Bonnet liners came about in the late '60s and early '70s to deal with noise pollution regulations, primarily to suit the US requirements. Cars for decades before that had no liners and equally hot running engines. There is no truth to the story that the insulation is to prevent heat damage to the bonnet or paint.

 

I would suggest using primer if you want to paint it. It's just too easy a step to avoid.

 

Do you run your car without a liner? I always wondered if it was a myth, but I don't know anyone that has a XJS without the liner.

 

My experience is with early Corvettes and other 60s and 70s V8 powered sports cars. The same myth exists on those cars about the sudden appearance of liners to stop the paint from burning. No truth to it.

 

Before it gets to the "fire-smothering" BS - let me cut it off at the pass:

<< the factory hood liner IS NOT intended to smother and put out a fire - that is a complete myth, totally false. The stock liner will burn like dry tinder! It's not designed to fall down on top of the engine to smother a fire. If a car ever burns that way and is fully engulfed and involved in flames there's no way you're going to salvage it! Car engineers around the world put the hood insulation liner there strictly for noise suppression and somewhat for paint protection. That misconception about the liner smothering an engine fire is TOTALLY FALSE, yet it keeps popping up in car forums all over the internet. >>

 

Tbirddmnd, do you own a Jag?

 

Hi, not yet but I'd like one though! For 2-doors I'm leaning towards the later XJS or the early to mid 2000s XK8/XKR, and I'd like one in maroon, a coupe not a convertible and with a manual. For 4 doors I like the XJ-8 also in maroon, from around the late 1990s to mid 2000s.

Might be a while until I get one as I have quite a few obligations to take care of, namely mortgage and school tuition for my girls! I own a 1997 Lincoln Mark VIII LSC.

 

Well, the bonnet liner project is on hold until the spring. We seem to have hit an early winter, and I don't see the temps coming up to anywhere near what they have to be to paint the bonnet on the inside. The good side of this is that it's much easier to work in things at the front end (cold air inlets, for example) with the bonnet off.

So, thanks for the help and suggestions! On to cold air inlets!

John