What year is yours?  An earlier model?  My '87 Westy has no such problem.
It does have some exterior insulation and interior insulation and carpeting.
There is no practical way to redirect hot air from exiting the rear of the
radiator, except for a well-insulated firewall/ foot well.
   If you want to hear about a 'hot' engine/ transmission hump, ask one of
those guys driving in a military Hum-Vee over in Iraq.  That thing is base
model (unlike the luxo-barges sold to silly-villians here) and the
insulation is minimal.   That son-of-a-b**** will cook your leg 'til the
meat falls off the bone!

Mike B.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Diehr" <md03@XOCHI.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2008 7:11 PM
Subject: Re: Hot Foot Mods -- what's the best?

Trip report -- just took a 2000 mile trip after doing Chris' hot foot
pipe insulation mod, up the 395 this last week.   It was a good test
-- 105 degrees in Reno.

Results -- nada.   Floor area around the auto trany shifter was 140
degrees while driving.   It's possible that's a few degrees lower than
before, but it's still blazing hot and was uncomfortable.

Reading bently on the issue is funny.   The last paragraph of their
hot foot mod is basically "if this doesn't work, tell the customer to
open the floor vents"  :-)

I think the main problem with the hot foot is simple -- hot air from
the radiator is bathing the sheet metal.   The only way to stop it is
going to be to fully insulate and/or redirect the air flow?

-mike

On Aug 11, 2008, at 6:49 PM, Chris S wrote:

> http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b7/misterpolak/WBX_transplant/HotFootFix.jpg
>
> I spent a total of $11 on my pipe insulation.  I haven't driven the  Westy
> to
> see what the difference is, but I imagine the floor will be a bit  cooler
> without the pipes contacting it directly.  The hot air blasting from  the
> radiator is another matter.
>
> By the way, the insulation will address "Hot Foot" for passengers  more so
> than drivers.  It should also make a difference in the floor  temperature
> between the seats and by the shifter.  So over all less heat is  better in
> the Southeast.
>
>
> Chris.
>
> 2008/8/10 Michael Diehr <md03@xochi.com>
>
>> Re: hot-foot mods to avoid heat seepage through the body on hot days
>>
>> I've seen described:
>> * extra valve to fully shut off the front heater water
>> * pipe insulation on the coolant pipes under the van
>> * insulating material on the sheet metal downwind from the radiator
>> (either inside or outside)
>>  or above the automatic transmission
>>
>> Any advice on which is the best benefit/cost ratio?
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Chris S.
> "Jeszcze Polska Nie Zgin�a"