Just wondering if it is safe to remove the hood insulation on my 85 T/A? Looks a little too dirty for my liking and just wondering what are some things that people do to clean it up better? Or just get rid of it completly?

 

Yes its safe .
I have been running without one for over 8 years with no adverse effects.

Their primary purpose is sound deadening so it might be a little louder but IMO not enough to keep me from taking it off. Nothing but a ugly dust magnet.

I would get rid of it completely.

 

You may have some issues under that insulation(surface rust,etc.)if your looking to replace it with a fresh one,Classic Industries Classic Industries | Restoration Parts | Mopar Parts | Camaro Parts | Firebird Parts | Nova Parts | Impala Parts | GM Truck Parts | Tri-Five Chevy Parts
has an inexpensive replacement for less than $30.00

 

Take off that nasty rag, and replace it ! ! The best $30. bucks you'll ever spend.

With the hood up, lay a sheet over the engine bay area, that way you can keep the crud out & easy clean up.
Pop out the retainer tabs, and remove the old insulation. The new insulation goes on easy with the new retainer tabs.

Rod

83ZZZ28

 

Mine's gone forever. I don't know if it would have kept the rain from dripping onto the alternator in case you need to open the hood during a rainy cruise, though.
That's what happened to me once. Just poured out of the air extractors on the hood.

motobooks had a very nice replacement in his 84, made from a decent material.
Perhaps ask him for more info

 

I run w/out it. I've always heard that it was made to put out fires under the hood though, not sound deadening-meaning the plastic studs were made to melt off dropping the mat onto the engine compartment. Don't know if that's true or not but yeah.

 

It was missing from my camaro when I bought it. I've had no problems in the 7-8k miles I've driven it.

 

This appears to be a flat, cut-to-shape sheet of fiberglass.

Or is it a properly molded, contoured piece, like the factory pad was? If so, I'll order one today.

 

Yes it contoured to fit like the original.It gives a nice clean look under the hood.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/post...04-post11.html

 

Ha, wow...thanks lol.

 

I guess I'll have to look at mine. But I thought our factory pads were more contoured. This looks very "flat" to my eye. The outline looks correct, but it appears to have been cut from a flat sheet, not molded like the OE piece..no topography, as it were.

 

I really don't remember if my old one was molded(you mean more finished around the edges)but for less than $30 it was well worth it.PS Classic has a discount going on now,I think it's 15%,use code GND-14 and save some more cash.

 

A nice new pad does look OK but the only way I would use one is if I had something to hide.

 

If anyone would reproduce the molded OEM hood insulation, I'd be in for at least a couple of them....

 

I hear what your saying,(something to hide)but when he takes that insulation down,he most likely will not like what he see's,faded dirty paint,surface rust etc.as I did. I had that all corrected when I had the car repainted.It is a cheap and clean alternative
Your hood looks great.