My '84 QV is getting a lot of heat from the radiator into the cabin. Does anyone know how heat was designed to be dissipated in these cars? Thank you
Thro the cabin by design ! Legendarily ovens altho the slats on later 308 bonnet helped - you might want to check the foam sealing above the radiator
Make sure you have proper foam in place to seal the radiator. Also, make sure the heater + ducts are closed.
This is pretty common for all 308, my 84 QV has the same issue, but I know there’s a fix for this, do a search.
There's a foam strip on the hood aft of the vent that seals off the tire well and there is a panel on the belly below the steering rack and battery. Make sure they are both there. Make sure the heater core valves are closing all the way.
There is a seal around where the AC duct punches up under the dash. It can perish, allowing hot air to blow out from under the dash - have a look. This is worse if the radiator seal isn't installed.
Actually, the heat comes out of the vent rides up the hood and windshield and into the car. If you place your hand there while driving, you can feel it. My dad (engineer by trade) had my 328 for a few months and figured this out in detail. He made a plastic deflector that fits inside the front groove and it makes a world of difference inside the cabin. I thought he was BS'ing when he explained all this to me until I drove in it and tried it for myself. It's just enough deflector to push the hot air over the cabin altogether. Craig
A lot of the heat my be from the center console where both the supply and return pipes run through the center oval structure support pipe. Kinda like the old style radiators in houses. Also, there is no insulation between the pipe and the center console.
I get heaps of heat blowing through the centre console in my 84 QV. Checking everything seems to be ok so still a mystery in my car
I put a louvered grill under the front of the car to let the hot air escape. It never came into the cabin. Image Unavailable, Please Login
This is the deflector, doesn't look like much but it makes a huge difference in cabin temps. Craig Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
It does! I was sure it was going to fly off the first time I drove it after he spent time making it but it stays snug in there. It kinda gets jammed under the gasket. Craig
We were also chasing cabin heat a while back. "Jonny Law" had an infrared camera and made some interesting photos regarding heat sources. Here is a link to the thread with the photos: https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/308-footwell-temperature-measurements-where-the-heat-comes-from.438007/ My car was missing the foam around the radiator and hood and I have been surprised at how much replacing it has helped reduce cabin heat. I need to get out my IR thermometer and compare my measurements from when I didn't have the foam in place.
So I did a DEI hood insulation in three pieces under the hood and in the back (not that it needed it) and NVX 80 mil Heat/sound deadened in the passenger compartment and XPEL Head shielded all the glass. Here are some before and after pics. did a desert run and was able to be comfortable at AC setting 1 whereas before it was marginal at 3. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Here’s the front hood with the foam installed. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login