Smells like burnt fiber - what to do?

Dear listers,
My '58 US spec replica is almost finished (sorry, still didn't have time to take new photos), thank God. I drove the car a few times and an old problem is still there ... it's always smelling like burnt fiber. It's not as intense as it was before, when the mechanic had removed the engine bay temporarily because it was broken. Now, it's back there and fixed but I can still sense a strong smell.
Is this normal?
And if it's normal, is there any way to minimize this? I remember seeing in this forum a photo of an engine compartment that seemed to have some sort of aluminum looking material on the compartment walls. Is there any material that avoids this smells without creating extra heating problems in the compartment?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Best regards.
Miguel Caldeira Proenca
Lisboa - Portugal
m.caldeira.proenca@mail.telepac.pt

Like burnt fiberglass? Maybe you need to make some metal heat shields to reflect exhaust heat off the fiberglass body? Are there places where exhaust/heater boxes are close to the fiberglass? Assume you have a stock cooled VW engine? I've always wondered if the fiberglass cooling shouds might emit an odor at least for awhile.

Wolfgang,
Thanks for your reply.
Yes, it's a stock cooled vw engine.
From what I could understand from those questions, the real heat comes out the exhaust/heater boxes, is this correct?
I'll try to shoot some photos tomorrow and place them here. I think there is a part that isolates the upper area of the engine from the exhaust (sorry about the ignorance in mechanics, but my mechanic has the equivalent problem with the english language ... :) ), I don't know if it's called the engine bay. This part is made of fiber. Could this be a reason? And if so, what solutions could I find?
Thanks. Best regards.
Miguel

I'm attaching the engine photos I promised yesterday. The fiberglass tray that 'seals' the engine compartment can be seen clearly from above and below.
Does anyone know how to solve the problem? Wolfgang?
Thanks in advance.
Best regards.
Miguel

Burnt fiberglass you should be able to locate. Does your exhaust run close or even touch any fiberglass? It would have to be real close as my muffler is about 1/4 inch away from the fiberglass body and they is no melting or burning on my car.

Your exhaust looks like its either new or repainted...could you be smelling that curing or burning?

Are you smelling this while driving the car? Is it coming out of the heaters or just an overall smell of burning fiberglass?

Brian

May I also add that in the 2nd photo it looks as though there's some sort of tailpipes installed over the stockers. Could it be the smell of the fiberglass lining in the tailpipes burning?

Hi Brian, How are you?
The smell is not of burning fiber, it's more like cooking fiber :-)
Yes, that's the way to put it. After running a very short distance, even when I'm stoped at a redlight, I sense a smell that isn't normal in an engine and seems close to plastic.
The smell is not as intense as it was before, because my mechanic had removed the fiber tray that seals the engine compartment to repair it. He told me this tray avoided a turbulence of hot air inside the compartment that had problems getting because of too much air coming from below. In fact, after installing the tray back in place, the smell reduced, but it's still clearly there.
It shouldn't be from the new exhaust, I think. Yes, it's new and it was painted with the W

Ricardo, thanks for your reply.
Yes, you're right. The original tailpipes (the ones that are inside) are thinner. I ordered a set of exhaust tips fo the original sport muffler and my mechanic put them there with a metal ring to tighten them up. It doesn't look very good, but it's the only solution I found until now to have an 'original' look. I would prefer an exhaust with the original 356 pipes, going to the sides, instead the sport muffler look. Do you know any source where to get this?
Now, regarding the muffler and it's present condition, I'll ask my mechanic to remove the larger tailpipes and I'll see if the smell continues.
Thanks for your time.
Best regards.
Miguel

I sent you an e-mail Miguel as I'm thinking of going to Portugal this fall...

Brian

Miguel,
Are you sure it's not "Sardinhas Assadas"? That's been a known "cheirinho" coming from a Portuguese Speedster (O:
Abraco

A good time to remind everyone about fire extinguishers. A nice 5lb bottle fits great against the fire wall behind the gas tank under the boot. Nice and snug along with eletrical tape and some bailing wire. Just in case.

It could be that the pipes are curing but glass smells like glass. I put reflective pads on the side that keep the heat off the engine bay area. This discolors the paint over time. You may think about getting some for the area above the pipes on the car underneath. Could help you dissipate the heat.

Ol

Hi Mike, Thanks for your reply.
I remembered seeing another car with the engine compartment looking as good as yours, but I couldn't remember who it was.
The reflective pad you're talking about is the material that you use to cover the whole engine compartment, as seen on the photo? What material is that? And how do you apply it?
Thanks for your time.
Best regards.
Miguel

I really can't tell if the engine sealing peaces are doing their job correctly - 1st one looks like its out of alignment by 1/2-3/4 inch but that wouldn't give burning smell just not proper cooling. All those new parts and the paint are probably what you are smelling. It should burn off and nice light rust form in month or so. Do get a good sized white fire extinguisher for safety though.

It's reflective pads that are used in home heating. You can buy a small roll at Home Depot. Screw them with small stainless screws that have small stainless washers. Almost makes them invisible on the pad. Reflects the heat and spreads it out a bit. And it looks good too.

Hi Mike,
Oooh ... that's reflective pads; we call it aluminum paper.
Please tell me; isn't there any kind of more permanent solution that has the same efect? is there anything on the market for this?
Thanks for your time.
Best regards.
Miguel

actually it is a pad about 1 inch thick that has an aluminium reflector on it. We used this on fire walls of hot rods. Big Camaros and FireChickens that we were hopping up in the early years. It forms quite well around corners. On the back I put it on and made a metal plate and cut 1 inch holes to give it a cool look.

Mike, the last pad you're talking about is the black one on the rear that has the holes, right? I'll try to find something like this to cover the engine compartment.
Thanks a lot.
Best regards.
Miguel Caldeira Proenca
Lisboa - Portugal
m.caldeira.proenca@mail.telepac.pt

I had the same smell when I took my car for its first ride. I think it might be the clutch wearing in.

Al Baran

Yeah the plate in the back is autobody sheet metal. I went to an autobody shop and bought a 4x8 sheet. Way too much but that's how they sold it. Made a paper (cardboard) template and traced this on the metal.

Cut the metal to size and used a 1 inch, (2.54 cm) drill and cut holes to be able to see the alu color. I also painted it black because I like that in the engine area and a car that spits oil sometimes as these do, black stays clean best.

But the reflect pads do the job. Especially the paint exterior from getting too hot.

Cheers

Thanks Mike :)

Al, Sorry for not replying. No, I don't think so, since the car has the same clutch it had when I bought it, long time ago.
By the way, I diverted my attention to the post I sent to the General section and this episode could additional data to explain the smell. I'll repeat a part of the post. Maybe someone has some ideas after reading this.
When I bought the car 4 years ago, I don't remember sensing this smell. Before the car was restored, there was one day when I was driving a bit harder and just before the curve, I shifted down 1 gear, but it jumped to neutral, and then pressed on the accelerator hard. The pipes that come out the engine shroud came loose and the car drove some miles in this condition. The engine was breathing hot air for a while, hhmm?
After this I never stopped sensing the smell and I also started having problems with the idle point, but these were the only effects that resulted from this episode, since it never lost performance. The idle problem was solved recently, it seems the carb needed to be tuned, but the smell was never solved.
Could this be related?
All the best.
Miguel