TWS

iTrader: (63)

Hey,

My "heat blanket" on the underside of the hood is getting a little dirty/ratty looking and is proving impossible to clean (attempts just loosen the fibers and make it look worse).

I sincerely doubt that it is a necessary part to protect the hood's paint, as all of my fiberglassed hood cars ('95 Comp T/A, 2001 SS) have not had the blanket, but thought I would ask.

Any one done this? Any problems such as heat damage to your paint?

FWIW: I'm running the Hypertech 160 powerstat and fans are programmed to come on earlier than stock, so my engine never gets hot.

blown 346

iTrader: (25)

No problems here, I would take it off i have never had a problem with my 69 camaro and have had that off for years.

TWS

iTrader: (63)

Thanks! <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

Anyone else done it on a late-model with stock hood?

Constrictor 98TA

Its not there to protect your paint.

The purpose of the underhood blanket is in the event of an engine fire, the cheap plastic clips that hold it to your hood would melt and then drop the blanket on top of the engine with the theory that it would suffocate the fire and put it out.

I would just remove it if its starting to look ratty...besides, if your engine caught fire, your paint would be the last thing you should worry about! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Stuart S

You'll be fine. The 2002's didn't even come with them...I ordered a new one with a '98 part # and painted the bowtie silver before I put it in <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

TWS

iTrader: (63)

Cool. Tonight it will be history.

Thanks.

ApacheDrill

iTrader: (21)

It comes off easy and looks alot better, it is true that the newer one's dont even have them. The only problem i had was getting the exposed paint to match the un exposed paint <img border="0" alt="[bang head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" />

Graphite_WS6

iTrader: (1)

I took mine off after having the car painted. No problems after a year without it. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

TWS

iTrader: (63)

Guys, thanks for the feedback. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" /> The blanket is off the car. Now I have another problem: I need to get the underside of the hood painted. It looks as if the blanket was installed on the production line when the paint on the underside of the hood was still wet! There are marks in the paint everywhere matching the texture of the blanket. WTF GM ?! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" />

Typical GM: "if the average consumer won't look at that area of the car, we will leave it looking like *** to save a buck on production costs"

Anyway, just thought I'd let you know how it turned out.