Question for the intelligentsia:
My rear window seal failed on my Subie-swapped car, and I've noticed the firewall gets really warm. There's no backpad (yet), but there is a layer of sound deadening on the inside. No engine compartment pad, either. I can feel the heat radiating off the firewall. I haven't taken the temp, but I'd guess it's 120-130 degrees. Perfect for those 90+ degree summer days. The fresh air fan is not installed (yet) either, and my ice-powered swamp cooler contraption just can't compete.
Driving home yesterday, I noticed the window glass was actually warm to the touch and thought perhaps the heat is causing the butyl seal to soften and the weight of the glass pulls itself off.
I recently put the stock air flaps underneath in the hope that they would draw more cooling air through. No discernable difference.
Anyone else getting that kind of heat from their engine compartment? Would the engine compartment pad help? How do others get the heat to flow out?
Thanks,
Tom