you do need to do something about it, else you'll be having a melty car! (IMO)
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beaver34

posted on 21/2/12 at 06:08 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by matt_gsxr
Heatproof mat (CBS stuff is cheap and works well, get their adhesive too as you don't want to skimp on the glue).

I have a heatshield and mat on the underside of the bonnet. Before the heatproof mat the bonnet got to 95degC (measured with one of those IR heat things after only a gentle run). It is quite old so was flexible but didn't deform. Newer fibreglass starts to get wiffy at those temperatures.




Seems good now, although my aluminium heat shield (just shown at bottom) keeps breaking free of the manifold from vibration.

Matt


Matt have you a pic of the turbo and where it sits inline with the bodywork

thanks

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beaver34

posted on 21/2/12 at 06:10 PM Reply With Quote
here is what im up against, engine does not run yet but will in the next few weeks







bonnet on


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beaver34

posted on 21/2/12 at 06:14 PM Reply With Quote

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Macbeast

posted on 21/2/12 at 06:29 PM Reply With Quote
Interesting thing about fibreglass - when it gets hot enough it will burn, and once alight it's almost impossible to extinguish.





I'm addicted to brake fluid, but I can stop anytime.

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pewe

posted on 21/2/12 at 06:35 PM Reply With Quote
Wow, that's way too close for comfort!
Reckon you'd be better cutting a hole in the g/f around that area and putting a mesh bulge over the top.
Having run turbo tin-tops for years they really do throw out a huge amount of heat.
HTH.
Cheers, Pewe10

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tomgregory2000

posted on 21/2/12 at 07:13 PM Reply With Quote
i would cut a hole in the bonnet and mesh it

then alot of the heat will escape upwards

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beaver34

posted on 21/2/12 at 08:29 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by tomgregory2000
i would cut a hole in the bonnet and mesh it

then alot of the heat will escape upwards


i thought that, but ill see hoe much bonnet is left before i do that, the exhaust exits out of the bonnet too, and my inlet will poke out the other side

might aswell not run a bonnet and get some support to the nose like a hot rod

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Neville Jones

posted on 21/2/12 at 08:53 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Macbeast
Interesting thing about fibreglass - when it gets hot enough it will burn, and once alight it's almost impossible to extinguish.


And aint that the truth, from hard experience.

Carry an AFFF extinguisher as a necessity with that big turbo under the bonnet, if only to cool your feet.

The AFFF will knock down a poly resin fire on contact.

Cheers,
Nev.

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matt_gsxr

posted on 21/2/12 at 09:55 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by beaver34
quote:
Originally posted by matt_gsxr
Heatproof mat (CBS stuff is cheap and works well, get their adhesive too as you don't want to skimp on the glue).

I have a heatshield and mat on the underside of the bonnet. Before the heatproof mat the bonnet got to 95degC (measured with one of those IR heat things after only a gentle run). It is quite old so was flexible but didn't deform. Newer fibreglass starts to get wiffy at those temperatures.



Seems good now, although my aluminium heat shield (just shown at bottom) keeps breaking free of the manifold from vibration.

Matt


Matt have you a pic of the turbo and where it sits inline with the bodywork

thanks


bunch of photos here
https://picasaweb.google.com/104671818065472880232/Matt_gsxrPhoenix

Yours looks very close, when that turbo is glowing bright orange I think the bonnet will know about it.



I fitted an intercooler after these photos.

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beaver34

posted on 21/2/12 at 10:02 PM Reply With Quote
Thanks,

Think I'll look at getting some of the mating for the bonnet, it's not cheap for the very high temp stuff but it's better than a new bonnet or car

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