I'm thinking of jazzing up the inside of the engine compartment on my XJS V12. It comes to no surprise that the stuff lining the inside of the hood isn't looking to good after 25 years.

In thinking about replacing it, it makes me wonder what the purpose of the lining is. I'm sure it's not to help keep the engine warm :-), so is it there to just help quiet the engine?

What is it made of?

If I just removed it, would there be adverse results other than a noise increase?

Thanks,

John
1987 XJS V12, 62,000 miles

 

I would imagine it has insulating properties as well; to protect the paint from the engine's prodigious heat output.

Replace it with a new one.

 

It is used to keep the paint from getting heat damaged.

I bought mine from Aircraft firewall material hood liner insulation pad for Mustang, Corvette, Jaguar, many other cars: ORDER YOUR HOODLINER HERE!!

 

Very well...probably good advice, and Greg's link show's it's a pretty inexpensive thing to do.

Any idea how much the bonnet weighs? I take it I'll need an assistant...

John

 

What about guys restoring their cars? Can a new original bonnet insulater be acquired anywhere? Anyone? Bud

 

Part number is BDC7973. I do not think it is available new anymore. You will have to hunt down an NOS part.

 

eBay item number 200834564679

 

I would recommend the product in the eBay listing.

You don't want to replace the bonnet liner with the original product. It's junk. It started to sag and would cut into my cruise control bellows over time...

I've been thrilled with the product in that listing, just make sure you buy the adhesive he specifies. (available at Home Depot, not Lowe's)

 

I have the one Greg mentioned.....



I'm really happy with it. I painted the various metal fixture pieces red originally but it looked cheesy, so I repainted them flat black. Looks better now I think.

I noticed when I had my original one off the car it was a bit noisier in the cabin, so as well as the hood paint protection I imagine the liner was also supposed to keep the engine noise down

 

I take it an assistant is needed to get the bonnet on/off?

John

 

Definitely.
Sadly the Conjurer's sort in tights won't work.

 

Yes, but it's only a 2 beer job :-)

I really, really wanted to do it without taking the hood off, but in the end I gave in. The hood is only held on by 4 bolts and the gas struts. On my 92 I had to remove the front grille (5 screws) to get to the bolts. Easy, it's just awkward and heavy.

Once it was off, I put a soft beach towel down on top of my hot tub cover then placed the hood with the inside side facing up. Because of the shape of the hood I could easily revolve the hood round as I worked. The added benefit was the hood got polished while I worked :-)

I drilled out the rivets on the 4 metal tabs that are on the edges of the hood. (The plaques with the vacuum diagrams on them, etc) This made it easier to get the hood liner in place. I riveted all the panels back on when I was finished. All in the job probably took me 3~4 hours work (plus the drying time of 24 hours)

 

My new hood liner should be showing up any day now. I'll report back with photos.

Thanks!

John

 

Thanks John! It was a pleasure helping you!

 

Ok, got the bonnet off and all the old lining off...now I feel the need to clean up the inside of it and paint it. If i clean it up with degreaser really well and let it dry, is there a reason to prime it (I'm talking about the parts that won't be covered by the new liner) before painting it?

Thanks!

 

Hi John - I don't think so but then again I'm not a paint specialist! There is no need to paint where my hoodliner will cover so you can save paint there. Maybe a "test-spraying" in a small area to see if the new paint will grab onto the current surface?

 

You're over complicating it.

I just hosed it down, dried it out and sprayed the adhesive on. That was probably two years ago. That liner has not moved.

Make sure you use the proper adhesive, and you'll be fine.

 

OK, I was under the impression you were wanting to paint it! Clean it up with a good degreaser of your choice - I use either Simple Green or the Orange Citrus ZEP from Home Depot. Since you have to go there to get the 3M #80 spray adhesive you might as well get some of that orange ZEP. Spray it all over the underhood, if you have a soft, gentle bristle brush you can use it to "scrub" it and either use a rag or paper towel to wipe it up or prop it up against a tree or the side of the garage and hose it down after you've scrubbed it. It WILL come clean! Then follow with the instructions - I scuff lightly with a fine grit sandpaper or sanding sponge so that the adhesive has something to "bite" onto.

 

Another great de-greaser is Spray Nine, this stuff is great at dissolving engine grease or any other oil or grease for that matter, it doesn't even require scrubbing, it turns grease or oil into the consistency of water it works so well.

 

What I'm going to paint is that part of the inside of the bonnet not covered by the hoodliner. Since I've got it off, might as well do the job right. It'd be a shame to open the bonnet up with the new hoodliner contrasting against the greasy, faded 25 year old paint with rust spots on the rest of the bonnet!

I've got it as clean as it's going to get without it going to a professions (which it's not...no cash for that), so now I need to come up with some "nimbus white" spray paint. I know it won't exactly match the outside of the car, but it'll be close enough. I see that Automotive Touchup, Spray Paint | Aerosol Touch Up | AutomotiveTouchup | 888-710-5192, has it for about $20 a can.

Should I prime it first, or just make sure it's as clean as I can get it and paint over what's there?

Thanks!

John