StratfordShark

What's the actual function of the foam material which is crumbling away from my fuel rails under the plastic covers, and what is a good replacement?

Thanks

Bill Ball

You might think it's for insulation against heat, but it is too flimsy for that. The GTS rails only have foam at the top, molded into the plastic covers. So, more likely it's for sound dampening. Seems rather superfluous. I've had no foam on the rails for 50K miles.

NickT

Not had any on my '88 either for some years now. Not noticed anything different.

Randy V

I've heard that it was intended as a noise dampener.

Bill Ball

Louie reported that some custom fuel rails made from thick aluminum stock did cause him to have something like vapor lock. Not a problem with the stock rails.

Some people who miss the foam install the GTS rail covers.

bfellows

Try this:

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/374274-fuel-rail-sponge.html

and

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/svc_intake_9.jpg

StratfordShark

Thanks for enlightening replies. Given that most of the original foam has disintegrated I may follow you guys and not bother replacing it. But I have just found some pipe insulation that was lying around which I may use if it's not too thick to fit under the plastic covers. I have a hopeless ambition to get the car close to how it was when it left the factory, mechanically if not cosmetically!

Bill Ball

At one point I did the pipe insulation thing, cutting it to fit the openings in the rail and tie-wrapping it on. It works fine, but I eventually left it off after one one my adventures with the intake manifold. The car does not miss it at all.

ROG100

If you buy the fuel rail covers today that have superceded to the GTS style with the integral foam.
They are $47 each.

StratfordShark

That's very reasonable. I'll leave the foam off for now and treat the car when I next need to buy a bunch of parts.

Thanks for the price info.