Sound Deadener on Floors

[newkitman]

I have some sound deadener material for the floor of my TDR that was left over from a VW project I did for a friend who decided not to use it. I already have installed some of the material behind the seat area to muffle as much of the engine noise that I can. Is it really necessary for or TDRs or overkill? What have you folks done for your floors? Thanks.

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[Royal]

IMHO, if you expect to do most of your driving with the top down or even up but with the side curtains removed, it IS overkill.

[John Simion]

I don’t agree. The package shelf in my TDR is like a drum that magnifies the engine noise. Sound deadening wouldn’t mask the engine but would reduce the magnification and transmission of it to the driver and passenger. And from past experience, sound deadening on the floorboards greatly reduces road noise. I personally would rather listen to the engine than the tires. The worst that could happen is that the deadening might not be very effective … not much of a risk to take compared with minimal cost.

[Royal]

John offers a not unexpected difference of opinion…one of the reasons that this forum is such a valuable resource.
I suppose that if I already had the material, I too might install it. Some of the sound deadening material is quite expensive….so, I guess “it depends…” ?????

[edward ericson]

Speedster guys swear by Dynamat but they tend to have money.

[Paul Mossberg]

Not after they pay off their seedsters, they don’t.

 

That said, Dynamat does seem to receive univesal acclaim!

 

I have some insulation under the carpet. The cheap stick-on, foam backed foil stuff. That’s the extent of my sound deadening. Pretty sure it doesn’t do much. 😉

 

John is on target though. The “package shelf” acts as a megaphone, especially when the roof is up.

 

Never been an issue for me around town or on back country roads.

 

And on any long highway drives, I use foam ear plugs.

PMOSSBERG2015-07-01 16:58:48

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[newkitman]

Thanks folks. As John and Royal said, seeing as I already have some extra material I might as well put it to use. Its not Dynamat though. Its black foam that that I can stick on the floors and the package shelf floor and sides.

Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

[billnparts]

If you got it, use it. IMO

Bill Ascheman
Fiberfab Ford
Modified 5.0, 5sp., 4:11
Autocross & Hillclimb
"Drive Happy"

[John Simion]

I believe there is material at Home Depot that is thick black foam with a foil backing that is very similar to Dynamat. I just can’t remember the name but it is used for insulating ducts. Peel and Seal? Just Google Dynamat substitute. Or, in a pinch, the heavy grade foam rubber carpet padding will work very similarly. What newkitman has should work great. Anything that stops vibration, the thicker and heavier the better. If nothing else, your car will feel more “substantial” with it installed.johnsimion2015-07-02 02:46:33

[Derek]

I can tell a difference of reverberated noise between top down and top up, the package shelf definitely amplifies some noise within the passenger compartment. I have something similar to dynamat that I got at a local auto audio place. It’s almost a dense rubbery tar type texture with the foil backing. I have it in the back of my squareback and it does work pretty well.

I’m hesitant to put it in the TDr until I have finished the “restoration” and have the new paint on. It is fairly expensive and I would prefer to only do it once.

[greg press]

I had a furnace put in my house recently the furnace people and I got to talking about my car where I told them I wanted to make it a bit less noisy they suggested using the insolation that they used for my ducts .(foil on both sides and thin ) When the job was done I saw they had left a roll of it . Have not used it yet but going to give it a shot .

[edward ericson]

Heat insulation and sound insulation are different. Most heat insulation is lightweight, open cell, fiberglass, etc. I’ve got some of that in Bridget’s engine bay, up against the front bulkhead. It does help tamp down the sound, but it’s not really made for that. The Dynamat and similar stuff is heavy, closed cell, rubbery stuff. It will tamp down heat a little too, but it’s not really made for that.

I’ve got some light closed-foam kitchen floor mat under my carpets. That does a little sound deadening, but is nothing like what a Dynamat-like product would do. It’s too light.

But I like light. It’s a sports car. I figure even with a couple hundred bucks (and 50 lbs) worth of Dynamat it’s still going to be noisy.

If you want a quiet ride, get a Lexus.

[Author]

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