Dash heat... A Different Approach

[0860silverado]

Hello everyone. I, like many of you with a windshield/roof/rear panel setup, have been struggling with dash heat through the shifter slots and seat heat. I've seen several innovative solutions on this forum to solve these issues that are very effective, and I'd like to offer my solutions. For the seat heat I ran a continous sheet of automotive double sided foil heat shield from the front of the seat frame to the top of the frame for the seat back with the only openings being tiny slits for the seat belts and locating pegs/hooks for the seat bottom. Works wonders! Great! Problem solved. Then I was going to mod my dash using one of several ideas I saw on this site and then I had an idea... The crux of the problem is caused by a low pressure condition created in the cab at speed causing radiator heat to be, not blown in, but sucked in through the shifter slots and steering column. So I figured... All I gotta do is overcome the pressure of the radiator- heated air and get some ambient temperature air coming through those slots. So I came up with this...

 

[Admin]

 

[0860silverado]

Hello everyone. I, like many of you with a windshield/roof/rear panel setup, have been struggling with dash heat through the shifter slots and seat heat. I've seen several innovative solutions on this forum to solve these issues that are very effective, and I'd like to offer my solutions. For the seat heat I ran a continous sheet of automotive double sided foil heat shield from the front of the seat frame to the top of the frame for the seat back with the only openings being tiny slits for the seat belts and locating pegs/hooks for the seat bottom. Works wonders! Great! Problem solved. Then I was going to mod my dash using one of several ideas I saw on this site and then I had an idea... The crux of the problem is caused by a low pressure condition created in the cab at speed causing radiator heat to be, not blown in, but sucked in through the shifter slots and steering column. So I figured... All I gotta do is overcome the pressure of the radiator heated air and get some ambient temperature air coming through those slots. So I came up with this...

View attachment 48754

It's an automotive grille material that I fitted. Works unbelievebly well!!! If you'd like to try this experiment, it's easy. Prepare a 2"x4" that's about six inches long. Just carry it with you for now. Get your machine good and hot to create the condition (five minutes of hard riding then stop and let 'er idle for five more. Now she's breathing hard and everything under the hood is hot. Accelerate to 40-50-60 MPH. Feels like 3 blowdryers in yer face eh? Now remove your center hood section and put it back on...but without hooking the two front tabs. Go ahead and latch your cam lock thingys near the cowl. Now lift the front of your hood, take your 2"x4" and wedge it longitudally between your hood and where your hood normally closes. Accelerate to 40-50-60 MPH. You'll notice it completely goes from heated air to ambient air (which actually feels cool when you're sweating!) And I ordered some dash vents for my "death certificate" panel. In the summer I'll have the hood grille insert installed allowing ambient air to blast through my vents and in the winter, simply remove and store the hood grille insert and let mother nature suck up that radiator heat. Hope this helps someone!!!

 

[0860silverado]

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[0860silverado]

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View attachment 48755

I blacked out my under hood because I'm one of those guys lol...

 

[0860silverado]

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[0860silverado]

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[0860silverado]

As a side benefit, in my opinion, it adds a sinister look!!!

 

[0860silverado]

I guess I should show detailed pics lol!!!

 

[0860silverado]

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[0860silverado]

Cardboard template. (the hardest part!!!)

 

[0860silverado]

Awwww... Lemme rotate...

 

[0860silverado]

What da... Stand by.

 

[0860silverado]

Duuuudes...

 

[BeerMonkey]

looks like you got yourself a turbo rzr hood.. Looks pretty kick ass even if it doesnt end up helping

 

[BeerMonkey]

Now get you a light strip in there to back light it and you will fit right in.

 

[moparornocar]

That's pretty innovative, I've never been bothered by the dash heat, the seat heat is my only complaint, and in my location it's only a problem 2 months out of the year. We just pull the front doors and the seat heat is gone. The rest of the time it's welcomed.

 

[0860silverado]

looks like you got yourself a turbo rzr hood.. Looks pretty kick ass even if it doesnt end up helping

Oh it helps! I tested the final setup this morning. It COMPLETELY replaces heated air with ambient temp air! And for the first time, I noticed Honda's feeble attempt at blocking that heat. The ram air effect from the hood grille blew some kinda inner tube looking piece of rubber sheet up against the inside of the dash. I saw it through the slots. Never knew that piece was there. That thing is useless.

 

[BeerMonkey]

That's pretty innovative, I've never been bothered by the dash heat, the seat heat is my only complaint, and in my location it's only a problem 2 months out of the year. We just pull the front doors and the seat heat is gone. The rest of the time it's welcomed.

Dash heat is what bothers me the most. i have plans to cut out some dynomat or sunshade material in the shape of my firewall inside the cab. then just attach it with Velcro for the the summer.

 

[ghost]

Good idea. Watch your air intake - might be more vulnerable to water splashing in there.

 

[0860silverado]

Good idea. Watch your air intake - might be more vulnerable to water splashing in there.

Yeah. I thought of that too but as vunerable as the intake hole is from the factory, (behind a spinning fan?) I think water would enter there first. I'm soon gonna snorkle it right out of the primary filter between the cab and bed. I may have to service the filter a little more often from dust but it beats the alternative. When I read of other users having up to 2 quarts of water sloshing around in the lowest part of their intake pipe that did it for me. That's an engine failure waiting to happen. No way to ride 10 or 15 years and never ever get water in that bowl. One day that pipe is gonna develop a split or a puncture or a wear-through from a clamp or something and boom. It's over. Thanks!