[Brexit !]

A while ago whilst chatting at 124Spider.Org Apex Oversteer announced he was going to fit a NEW PTP turbo Blanket to his New "124 Abarth", Arthur said, "So am I, but I,m going DIY whilst I thought....SILA and we can all review our efforts for the boys...so we did..... We wanted to reduce engine bay heat, concentrate power to within the turbo, retain heat so reduce lag and save our paintwork, electrics, plastics and components from an early pit stop.........Original Heat shield not required with Turbo Blanket (optional). Turbo Blankets are Non Flammable, however will retain oil/fuel spillage so be carefull.

ApexOversteer....USA based. PTP Pulverised Volcanic Lava Rock turned into woven fabric weave outer,FULL details at PTP website. Cost $159.95. Fibreglass version $134.95. Fitting..........easy enough, however edges were a prickly metallic wire mesh, leaving small cuts to his fingers. Testing....a long drive out he noticed a slight smell of" Hot Rocks in a cedar Bath" dry acrid affair but hardly noticeable. Happy with purchase .

Arthur....UK based. DIY kit purchased from "Demon Tweeks" UK at £60.00. Fibreglass blanket which he templated, cut and fitted and following three 10 mile trips slight smell has gone. Happy with purchase. Photo's in What Did you do section......P132-6 area. (Couldn't transfer)

Brexit !....UK based. SILA Titanium from Madness Autoworks at $149.99, the Fibreglass version $129.99 . Ordered 22/04, dispatched 06/05, Imported so delayed delivery and help in Customs Heathrow (Langley) 07/05-22/05. Received 28/05/20 today ! Customs charge £34.61, Post office "handling charge" £8.00.....£153.73 total. Materials...Titanium so very light, strong and durable, inner Calcium Magnesium and Silcowool with High Temp Silca fabric .
Fitting...........Some 15 minutes or so however I did High Temp spray the Turbo Bracket yesterday. Testing.....A Long drive at up to 90 mph (on private road) , twisties and long straights, car felt more "alive" anyway after long lockdown away from testing it..No smells and upon return open bonnet immediately ..still no smell but smoke trace from under turbo blanket. Happy with purchase except for extra charges as no UK suppliers.

 

[boddle88]

Looking smart. Add me to the PTP (non lava) camp. I have been very impressed. Cant believe how cool the airbox and intake are even after a spirited drive in 25c heat.

 

[Bob T]

PTP Lava here. Easy to install, appears to work, looks good.



@Brexit !
I note that you used the original tall bolt in the rearmost hole, near the brand tag.
I replaced that with another washer, and a shorter, button head bolt.
Probably doesn't matter, but looks a little better.

 

[ApexOversteer]

Sure makes the fuel-stop oil check a lot nicer to deal with!

 

[Brexit !]

Sure makes the fuel-stop oil check a lot nicer to deal with!

I should have added ...Arthur owns a Lusso whilst I a Classica....looking back at the photos the PTP blanket seems to cover the front area better and I don't think the Abarth turbo frontage differs much to the Lusso or Classica version. Also, my engine was also very cool on return, that alone is worth the outlay, Cheers
ron

Looking smart. Add me to the PTP (non lava) camp. I have been very impressed. Cant believe how cool the airbox and intake are even after a spirited drive in 25c heat.

Yes, Good Point...Upon return home and opening the bonnet IT WAS COOL in the engine bay A FIRST. Usually on my twisties ride out of 10 mile its like a furnace on return home and makes me wonder what a 300 mile trip up to Liverpool would be like under the bonnet...Jesus ! Now after an hours hard driving it still seems normal. I went Titanium because I have worked with the stuff on Aircraft engine exhaust systems, never a failure of course, the Lava Rock is a new concept to me whilst Fibreglass mix didn't appeal much, however....it seems that they all work well, just Customs and importing for those out of the USA makes you consider cost against DIY............Cheers
ron

 

[Cruise42]

Thanks for this writeup. I've been considering a turbo blanket and this answers many of my questions.

 

[Brexit !]

Thanks for this writeup. I've been considering a turbo blanket and this answers many of my questions.

Exactly the Member that we are aiming this at, Like "Apex", "Arthur" and myself....why have one, how much and which one, customs, shipping, fitting, using.....The longer term turbo blanket members like Bob T giving a thumps up, or down..also important as a contribution I read from "CDPOND" a while ago....suggesting USED was NOT a good idea and the reason why, hard shaped, brittle so not likely to mould to a second HOT turbo.
So glad you said that..Thank you from all three of us. Cheers
ron

 

[CDPond]

Another PTP fan here. My install wasn't as easy, but that's because the earlier kits they sold didn't include the proper fittings for installation, so I had to go out to the local shops and obtain a few stainless steel washers to do the job. Aside from that, painless and straight forward installation. No cuts, but I wear mechanic's gloves when I work on things. Very happy with the performance. As noted by others, very minimal odour during first half hour or so of driving and then nothing. No smoke during burn-in/cure process. I'd have no hesitation to buy it again if I had another vehicle that needed it.

 

[Brexit !]

PTP Lava here. Easy to install, appears to work, looks good.



@Brexit !
I note that you used the original tall bolt in the rearmost hole, near the brand tag.
I replaced that with another washer, and a shorter, button head bolt.
Probably doesn't matter, but looks a little better.

Looking back again at your engine Bob I saw the writing below.......You are correct of course, so found a washer and swapped out for shorter length bolt. Cheers
ron

 

[ApexOversteer]

Thanks for this writeup. I've been considering a turbo blanket and this answers many of my questions.

In my opinion, given the advantages in cooler underhood temps (longer life to plastics and electronics, potentially faster spool-up) and the lack of disadvantages, makes the blanket one of the three must-have mods for the 124 Spider, especially if you drive in a spirited manner; GFB DV+, Oil Catch Can and Turbo Blanket. None of them add power, each of them either add life to parts or prevent issues down the road by improving upon a mediocre stock part.

After that, you can decide if you want/need more engine performance and start looking at intakes, exhausts, tunes, etc, with your engine bay optimized to take full advantage of any performance mods you perform.

 

[Calehedron]

I don't want to take this too off topic, but I am in the process of working with PTP on some more heat management solutions for this car.

Currently, I am exploring a turbo manifold blanket along with maybe a Cat-Less downpipe and crosspipe blanket with flange covers. Normally you have to be in TX to do this development work but since my car is in 1000s of pieces at the moment, I have the ability to ship the parts to them for fitment.

Will update my "Going All In!" thread with details as I get them.

 

[Brexit !]

I don't want to take this too off topic, but I am in the process of working with PTP on some more heat management solutions for this car.

Currently, I am exploring a turbo manifold blanket along with maybe a Cat-Less downpipe and crosspipe blanket with flange covers. Normally you have to be in TX to do this development work but since my car is in 1000s of pieces at the moment, I have the ability to ship the parts to them for fitment.

Will update my "Going All In!" thread with details as I get them.

I don't think it's off topic really.all good stuff if further development improve our driving experience. Having now completed a second drive out over a very different route this morning my final thought is....should I be buying / fitting a turbo blanket again I think I would also go PTP (just written in What did you do...section P143) One final thought here though as well as P143 and "Brexit Mods" thread....turbo HEAT, we know why we are fitting a TB and how it assists in retaining heat, quicker spool up so improve turbo and save our engine bay paint and electrics over time, however, in the old days we used to let the engine run on after a long run for a minute or so to allow turbo oil to cool, more recently many car Salesmen say No Need with modern turbo design, however again....because we are retaining heat through fitting a turbo blanket I say....let your turbo run on for that minute. Cheers
ron

 

[frankmar]

PTP blanket was recomended over SILA and don't regret it. Guys, when it comes to blanket, we Canadians(due to our cold weather) know better. 😎 😁

 

[depotdan]

I originally purchased the Sila fiberglass blanket in red. I changed to the PTP Titanium blanket for 2 reasons. I didn’t like the salmon pink ( not red ) color and I like the better coverage of the PTP.

Dan

 

[boddle88]

I remain very impressed with the PTP

 

[frankmar]

Dan you missed a little red there(plate over the turbo blanket), I am very surprised that @Mike34 missed it, guys you're getting a little sloppy there. Hopefully you have some red paint left to correct this part.

 

[Brexit !]

I originally purchased the Sila fiberglass blanket in red. I changed to the PTP Titanium blanket for 2 reasons. I didn’t like the salmon pink ( not red ) color and I like the better coverage of the PTP.

View attachment 76739

Dan

Like the Very HighTemperature Matt Black paint Dan, we may have started a new craze between us there Mate with all these common red ones about !

 

[depotdan]

Dan you missed a little red there(plate over the turbo blanket), I am very surprised that @Mike34 missed it, guys you're getting a little sloppy there. Hopefully you have some red paint left to correct this part.

Frank....I made it black for contrast. The color scheme for my engine bay is red and black.

Dan

 

[Chipshot]

Dumb question: why wouldn't the factory install a turbo blanket or shield?

 

[CDPond]

Dumb question: why wouldn't the factory install a turbo blanket or shield?

Not a dumb question, but I may have a dumber answer. There is the OEM metal shield over it (marginally thicker than tinfoil), but IMHO, everything else would be directly related to bottom line profits. The same reason why they don't come with a catch can. Does any manufacturer sell vehicles with OEM turbos that include turbo blankets? I ask that because I truly don't know.