[Drkannant]

Thanks Mr. Fintail for your response,

Actually there is significant reduction in the heat radiating into the cabin after the insulation. I was told excessive heat onto the bonnet also takes it's toll on the bonnet paint over a period of time and the bonnet insulation gives some amount of protection.

Thanks for your suggestion regarding paint protection.

[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

Originally Posted by Drkannant

There is significant reduction in the heat radiating into the cabin after the insulation.

Dear Dr.Kannan - hello after a long time. Although the insulation will provide you relief from the engine compartment temperature, this change ruins the underbonnet appearance. I have also done such insulation in all my restored cars but it is from the inside of the car below the dashboard and not from the bonnet area. In the interest of underbonnet appearance, I would request you to relocate this insulation material. Also, there is absolutely no need to put anything below the bonnet, the paint will not get affected.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[manishalive]

Originally Posted by Drkannant

There was some excessive heat radiating into the cabin and onto to the bonnet. Got the heat insulation material stuck to the bonnet and to the fire wall from the koyas.

Good thing but not the right way. Originally the insulation was on the inside of the cabin, a thick coir kind of mat, coated on top with a hard rubber for durability and appearance. For the the bonnet it was only a pitch kind of coating. See the pictures as below (Sorry for bad quality, but as of now this is what I have)

Engine Bay - Original no Insulation



Firewall picture from the cabin - if you look carefully the black thing in background is insulation. You can also see the original fuse box as well as the filter screen for fresh air inlet.



The good solution is to use dynamat, but is costly. These kind of mats are used by many and is a regular scene on discovery turbo restorations.

Originally Posted by FINTAIL

So, get rid of the insulation. Unoriginal, and needless, atleast to me.

On the engine bay is definitely not good but removing completely is not the solution.

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

I have also done such insulation in all my restored cars but it is from the inside of the car below the dashboard and not from the bonnet area.

Very correct Sirji, your suggestions are always good.

[Drkannant]

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

Dear Dr.Kannan - hello after a long time. Although the insulation will provide you relief from the engine compartment temperature, this change ruins the underbonnet appearance. I have also done such insulation in all my restored cars but it is from the inside of the car below the dashboard and not from the bonnet area. In the interest of underbonnet appearance, I would request you to relocate this insulation material. Also, there is absolutely no need to put anything below the bonnet, the paint will not get affected.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

Hi Behram Sir,

So good to hear from you, how are you doing?

Sir as you said I have retained the original insulation that came with the car under the dash board. It was a coir kind of a material. I removed it while restoration preserved it till I got the upholstery work, cleaned it thoroughly and got it fixed back under the dashboard. In fact I have also cut out a thermal cooler sheet exactly as per the original insulation and got it placed under the dashboard. Above this I got the floor carpet.

Now the problem in removing this insulation from the engine bay side will damage the paint work in the engine bay. It is actually pasted onto the under bonnet and the firewall area

So what do you say sir, just leave it as it is for now?

[FINTAIL]

Originally Posted by Drkannant

just leave it as it is for now?

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Leave it as it is. Atleast for now.

[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

Originally Posted by Drkannant

Removing this insulation from the engine bay side will damage the paint work in the engine bay. It is actually pasted onto the under bonnet and the firewall area. So what do you say, just leave it as it is for now?

Dear Dr.Kannan - ask Koyas what they have used to stick the insulation in the engine compartment. If they say it is something called "bostik" and show you a green box with some sticky substance inside, then it can be removed by using a solvent like petrol or kerosene.

What you need from the inside below the carpet is a single piece insulation, precision cut to match the contours of the body and the wheel arches, held by M6*1.0 size bolts and nuts from the engine compartment side. See the photograph of MRY3112, you can see the small bolt heads in the holes in the firewall. These holes originally used to locate the rubber buttons for mounting the original insulation from the inside.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[Drkannant]

What you need from the inside below the carpet is a single piece insulation, precision cut to match the contours of the body and the wheel arches, held by M6*1.0 size bolts and nuts from the engine compartment side. See the photograph of MRY3112, you can see the small bolt heads in the holes in the firewall. These holes originally used to locate the rubber buttons for mounting the original insulation from the inside.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

Hi Behram Sir,

The insulation from inside is exactly as you say. It starts from below the air vent box that comes inside cabin below the dashboard, in fact it's fixed with the same bolts that hold the vent box from inside. It goes all the way upto the wiper motor inside. It takes the contour of the body inside. It goes around the base of the wiper motor and you get a small wooden block of the same thickness as the insulation, onto which the wiper motor is fixed with bolts that pass all the way through the body and is tightened from the engine bay. The insulation is fixed with few bolts from inside on the top.

I will try to post few pictures for your approval.

Next time when I go to Koyas I'll try to find out what paste they used to fix the insulation.

I was stupid for having not consulted you before doing this insulation.

Thanks & regards.

[Drkannant]

Hi everybody.

It's been a long time since there was any update on my Millecento. Nothing much happened since the last update. Have been taking her out for regular weekend drives and she has been doing great.

Yesterday I participated in the "Nilgiris Vintage and Classic Car Association" car show held at Ooty. It's about 130 km drive from my place of which, nearly 75 km is up the ghats. The car just did great up the hills.

Won the "Best Maintained Car Award in the Fiat Category" in the show. This is the 2nd award in succession, last year won the "Best Restored Car Award". I wanted to share the happiness with my fellow BHPians as they were instrumental in me achieving these awards.

I want thank one and all for all the support, help and advice when i needed them the most.

I will post pictures of the show and prize distribution at a later stage as I need to work on them to be uploaded here.

Thank you once again from the bottom of my heart mates!

Regards

Dr. Kannan

[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

Dear Dr.Kannan - congratulations, this is what makes the whole thing worth it!

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[FINTAIL]

Originally Posted by Drkannant

Dr. Kannan

Hearty congrats; but was shocked to know that:

The Club has a seperate category for FIATs?

I wonder why.

[kasli]

Originally Posted by FINTAIL

Hearty congrats; but was shocked to know that:



The Club has a seperate category for FIATs?



I wonder why.

Anyone covered the event and some snaps

[Drkannant]

Thank you Mr. Behram sir, Mr. Fintail and mr. Kasli,

As there were more cars from fiat, probably that made the organizers to recognize fiat separately, I am not sure but I have no complains at all Mr. Fintail

The event was covered by local TV channels and there was an article on the event the next day in The Hindu & TOI.
I have posted some pictures of the event. Will try to post the prize distribution pictures once I get the pictures from the organizers.

The chief guest was Mr. M. S. Gugan, from AVM FILM PRODUCTIONS and he is one the founder member of the Madras Heritage Motoring Club, who owns about 30 vintage cars. In fact he had brought 3 of his cars of which one won the trophy in overall category. The judges were from Madras Heritage motoring club.

Oops I am sorry, I am not able to upload more pictures from my IPad . Will try again later !

[Drkannant]

Hi guys

Here is the picture from the prize distribution ceremony of the 9th " Nilgiris Vintage & Classic Car Association " held at Hotel Monarch in Ooty last month, in which my 1955 Fiat Millecento won the " Best Maintained Car Award ".

This is the 2nd award in succession ! Hope to make it a hatrick next year !

[Drkannant]

Picture of my RED LADY with her Merits & Awards !

[Drkannant]

Words can't describe how I felt when I read the news that Behram sir was no more ..

I was at my hospital in my department busy with my patients, got few minutes to have a cup of coffee, thought will just check my whatsapp messages, there was this new friend of mine who had called me regarding some restoration enquires few days back, saying that ..
" Sir, I thought I would let you know about one person called Mr. Behram Dhabar, who passed away this morning at Pune while on his way to work. I don't know who he is, but when I was going through your Fiat Millecento restoration thread on TBHP, saw the importance and respect you had for him, so thought of letting you know the sad news "

It took few minutes for me to believe what I just read, so frantically called him to know from where he got the news. He said through some Fiat friends of his.

There I was, just sitting in my consulting room in the hospital staring blank at the walls, yet to digest what I just heard.
Just the previous night was thinking about talking to Behram sir the next day regarding few doubts about my Millecento. Thought of calling him during the his lunch hours as I normally do when I need to talk to him. Now who would I call ..

He was gem of a person, kind hearted, tough when it comes to anything about cars, who always had time for everyone and would patiently clear all your doubts and queries. To me, Behram sir, you were my guiding light during Fiat restoration.

I Was very fortunate to meet him about 2 years ago when I was in Mumbai for a conference. He Invited me to his home, introduced me to his family. I had some excellent Parsi food at his house along with his wife. Talked for about 2 hours sitting in his dinning table regarding my Fiat Millecentos restoration. He surprised me by giving me a Fiat engine tappet cover, which he had personally gone to the chor bazaar and got it for me. I asked how did he know that I needed that, he said he had read my thread on TBHP where I had mentioned that I was looking for one, and he refused to take any money for it. That was his kind of concern he had for people whom he knew. Now that engine cover is one thing I will cherish having it my whole life. He promised me that he would visit Coimbatore and check on my car. Now that would be an un fulfilled dream for me.

Dear Behram sir you will be missed dearly. I am sure there would not be another person who could match you or make up for your loss. I am sure you are in a better place looking over me and my Millecento, and checking out on TBHP as usual as ever.
You will be in my thoughts and prayers every time I drive my Fiat Millecento.

My heartfelt deep condolences to your family.

THE ANGELS LOOKED DOWN FROM HEAVEN ONE NIGHT
THEY SEARCHED FOR MILES AFAR,
AND DEEP WITHIN THE DISTANCE
THEY COULD SEE A SHINING STAR.

THEY KNEW THAT VERY INSTANT
THAT THE STAR WAS THEIRS TO GAIN,
SO THEY TOOK YOU UP TO HEAVEN
FOREVER TO REMAIN.

LOOK DOWN ON US FROM HEAVEN
KEEP US FREE FROM HURT AND PAIN,
YOU'll ALWAYS BE WITHIN MY HEART
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN.

RIP BEHRAM SIR !
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