In the recent episode of Roadkill with the '71 Ford wrecker the shifters are wrapped in what looks to be foam pipe insulation. As I thought about it, I've seen this done in several older trucks but never understood why. Noise control?
In the recent episode of Roadkill with the '71 Ford wrecker the shifters are wrapped in what looks to be foam pipe insulation. As I thought about it, I've seen this done in several older trucks but never understood why. Noise control?
With a top shift trans I imagine the shift lever would conduct a lot of heat from the gearbox.
I've driven several toploaders and never noticed much. I could be wrong though.
I know some old shifters used to vibrate quite a bit. The insulation would help suppress that. It also helps when you bang your knee against it. Jeez, how hot would your gearbox get on its worst day in service?
I've seen it done a few times, the only thing I can imagine is to protect people's knees when scooting across the seat. It wouldn't do anything for vibration or heat soak.
I used to have to sit in the middle of the bench seat in my Dad's soda truck. The padding made it easier on my legs since I was always in the way.
it's to keep the metal from banging up your knees. Try spending all day in a truck like that without your knees coming in contact with the shifter at least once
ncjay wrote: Jeez, how hot would your gearbox get on its worst day in service?
Yesterday the metal shaft on my Hurst shifter in the Mustang was so hot I couldn't keep my hand on it. That's normal in weather over 95F and it doesn't cool down much running the air.
But I doubt that's the motive on the bigger trucks.
I think it has something to do with NVH or knee protection. Wrapping the pipe in insulation would actually increase the heat transferred from the gearbox to the shift knob - think exhaust wrap for your shifter.
Used to have a fairly large diameter piece on the top bar of the frame on my Raleigh Grifter. Pretty sure it got put there to protect the family jewels. Shame they turned out to be baubles. 
I know in my 76 Pete cabin over, it was all of the above, noise, vibration, banging your knee, keeping out hot and cold air from that 3408 Cat plus it if you had the zip up cover on it that meant you had arrived....one of the elite mine was lime green, it's work mister and it demands the best.
If you are towing, sooner or later someone will have to sit with the shifter between their legs and padding is to save their knees.
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