Insulation / sound deadening thread FAQ

[khalimadeath]

Okay, so I am done re installing my interior after adding reckhorn deadening and refectix. It added to the overall thickness of the floor ect so it changed some of the dynamics of the westfalia interior, I had to drill a few holes and the Z bed fit is not as exact as it was without anything on the floor. So keep that in mind when you install it. It may be better to only install it in the ares where no interior pieces would touch.

[AircooledHome]

[AircooledHome]

Today I installed Foil Backed Butyl to my cargo area, wheel wells and rear cargo area. I was on a budget but wanted to get my flooring in so I can start working on my cabinetry, and wanted to do sound deadening before I put the flooring in.. So I bought generic brand "Noico" from amazon. $60 for 50 sq/ft plus 48 hr shipping and I couldn't go wrong. 1 pack of 50 sq/ft covered the whole area I just mentioned perfectly. I will buy more to do the front, and every door and panel in the near future. I drove the bus around after installing and didn't notice a noise reduction, but I didn't drive it on the freeway and I also had nothing else in my bus.. Will report back once the floors and cabinet are in.
I had POR15'ed the area prior.

http://www.amazon.com/Noico-Self-adhesive-Automoti...k129040-20

[khalimadeath]

[quote="ThisMetalMess"][quote="khalimadeath"]

[img]https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1499578.jpg

[img]https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1503221.jpg

[Thrasher22]

I've put sound deadening on all the walls, doors, cab roof, nose, and front & rear wheel wells, and it's done a lot for sound quality and making it easier to talk, but I still have a lot more wind noise than I'm happy about. All that is left is the floor and engine area.

Has anyone found a big source of wind noise on the highway? I don't want to throw more money and unnecessary weight into the bus. I have new (quality) seals all around as well.
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1975 Westfalia - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=516701

[Big Papi]

I found the outside link and advice that Scott from German Supply gave on sound dampening to be enlightening. The butyl product dampens vibration through the metal. Covering 25% of your surface area is apparently enough to accomplish that. I don't believe these products do much for acoustic waves propagating through materials. The heavier MLV absorbs these frequencies. I doubt you can get much noise reduction without both.

As far as the wind sound mentioned above, I imagine this is due to the aerodynamics of the bus. No way around that. Too much exposed glass to block it out.

I'm currently installing a Stinger Roadkill butyl product. Pretty nice stuff. No smell. Easy to install. Going to throw a blanket of the MLV on after. I'm imagining it will be like driving in a new mercedes after that
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1978 ASI Riviera
TypeIV FI

[Big Papi]

Just finished up adding some Stinger Roadkill butyl above the engine compartment and below the back seat. Seemed very nice. no odor. easy to apply.

Installed some insulation wrapped in plastic to the compartment lid.

Added some Mass Load Vinyl (MLV) (no VOCs) from home depot on top of the butyl.

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1978 ASI Riviera
TypeIV FI

[ivwshane]

If I wanted to have a clean and stock look is the any reason why I couldn't put mlv inside the cushions underneath the foam?

What have peoples experience been with the mlv in terms of effectiveness?
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77 westy 2.0 FI
69 ghia coup 1600dp
70 single cab

[SGKent]

the best way to find wind noise are something these and a buddy. The guy outside uses air from a compressor to blow against the car. One may find just a small tiny screw hole causing 99% of the problem.

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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[Thrasher22]

[Pinetops]

[Pinetops]

[Spike0180]

how many sqft would I need to cover the cargo floor, engine compartment (inside of bus side), wheel wells, front floor, doors, and sidewalls?

PS. 1970 transporter no interior currently.
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Brutis Patches Izabich: 1970 VW Transporter - 1776cc DP
Current State: Projects never truly end...
Location: Grosse Pointe, Michigan
Other cars: 2003 F150, 2003 Jetta GLI vr6-6sp

Sambastic: adj; the quality of being nit picky, elitist, expecting everyone to do things the way they believe is best with no regard to situation, "sambastic"

[BUSBOSS]

[BUSBOSS]

If you want to use the same product I used, a helpful guide with regard to quantity can be found here:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=373683&start=0
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All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
1976 Westfalia
1970 Karmann Ghia Convertible (sold - but not forgotten)

[curtp07]

To each his own of course, but I m not sure where the trend to cover every square inch of panel came from. In my experience it doesn't work, and in the end just leaves a mess...I believe to deaden sound on a panel you don't have to coat everything, just a select piece. And the floors? Waste. Nothing some jute and a carpet won't fix.

I wish I didn't do my beetle..there was no noticeable improvement and now it looks worn and terrible...
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Subaru

[Pinetops]

Most of the deadening done by the dynamat type products is accomplished by piece covering just 25% of the panel. Covering the whole panel will give you marginally more sound deadening. Layering it with mass loaded vinyl and a middle barrier layer is how professionals do it.
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"A rolling bus gathers no rust."

[wcfvw69]

I installed some Fat Mat, rattle trap 80mil in my fuel tank compartment and the ceiling of the engine bay. My 70 bus w/stock engine and muffler was much louder than I cared for though the original tar boards were missing from the main section of the roof.

Overall, I'd say I was rewarded w/a 20% reduction in engine noise in the cab at both city and highway speeds. The remaining noise level is very tolerable and what I'm accustomed to w/my bugs.

What have folks used in place of the tar boards above the engine, on the ceiling in these early bays? Ideally, I'd like to find something to put up there that would be the same thickness as the tar boards so I can use the clips (and spray adhesive) and make it look stock. I certainly wouldn't mind it being a sound absorber either.
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Contact me at [email protected]
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Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.

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[Spike0180]

[WissBrauSean]

Has anyone successfully insulated their camper pop top with anything that looks nice?
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1979 Westy Automatic 2000cc Fuel Injected