Hi folks,

Wondering if or how I could restore this interior section? It's the sound deadening material from the firewall. It's old, smelly, and torn up a bit so I'm not sure if it's worth saving. Does anyone have any experience replacing or refurbishing it?

I haven't found any aftermarket replacements either so if anyone has a source I'd be interested.

Thanks for your thoughts and comments!

 

I'd use a dynamat type product instead.

 

All in all, that one doesn't look too bad for a 30 year old unit.

What about duck tapping the rubber backing where it's cracked, then cutting out the nasty fabric parts and rubber cementing in some replacement fabric?

I have a bunch of the fabric in the shed, if you need some.

 

Thanks Ray, I appreciate your offer! I'd hate to take a huge chunk from your supply though, as I'm looking to eventually replace all the padding throughout the car. This piece was left in when I sandblasted the engine bay and did all that welding. I'm not sure I could get it clean and fresh so I'm hesitant to put it back in there without replacing the padding. And knowing that the mice were in the car for a number of years just gives the padding a certain "yuck" factor...

With that said, where did you source your material? I imagine an auto upholsterer would carry it?

 

dyno mat is probably easier, and more common.

the restorer would either use that piece of rubber with new insulation, or find a new piece of rubber with new insulation.

 

I did an extensive sound deadening project on my 85 GSL a few years ago. Dynamat material is really intended to dampen vibrational noise, and is not especially effective as a sound barrier.

Although the material is expensive, I invested in some multi-layer Quiet Barrier foam composite material from Soundproof Cow which I installed in the rear hatch area, under the storage bins, and in the front seating area.

Again, expensive but very effective. I also selectively used dynamat, on flat metal areas that would tend to vibrate.

 

I've salvaged the insulating material from various parts cars over the years, it's the same stuff used throughout the car, just cut in different ways to fit different sections of the interior.

Some of it's even from the firewall piece, I'd have to check to see if there's enough to make a good replacement for your part, or maybe even a good firewall unit altogether.

Which brings me to my point woodmv, have you considered sourcing a good used part? Not all of them smell like mouse **** and have sections missing.

You might score a hit on the parts for sale section.

 

You're right, that stuff is expensive! Wowzers. But thanks for the link, that stuff looks really cool and I'd never have thought to look into it. I'll bet your GSL is one smooth ride now. That looks like high quality stuff.

That's what I thought after posting, and I always see the guys on TV using dynomat or something similar. I'll look around locally to see if I can find something that I could replace that stuff with. I don't know why I didn't think to stop in and ask the guys in the body shops near me if they have/can get/would sell that material. I'd imagine they'd have a good source anyway. Well, actually I DO know why - I'm not that smart. That, and I shouldn't drink and blog. I tend to "ready, fire, aim" when I do that, and I've been off work for the holidays doing nothing but whetting my whistle...

Thanks for the advice Ray! I'll keep my eyes open for one. This piece may freshen up if I leave it in the shed with some cedar chips or something. Actually, I may just put all the carpet and padding I've removed out there and see if it airs out over the winter.

Has anyone had any luck (or bad experiences) reinstalling original padding and carpet in a car that has sat for ten years?

 

Auto Carpet for Car, Truck, Van - Stock Interiors Nice pre cut, preformed carpet. All kinds of colors. I got the one without the mass backing. The carpet is lumpy. With all the labor involved, I wish I sprung for the extra $90

 

Wow, thanks for the link midnight! That regular carpet set without the mass backing is about $200 less than BD for both the passenger area and the rear deck area together. Add in the ultra-plush carpet and mass backing tho and it's about the same price, but I tend to go with word of mouth recommendations and customer ratings and this stuff you linked looks great. I'd invest in the ultra-plush and mass backing. Awesome link, thanks for the help!

 

Cheers guys,

I need your help and advice regarding all the material and carpeting required. I'm currently restoring an 82 Rx7. All strip down to metal, no original mat or soundbarrier material. I've been browsing and looking a lot and still having a little of doubts about what should I get.

I'm first thinking about Dynamat Xtreme over the metal. The Xtreme one claims to Stop Road Noise and Vibration, so I believe this should be enough for sound and vibrations issues, shouldn't it?

Now, regarding the carpet, I've been comparing both BlackDragon and Stockinteriors.com and price-wise Stockinteriors is way better even with the mass backing (around $110 cheaper). On the other hand the BlackDragon one claims that it comes with some insulation material under the the passenger area.

That's were I get lost....

So what should I get exactly to have a nice, comfortable, cool and quite ride???

Thanks all!!!!

 

I haven't gotten too far down this path except to make a plan, and that is to use damplifier pro rather than the Dynamat Xtreme. Seems like it's a bit better bang for the buck from what I gather (better rubber and thicker foil for about the same price or maybe less?). If you want to do some research on the Damplifier Pro, you can do a google search and prolly find the thread to a different website that I found and see what they have to say. I don't remember exactly what website it was, but you'll prolly find lots of info on it. Here's a link to the SecondSkin website:

VIBRATION DAMPERS - CLD - Damplifier Pro? - Second Skin Audio

For the carpet, if I cannot clean up and reuse what I have I'll prolly go with the Stockinteriors carpet since it was recommended to me and cost wise it's about the same as the BD stuff when you add in the mass backing. I haven't heard anything negative about the BD carpet, but I'll go on the recommendation of the Stockinteriors over not having heard anything about the BD carpet. But that's just me.

I don't really know what to expect as far as "cool, comfortable, quiet ride", but from what I can tell this will help to get towards that goal. Not sure if it will get all the way there though.

 

Shop Peel & Seal Roll Flashing at Lowes.com It held good horizontally, but some slipped vertically

 

Wow. Now THAT's interesting... Have you used the stuff in your car? Did you clean the vertical surfaces well first? Did you heat it up to make it more 'sticky' when you installed it? Looks like plenty of people have used it for cars reading thru the reviews, but not since November 2013. Wonder how thick it is compared to Dynamat or Damplifier Pro...

 

This thread is actually pretty cool, I think I'm going to go Damplifier Pro with the 20sqft Trunk Kit and give it a try on my current build. The road noise of the first gens has always bothered me and I wanted to try and remedy that. I'll give it a try and let you guys know what I think when it's done! Won't be for quite a while yet though, have way too much on my plate before I can get around to that project.

 

Sweet!!!!! Just got pretty excited about Damplifier Pro!!!!!! Looks like it's THE stuff to use!!!! Any idea for many sq ft I have to get to cover the entire car? My 82 has a Sunroof BTW, so roof coverage will be minor....

 

Actually I haven't figured out how much is needed. Haven't got that far yet, but it shldnt be too hard to measure out.

 

The peel and seal stuff let loose mostly where it was exposed to sun. About 1/2 the glue still stuck to the metal. So I don't thenk surface prep was the problem. If I put the door panels back on, then the peel and seal would probably be intact since it wouldn't have been exposed to the sun.

 

There's another thread and this guy did all the interior. And when I mean all it's ALL! He used around 72 sq ft. So I'm figuring I'd go for the 80 sq ft package....

Ain't cheap but it's worth it!

Damplifier Pro? 80 sq. feet - Shop Pack 48 Sheets - Second Skin Audio

 

Im actually going to use a viscoelastic product rather than dynomat type product. From the research ive done, viscoelastic reduces metal noise energy better than a sticky mat.

For carpeting, unless you are custom fitting your own stuff, there is only one company that makes a molded carpet for the FB. They then sell it through multiple distributors. So black dragon sells it, jc whittney, summit racing, online stores, etc. I think the manufacturer is ACC.

 

Are you going for any brand in specific???

Alright, so lets see, approximately you would need around 72 sq ft. Maybe a little less. So, having said that, let's take a look at the prices.

-Dynamat Xtreme $292 (two 36 sq ft packs)
-Damplifier Pro $385 (one 80 sq ft pack)
-B-Quiet Ultimate $195 (one 50 sq ft and one 12 sq ft pack)

If we go for price, definitely B-Quiet wins.... I'm not an expert in this field, so If anyone has a bit of knowledge or experience, please share your comments. I'm still going blind on this...

 

So, Woodmv.... have you actually ordered yet from Auto Carpet for Car, Truck, Van - Stock Interiors I ordered samples of their standard "plush cut pile" which is their lowest level basic carpet in 875-Ruby and 825-Maroon. Trying to match the pile and color for the rear hatch area of my bone stock Sonic Bronze Metallic '79 with plaid interior. Colorwise, I'm thinking the 875-Ruby will be a dead ringer, if the color is a true match to stock. My front carpet is unfaded, so I'm hoping the sample color comes close. What's your experience with them so far?

 

I have not ordered anything yet so I have no experience so far. Midnight Mechanic seemed to like it tho. Seems I have more time to think about this car and make plans than money to actually DO anything...

 

We are on the same page!!!!!

 

I prefer to say, "I have more sense than dollars". As in well thought out execution is better than throwing a bunch of cash at something.

And I wish I spent the extra $$$ on the carpet with the backing. JUst like foregoing the cheaper fram oil filter because the time and effort I spend changing my own oil is worth something.