New carpet and sound deadening project

[n2nsanity]

I didn't plan on this, but I've yet again started another project without completing the 15 others I was already working on. I started this because it's a convenient time since the seats are already out being re-skinned.

I started out installing the seat skins I bought last year, but then couldn't help but to clean up the nasty old rusty frames why they were out. With the seats out, I realized how nasty the carpet was, so I ordered new carpet. With the carpet out, I thought this would be a good time to do some sound deadening. I always hated how noisy the car is inside. Things like talking on the cell phone or listening to music would be so much better if I could get rid of some of the road noise in the cabin. I keep digging myself deeper and deeper, but this is where I'm at now. Hopefully I find a few tricks that will be useful to someone else.

So, seats and carpet out.
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The foot area for driver and passenger side have a hollow chamber. I think this is where half of the noise comes from. I decided to try some "Great Stuff" expanding foam in these chambers.
There are a bunch of holes in the top covered with this black tar-like material. Some of them were broken already, but I tapped a few others. I think a hole in each of the 4 corners and one in the middle would be enough to fill it up.
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After doing this, there was a night and day difference of the echo when you tap on the floor. I think this one trick (which is also the cheapest and easiest) will be more effective than anything else I do, lol.

There are also 2 other small chambers where the seat rails mount to the floor. Filled these up fairly easily and I could immediately tell a difference in the sound here as well.
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I used some Stinger Roadkill mat instead of Dynamat, but I think the results will be similar. I also read that partial coverage (about 25%) is usually all you need. I went with more like 50% to be on the safe side and cover the larger areas. By this time, most of the foam was dry so I shaved off the excess with a razor. I also ground down and primered/painted a few mild rusty spots while I was here.
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So from what I've done so far, the Stinger mat seems to reduce vibration by about 25%, but the expanding foam seems more like 75%.
I used up 1 can on just the driver side. 2 or 3 cans should be plenty.

*Mental note to make a video later comparing sound of untreated passenger side vs this foam filled driver side.

[sergechronos]

The foam is a great trick that has helped me with other chassis before. I've always felt that the doors at a big issue for our cars because they're so big and empty. I recall a thread about it a while back where the guy said like 25-50% coverage with the dynamat and then topping with something else totally eliminated road noise there. Think it was like a closed cell foam or vinyl mat of some kind

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

[CoopKill]

I ended up doing 100% coverage with edead but for the doors. I have plans for them, but it seems most of the noise in mine still comes from the rear wheel well area. I may try the foam trick in that area to see.

[DrGonzo]

The doors need deadener on both the inside skin above and below the bar and a couple small pieces on the outer frame. Also adding some foam sheet to keep the noise out. Doors are solid now and you can hear it when you close them how solid they are. Here is my stereo thread that shows how I handled the noise issue. This is very effective and cheap.

http://www.3sgto.org/audio-video-sys...o-stealth.html

[n2nsanity]

Finished up the driver side...

Used one big piece here to cover that big hollow chamber.
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I was going to buy some carpet padding but thought I'd give this stuff a try. This was a garage mat, lol.
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[n2nsanity]

New carpet

The lighting was off on this one. The carpet is a dark black.
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Side view showing thickness
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Bottom side
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As you can see, the new carpet requires a good bit of trimming. It is somewhat molded to fit the floor, but not near as precise as the oem carpet. But, with the extra padding I'm adding, I think it should fit fine.



Old carpet

Bottom side
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Side view
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[n2nsanity]

Foaming up the passenger side. This stuff really expands, lol.
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Put some mat on the harness cover
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One big piece on the passenger side floorboard
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And passenger side is done and I'm pretty much ready for carpet
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[n2nsanity]

New carpet finally going in

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*Later on I realized I cut too low on the passenger side of the console.

I feel much better now that it's somewhat in the car. Past my bedtime... Hopefully I can finish this up tomorrow.

[n2nsanity]

Time for some semi-related distractions. Did this inside while it was storming outside.

Refurbishing the nasty old charcoal center console carpet pieces with black. Should match the carpet pretty well.
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These are glued on the front and stapled on the back.
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Old carpet off
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I used some loctite spray adhesive for the front and a hot glue gun instead of staples for the back side.
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I think they turned out really good
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[n2nsanity]

Driver side console trim in
Attachment 6486

Almost forgot to cut a hole for the power seat wire harness
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Driver seat in
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Better shot. Still need to reattach lower dash panel
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Passenger seat is in. It needs some tweaking, but I have to say, I really like it.
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I sorta rushed through towards the end. I need a different stapler if I want to use the plastic clips for securing the carpet to the threshold. For now I just tucked it under the door sills.

One useful trick I found out for cutting holes for bolts. Put bolts in the holes before installing the carpet. Makes it easier to find them and when you cut the holes, you won't end up with carpet or padding stuck in the threads.