[DEAD]Project Turtle: 1993 Toyota Tercel/56K=FAIL

**rdholtz** · 07-15-2009, 12:02 PM

There are some pretty good foam tape selections at home centers, and maybe hardware stores. Wide strips go in best because they allow more control. Try to find the stuff used by the originator of the idea -- it seems to have worked for him. The weatherstripping tape is thicker and softer; his looked thinner and firmer, so it's probably less likely to tear and degrade.

If you want an interesting project, get some of the urethane insulating foam -- Tuff Stuff is a brand, I think. Make a box the shape of your glovebox, but smaller, so there's a half-inch (13mm) gap between the box and the glovebox. Reinforce the box so it'll retain its shape under the pressure of the foam; filling it with layers of corrugated board or -- even better -- styrofoam works well. Cover it with Saran Wrap or something that will release. Spray some of the foam into the bottom of the glovebox, and set your liner in at the right depth, and fill around the sides; don't fill all the way, because that stuff expands a bunch. Just be sure it comes up to the top (if it doesn't, you can backfill later). Let it cure, pull -- or cut away -- the liner, and trim the excess foam. Bingo: you have a sealed, insulated container with an open top. The foam cuts nicely with a knife, so you can make openings as necessary for fan and switch and whatever else you need.

One thing to be careful about is that the glovebox maintains its outer shape. If the foam pushes the sides out, it won't go back in the dash.

I'd experiment on something first. But be ready with your glovebox before you do the test. Once you start using the foam, you'll likely have to use it up that day or it will cure in the tube.

**freeflashstuff** · 07-15-2009, 12:07 PM

As HiJack keeps telling me, I'm probably overthinking this, but adapting a styrofoam cooler to the glovebox might work a lot better than the weatherstripping.

EDIT: RDholtz's idea works too, except I can't buy TuffStuff because you have to be 18 in NM because some stupid people ruined Sharpies and epoxy and spray paint, etc.

**HiJackZX1** · 07-15-2009, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by freeflashstuff

As HiJack keeps telling me, I'm probably overthinking this, but adapting a styrofoam cooler to the glovebox might work a lot better than the weatherstripping.

EDIT: RDholtz's idea works too, except I can't buy TuffStuff because you have to be 18 in NM because some stupid people ruined Sharpies and epoxy and spray paint, etc.

When i said that I meant when it came to your CarPC, your actually on the right track with the fridge idea. This gave me an idea, which is over kill, but my car literally has 2 air conditioning systems, the front has one, then the rear has its own dedicated A/C. It sits in one of the rear side panels. I am wondering if I can tap into the coolant lines and add a radiator type thing to them to some air tight case. If not I can be lazy and just buy a cooler with built in cooler and have it plugged in, but molded to the interior.

**freeflashstuff** · 07-15-2009, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by rdholtz

If you want an interesting project, get some of the urethane insulating foam -- Tuff Stuff is a brand, I think. Make a box the shape of your glovebox, but smaller, so there's a half-inch (13mm) gap between the box and the glovebox. Reinforce the box so it'll retain its shape under the pressure of the foam; filling it with layers of corrugated board or -- even better -- styrofoam works well. Cover it with Saran Wrap or something that will release. Spray some of the foam into the bottom of the glovebox, and set your liner in at the right depth, and fill around the sides; don't fill all the way, because that stuff expands a bunch. Just be sure it comes up to the top (if it doesn't, you can backfill later). Let it cure, pull -- or cut away -- the liner, and trim the excess foam. Bingo: you have a sealed, insulated container with an open top. The foam cuts nicely with a knife, so you can make openings as necessary for fan and switch and whatever else you need.

One thing to be careful about is that the glovebox maintains its outer shape. If the foam pushes the sides out, it won't go back in the dash.

I'd experiment on something first. But be ready with your glovebox before you do the test. Once you start using the foam, you'll likely have to use it up that day or it will cure in the tube.

Originally Posted by freeflashstuff

...adapting a styrofoam cooler to the glovebox might work a lot better than the weatherstripping.

Originally Posted by HiJackZX1

...your actually on the right track with the fridge idea.

I have my new plan for the mini-fridge! I am going with a combination of the above. May be slightly overkill, but... I'm using RDHoltz's idea of using the Tuff Stuff, but styrofoam on top of the Tuff Stuff to further insulate the glove box.

**rdholtz** · 07-15-2009, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by freeflashstuff

I have my new plan for the mini-fridge! I am going with a combination of the above. May be slightly overkill, but... I'm using RDHoltz's idea of using the Tuff Stuff, but styrofoam on top of the Tuff Stuff to further insulate the glove box.

That should be pretty nice: build your styrofoam to the right shape, glue it together, and then add a very thin layer of the foam to adhere the styrofoam to the glovebox and fill the voids.

It would probably be good to be sure the styrofoam joints are well sealed, or the foam will try to flow inside the styrofoam liner.

And I'd bet you should still brace the insides of the styrofoam, or the Tuff Stuff will bow the sides in.

**freeflashstuff** · 07-15-2009, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by rdholtz

That should be pretty nice: build your styrofoam to the right shape, glue it together, and then add a very thin layer of the foam to adhere the styrofoam to the glovebox and fill the voids.

It would probably be good to be sure the styrofoam joints are well sealed, or the foam will try to flow inside the styrofoam liner.

And I'd bet you should still brace the insides of the styrofoam, or the Tuff Stuff will bow the sides in.

Agreed. Brace the insides until it's dry, anyway...

**rdholtz** · 07-15-2009, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by freeflashstuff

Agreed. Brace the insides until it's dry, anyway...

Yeah, when you try to use it, the braces get in the way. . .

**freeflashstuff** · 07-15-2009, 06:50 PM

Would it be safe to paint the *foams once it's all dry? Spray paint? Cause I've heard things about chemicals from the paint leaking into whatever is in there, but I wanna be sure.

**Xygar** · 07-15-2009, 07:23 PM

I don't know about the kind of foam you're planning on using, but I've heard spray paint has bad side affects on some foams (eg styrofoam... which it more or less eats through). So if you plan on using spray paint, I'd for sure try it on a small test piece first , or get someone's opinion who is more intelligent than I

I'd imagine other types of paint would be more suitable (though perhaps more difficult to work with?)

**rdholtz** · 07-15-2009, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by freeflashstuff

Would it be safe to paint the *foams once it's all dry? Spray paint? Cause I've heard things about chemicals from the paint leaking into whatever is in there, but I wanna be sure.

Krylon Fusion is a well-accepted plastic paint, and I don't think it will have any negative effect on urethane, which is what I believe Tuff Stuff is. You might look it up online and see if they have painting recommendations. In fact, I think Tuff Stuff suggests a paint coat if it's going to be in the sun, because it isn't very UV-resistant.