Anyone know whats under this? Is it a heat shield? (1 Viewer)

[teleskier]

I am stripping the asphalt out of the drivers side and passenger side floorpans today on my 1980 using a blowtorch and scraper. When I moved over to the cowl side I saw some black sticky stuff oozing out under this plate of steel. It is right next to the bellhousing tunnel and backside of the engine.

Anyone know if this is some sort of heat shield and what may be under it? Bunch of tar insulation?

 

[tjhaga]

There is fiberglass type insulation underneath with tar sealer along the edges

 

[teleskier]

That explains why the tar sealer melted around the edges when I was heating the floor pan. Thanks