Attention: TDR Forum Junkies That's right, quieter..... I guess all those guy's with the goofy straight pipes won't be interested? But there most be some out there that like things a little more quiet.
I suppose I most be bored, cause I just keep dreaming up things to do and try, but my latest project was to try and get the inside of the cab a little more comfortable. I wanted to shed some of the heat transfer from the hot exhaust and noise from the mufflers and road. I ordered some Thermo Tec, Cool-It sound insulation with thermo backing on each side. It takes two packages of 24 sq-ft to insulate the entire cab floor on a extended cab truck. Total cost $70. 00 and it took about 4 hours going at a slow but steady pace. Worst part is unbolting the seat and moving it off to one side or the other, this takes two people and a temporary stand to hold the un-supported portion up. The Super insulation from Thermo Tec more then doubles the stock factory insulation, and does a great job of lowering the sound level in the cab. I can talk now, instead of yelling. And the music comes thru so much better, I am considering a stereo up-grade (next project?). The floor never really got very hot, just warm while towing, but now it stays cool and much more comfortable. The added thickness feels good to the touch, and raised the seat about 3/8". This is a great project for anyone that would like to eliminate some of the lower frequency noises, and is very easy to do. I ran the insulation from the back cab wall to as high as you can go on the firewall. I was hoping I wouldn't fine any supprises under the carpet like a wet area or something, and I didn't everything looked very nice and clean. If you would find a wet spot, then would be the time to take care of it.
I also made some heat and sound shields, which I mounted under the truck and between the mufflers and the cab floor. They to are responsible for some of the heat/sound loss. They were built using a FlowMaster aluminum heat sheild, and they covering it with 2 layer of heat wrap, 1 layer of aluminized sound barrier, and a final layer of header wrap blanket. These parts were also Thermo Tec, and everything came from Jeggs mail order. The shields cost about $150. 00 to construct, and simply strap to the top of the mufflers. I have two, so you might not need as much material.
This was just part of my insulating project, but was specific to the 2nd generation of trucks, so I posted it here. I have some photographs of the hole ordeal in my gallery under the title of "Thermal and sound insulation", for those that would care to see. Even if you do not go as far as I did, the basics of insulating the cab floor are more then worth the efforts it takes.
I suppose I most be bored, cause I just keep dreaming up things to do and try, but my latest project was to try and get the inside of the cab a little more comfortable. I wanted to shed some of the heat transfer from the hot exhaust and noise from the mufflers and road. I ordered some Thermo Tec, Cool-It sound insulation with thermo backing on each side. It takes two packages of 24 sq-ft to insulate the entire cab floor on a extended cab truck. Total cost $70. 00 and it took about 4 hours going at a slow but steady pace. Worst part is unbolting the seat and moving it off to one side or the other, this takes two people and a temporary stand to hold the un-supported portion up. The Super insulation from Thermo Tec more then doubles the stock factory insulation, and does a great job of lowering the sound level in the cab. I can talk now, instead of yelling. And the music comes thru so much better, I am considering a stereo up-grade (next project?). The floor never really got very hot, just warm while towing, but now it stays cool and much more comfortable. The added thickness feels good to the touch, and raised the seat about 3/8". This is a great project for anyone that would like to eliminate some of the lower frequency noises, and is very easy to do. I ran the insulation from the back cab wall to as high as you can go on the firewall. I was hoping I wouldn't fine any supprises under the carpet like a wet area or something, and I didn't everything looked very nice and clean. If you would find a wet spot, then would be the time to take care of it.
I also made some heat and sound shields, which I mounted under the truck and between the mufflers and the cab floor. They to are responsible for some of the heat/sound loss. They were built using a FlowMaster aluminum heat sheild, and they covering it with 2 layer of heat wrap, 1 layer of aluminized sound barrier, and a final layer of header wrap blanket. These parts were also Thermo Tec, and everything came from Jeggs mail order. The shields cost about $150. 00 to construct, and simply strap to the top of the mufflers. I have two, so you might not need as much material.
This was just part of my insulating project, but was specific to the 2nd generation of trucks, so I posted it here. I have some photographs of the hole ordeal in my gallery under the title of "Thermal and sound insulation", for those that would care to see. Even if you do not go as far as I did, the basics of insulating the cab floor are more then worth the efforts it takes.
