Quiet cab

[Shadrach]

What have you done to keep the inside of the cab quiet when adding a diesel to an older truck? I want to be able to carry on a conversation while travelling at highway speeds, as well as keep it cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Your ideas and thoughts please. Shadrach

 

[GDMRTN]

Good motor mounts and some sound-proofing material inside and out. Rubber mounts of some type for exhaust to keep drone away.

 

[drury]

You'll want to look at either the full dynamat treatment or the equivalent from secondskin. Make sure to get both the mats and the foam. If you've got the engine out, make sure to do the firewall as well.



The Official Dynamat Website

Sound Deadening Materials for Noise Reduction from Second Skin

 

[PToombs]

I'm going to try something like Herculiner, inside and out, bottom of windshield to bottom of rear window. Some on the roof, inside, and maybe inside the doors. I'm doing a cab swap, so it's in the garage stripped anyways. I might add some dynamat some places anyways.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

lead sheet is the best I've found, but it's $$$!!!



I think Raam Mat is the best sound deadener for the money. Dynamat is kinda like Banks... can't argue with the fact that it's quality, but you can get more bang for your buck. they make their money on their name

 

[drury]

Herculiner is not optimized for sound deadening. I once stripped out a Suburban I owned and sprayed it with something called Noisekiller Blue that was supposed to be optimized for sound deadening. When it was all done and back together I couldn't tell a difference -- except for the blue overspray that escaped all my masking. If you're going to do it, do it right. SecondSkin is a quality budget option, and after doing the research if I were to do my truck from scratch I would probably use it instead. That said, the full Dynamat solution works really, really well. Just be sure to use both the mats and the foam. If you ever take a Lexus apart, you will find both.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

well... if you do your research, you'll find that there are other viable options that are as effective as Dynamat without having to pay for the name brand.



don't cheap out all the way and get an inferior product, but do your research and don't overpay!

 

[Shadrach]

Thanks guys I have already been in contact with Secondskin. Shadarch

 

[MMcCallie]

Sound Dampening

I did lots of research on this subject. I tried Tsunami, Damplifier Pro, RAAMmat BXT, and B-Quiet Vcomp. Bought Tsunami from Circuit City and it was OK. Stuck well but was very crinkly when installed. I did my firewall and front floorboards with it. Noticed no difference in SPL.

Then i gutted my entire interior except for my dash and headliner. Used 80 square feet of Damplifier Pro and it didn't even cover me to the bed. Since i'd already spent hundreds i bought a whole lot of RAAMmat BXT and was able to finish the bed and sides of the bed. I was least satisfied with RAAMmat because it was not sticky enough to stay on its own. Had to use spray adhesive. The only thing i liked about it was how smooth it laid down.

I also used B-Quiet Vcomp as a top layer, which seemed to make a huge difference. Having to order more and all made the whole project take about 3 weeks, an awful lot of work. Worst thing was that it raised everything, seats and console about 1".

I lost my SPL so i can't say exactly what my results were. I can tell you that before, my truck was so loud that it was like riding in an airplane. It was sometimes intolerable. Now i can hear my turn signal even at 80 mph! Installing sound dampening was one of the most worthwhile modifactions i have done.

I have yet to order more to finish the 4 side doors, hood, and back doors. I plan to order more Damplifier Pro for the rest of the install but haven't yet because it is very expensive. It is thick and it sticks very well. DO NOT order from FatMat. They took my money and never replied to my phone calls or emails. Had to fight it for about 4 months through my credit card company though there was never any response from FatMat.

I need to purchase a new digital SPL and then i will be able to give a more accurate description of the improvement. With this sound dampening, i've noticed that it doesn't work as well in cold weather. Truck seems louder below about 60 degrees, though still better than it used to be. If it weren't such a nice truck, i would have wanted to try some type of spray on sound dampener. I've been told by some who've tried it that spray on bed liners do not reduce noise.

 

[Ramzilla]

Seems like I recall that one of the other threads made a big deal outa insulating the oil pan...

Anyway, THANK YOU for the posts on this thread!--I didn't know til now that there were these various vendors...

 

[Nordby]

In my 1978 Ford Crew conversion - I used QuietCar. I used it as directed - 3 layers, about 1mil thick on each layer. This stuff changes noise vibration to low-grade heat. It does not absorb sound, it converts it. For looks, I used some Napa black spray sound deadener (not undercoat, sound deadner, way different stuff).

I used it underside of my hood, under my headliner, entire inside of firewall and front clip, underside of fenders, entire gutted interior, inside of doors, both sides of the rear wall (inside and out). I then used dynamat where the downpipe comes down, and dynamat on the back wall behind the back seat. A big difference for me was using non-automotive carpet (high grade commercial gray), and seats from a 1999 F350 anchored on top of the carpet (not on the floorpan).

I am in Colorado, south of Denver, if you are in the area for a test drive. It is quieter than my stock 1992 Dodge Ram with a cummins. It is quieter than our 2000 Lariat PowerStroke until highway speeds (air noise on the boxy old ford). It is dang near as quiet as a friend's stock 1997 Ram with a cummins.

Wish I had before/after decible readings of the truck when it had the 460/4spd in it - it is way quieter with the cummins/5spd. But boy, it took some work, and a few $$$'s. BTW, I brushed that stuff on, I did not opt for the sprayer.

Hope it helps, jon.

 

[Shadrach]

I still learn more every day from you guys. I could do research on my repower til I die and still not know everything. Thanks for all the input. there is a Dynamat rep near here. I have been in contact with him also. Shadrach

 

[Flexiheep]

Jon,

What kind of coverage did you get? Looks like good stuff but the site doesn't really give you an expected sqft per gallon to estimate from. They have a very generic table that doesn't say much.....

 

[MMcCallie]

I also have a diaper under the oil pan and a blanket on my valve covers from Dodge Cummins Diesel Truck Kit - Consumer Trucks Division of Advanced Thermal Products, Inc. . Quality is decent, fit is good but the fabric is not extremely durable. Sound dampening value of it is worth while but the price is high. Would have also bought their turbo and exhaust covers but i plan to someday fit my HT3B.

 

[Nordby]

Sorry to be slow to respond Flexiheep - never saw an "email" and didn't get back to check this thread until now.

I used two gallons on my truck. I put two thick coats on all of the following: underside of the hood, entire inside (including inside doors, under carpet, firewall, under headliner, floorboards), underside of the fenders, outside the rear wall between the bed/cab. I brushed it thick, vs buying their sprayer etc.

jon

 

[jkidd]

they have a product called mass loaded vinyl. It is like lead in its sound blocking composition but is probably easier to install that pounding lead sheet lead to fit. The lead made a big difference but it took a while to install. I dropped 3+ dba ie 50% decrease with lead and 1/4" foam. Dont forget to put some on the back wall. Nothing there at all