Interior and Sound deadening Project

[JMcCoy]

So I decided to replace my 21 year old carpet with vinyl. No truck should have carpet to begin with. When I ripped the old carpet out, I was pleased how little rust there was. Almost none. What little there was I sanded and hit it with Por-15 as a precaution. This is when the project started to snowball. 10 boxes of Dynamat later...

 

[JMcCoy]

The pictures really dont do it justice. I put quite a bit more, but didn't get pictures of the final sound proofing.

Though expensive, I went with the Dynamat brand because of their positive reviews and reputation for being the best. It did not disappoint. It is very labor intensive to install correctly, working it in all the grooves woth a roller (and other blunt tools). You will bleed. I doubled the Dynamat on the floor pans and center tunnel.

While I was this far and had the rear panels off, I figured I would do the headliner. Do yourself a favor, and use the 3M headliner spray. The 3M Super Yellow is really good stuff, but is overkill for a healiner, costs a lot, and has a working window of approximately 3-7 minutes, not 4 - 30 minute times the can says. Maybe Florida humidity. I don't know. This sanding flap wheel (or whatever it's called) worked reall well. I just had to be very careful. You must get all the old foam off.

 

[JMcCoy]

I just had to wire in a new JL Audio sound system while I was in there. I replaced the stock 5 1/4 rear speakers with JL 6 1/2 coaxial speakers. I had to pad the speaker out about 3/8 of an inch so the magnet would not hit the outer skin of the truck. I then had to trim a lip off the inside of the plastic that covers the wall/speaker so the speaker wouldn't rub. I used tin snips and a porting bit to smooth it out. It was very easy. If I had just installed the set of Kenwood 6 1/2's, they would have just bolted up with no modifications. That's too easy for me. I went with a JL 5 channel 700 watt amplifier.

Next I installed the seats.

It's not the best picture, but if you look closely you can see the camouflage headliner.

 

[JMcCoy]

I had to make adapters so I could replace the 6x9 coaxial speakers with 6 1/2 inch component speakers.

Before the speakers went in, I put Dynamat on both the inner and outer door skins.

When it's done, the door will be sealed up (sort of) and act like a speaker box.

 

[JMcCoy]

I will get photos of the speakers and cross-overs installed shortly.

I took it for a test drive the other day. The difference is amazing. Mud tires and the diesel engine is extremely muffled. I have read where people say it doesn't make a difference. BS. They are either using the wrong product, or they are not putting in enough. It's so quiet, when you open the door or roll down the window, the diesel noise hits you. Now we are not talking Lexus quite, but very quiet for our trucks. I am super happy and would recommend it to anyone willing to spend the money (>$600 for the Dynamat) and do the work.

 

[JMcCoy]

I have not 100% decided where to place the tweeters. I'm open to suggestions. I plan on moving them around, once I get the driver door panel on. I haven't had much time to do anything the past few days.

Here is another photo of the finished headliner.

 

[Chief USA]

Nice job! How much dynomat did you end up using? Was the difference in the cab noise worth the cost and effort to install it in your opinion? Sure looks like that cab is well insulated if nothing else. LOL! Cab looks good!

 

[JMcCoy]

Lol! In my opinion, it is well worth it if you plan to keep the truck. The truck is way quieter. Ever since I changed injectors, it will lope while idling in gear until the engine warms up. I almost can no longer hear the lope. I actually thought it stopped doing it, until I rolled the window down (I guess it didn't fix itself).

It ended up taking 10 boxes containing 12sq ft. Each box was $61 on Amazon. I probably could have purchased a bulk package for less. I initially only purchased 4 packs, then OCD got the better of me, so I purchased 2 more, then 2 more, and 2 more again. I'm glad I did though.

As far as difficulty goes:
Well, I watched about a hundred YouTube videos with sissies whining how hard it was to do. I can do it easy. At least that's what I told myself. Fast forward, I whined and cried to anyone who would listen to me. You do not realize how many bends, ribs, nooks, and crannies there are in the body until your using a roller (and everything within reach) to work the Dynamat down. It's not the product's fault. It's just the nature of the beast. That and getting in and out of the truck a thousand times and working on your knees. As far as complexity, I'd give it a 3, maybe a 5 with removing the seats and headliner. Physical difficulty, I'd give it an 8.

I hope some of my ramblings helped (or made any sense).

 

[Matt42]

Lol! In my opinion, it is well worth it if you plan to keep the truck. The truck is way quieter. Ever since I changed injectors, it will lope while idling in gear until the engine warms up. I almost can no longer hear the lope. I actually thought it stopped doing it, until I rolled the window down (I guess it didn't fix itself).

It ended up taking 10 boxes containing 12sq ft. Each box was $61 on Amazon. I probably could have purchased a bulk package for less. I initially only purchased 4 packs, then OCD got the better of me, so I purchased 2 more, then 2 more, and 2 more again. I'm glad I did though.

As far as difficulty goes:
Well, I watched about a hundred YouTube videos with sissies whining how hard it was to do. I can do it easy. At least that's what I told myself. Fast forward, I whined and cried to anyone who would listen to me. You do not realize how many bends, ribs, nooks, and crannies there are in the body until your using a roller (and everything within reach) to work the Dynamat down. It's not the product's fault. It's just the nature of the beast. That and getting in and out of the truck a thousand times and working on your knees. As far as complexity, I'd give it a 3, maybe a 5 with removing the seats and headliner. Physical difficulty, I'd give it an 8.

I hope some of my ramblings helped (or made any sense).

Jim: I found your project while searching for the word "headliner." Because your posts are fairly recent, I's like to ask a few questions. Here in Arizona, my 1996 Club Cab is suffering from the effects of being parked outside in the brutal sun. The paint has mostly evaporated and the headliner falls down in tiny particles, kind of like snow. So it needs attention!

What kind of condition was your headliner in when you removed it? Was the pressboard OK or did you need to repair it in places?

Was it difficult to remove the Club Cab size headliner through the single door? And then put it back.

How did you attach the replacement fabric? And what kind of fabric did you use?

The sound deadening project you undertook is the same one I want to do, but for heat insulation. I have been concerned about Dynamat on the ceiling because I wonder if any tar or "goo" will seep out and cause icky mayhem. (Could not think of a better term.) The heat here in Maricopa County in a closed truck cab can exceed 160 degrees F and it does disgusting things to anything that can melt.

I've been looking at the ABS plastic based headliners at LMC Truck, here: http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/de/full.aspx?Page=36 But at at a price north of $400 delivered, I'm reluctant. Then I wonder how I can install something that is likely to be more rigid through the single door. Does anyone have any experience with the ABS headliners?

Great job, by the way!

 

[Timd32]

Sooner or later I will get mine replaced, I went carpet from stock interiors and their headliner kit.

For just the floor they were selling a kit of 42 sq ft @ $154.95

So I have 42sq ft of the STP Silver from stock interior, its about $3.69 a sq ft, that dynamat is about $5.08 a sq foot. I would have to get some specs on the Dynamat to see the difference in thickness.

Looks really good, great job.

It says good to 212deg, so I would figure Dynamat is the same.

https://www.stockinteriors.com/STPSilver.asp?Itemid=22658

 

[Matt42]

Their headliner kit looks interesting.

 

[crabman]

I did sound deadening on my 06(not nearly as much as Mc) and it made a difference. I do agree that "you will bleed" & "it is time consuming". I found that there are excellent rollers that can be used for applying the s/d material: metal ones used in fiberglassing(different diameters & lengths), wallpapering (wooden ones), wooden round pull knobs, even used wooden dowels with the end rounded to a smooth finish.
One thing for sure is that it is a slow process, you are not going to do this in a day or two or ? Favorite beverage & first aid breaks are a must. Knee pads also help.

 

[Timd32]

Their headliner kit looks interesting.

I have had it for about full year it comes wrapped up really nice and a year later its still wrapped up really nice....

One thing for sure is that it is a slow process, you are not going to do this in a day or two or ?

Yeah I'm on the slow and steady schedule. I really have too much on my plate, but my seat frame is really rusty, the cab was fully redone a few years back by the previous owner, they threw in the gross carpet and never stripped and painted the seat frame, but recovered the seat with a nice two tone cover......

I have to bite the bullet and stop working on other folks crap and work on my crap for a few weeks. If I could do that migjt catch up by end of May.

The carpet really needs to sit out in the sun for a while to make it "easier" to work with.