Transmission Tunnel Heat

[robbz28]

Hi all, I have been a ZR1 owner for about 2 months now and have been enjoying my car thoroughly, have put 1000 miles on it with no major issues other than a vaccum leak that the PO didn't fix. Anyway I notice a good deal of heat coming up through the console from the transmission. I am going to assume that this is normal? Since the engine is so large and the area is so cramped there just isn't any good place for the heat to vent out? My right leg will actually get warm from the heat. My temp gauges all read normal. There are no noises or smells. It is a little harder to downshift it into 3rd than the other gears, but it's not what I would call "difficult" Feedback?

[scottfab]

You may have a crack or split or some sort of void in the rubber shifter boot. I once had one and the increase in heat was very noticeable.

[secondchance]

Often times when the transmission is dropped for service such as new clutch install, during the installation, if not done meticulously, rubber boot slips off the lip on the floor of the car. Passenger side can be slip on easily but not the driver side. Therefor, a lot of cars have driverside of the boot incorrectly secured to the floor allowing hot air to enter the cabin, especially while being driven with the windows open. Only way I have been able to correct this was, while the transmission is out, use a brake tool (looks like a bent flat head screw driver) to push the rubber boot edge from the bottom of the car until the edge slips over the lip on the floor. Alternative would be to pull the driver side seat, remove console, remove side panel and gain access to the edge from the top.
Installation of reflective Dynamat on the outside of the trans tunnel (while the transmission is out for service, also helped a lot.
Finally I can put a can of Coke in the drink holder, drive around and not end up with a warm Coke. Just don't try to shift into reverse while the Coke is in the drink holder.

[robbz28]

Ok...there is a small split in the boot. I will see if i can patch it up for the time being. I definately noticed its worse when the windows are down! I guess pulling all that air thru that hole. Anyway thanks for the info! Leads me to another question...how hard is it to change out the shifter to a short throw?

[scottfab]

Originally Posted by robbz28

Ok...there is a small split in the boot. I will see if i can patch it up for the time being. I definately noticed its worse when the windows are down! I guess pulling all that air thru that hole. Anyway thanks for the info! Leads me to another question...how hard is it to change out the shifter to a short throw?

I used the Curt White conversion for reducing throw.
I liked that it keeps the stock tall shifter. I didn't care
for the porsheet look of the short shift handles.
The only mod to the ZF6 is that you cut a 1/4 x 1/2 in
piece of metal off. It's a one day project.
You can also get a new boot for the shifter from him.

[scottfab]

Originally Posted by secondchance

snip......
Just don't try to shift into reverse while the Coke is in the drink holder.

That's the GM reduced soda intake option.

[robbz28]

Re

Originally Posted by scottfab

That's the GM reduced soda intake option.

Yeah...the PO must have done this a lot...the carpet beneath the seats and the area under the console was just frickin gross with coffee and soda yuck. It still smells like month old coffee in the car even though i cleaned everything as best as i could. I need some febreeze.or something!

[lakemeadzmonster]

I fixed mine with succsess by pulling console.