We are still asking: What did you get done on your Bolt today ????
The question, initially posted May 23, 2005, was:
"Whatcha do on your Bolt this weekend?"
After 51,906,997 views, 7378 replies over 185 pages, this thread in General Truck Talk is a happening! And it's not just weekends anymore.
Wondering if a guy really needs all 3 of these to put in the floor of a truck? My truck currently has nothing. I do want to sound proof the cab more than it is, that's for sure. But if you were to put in the floormat Pad ($27) and the floormat $120, wouldn't that be enough? The sound deadener is another $50. And i know some just use a cheaper kind of deadener that you would have to cut yourself. But is all that really necessary? Maybe go with the deadener and the floormat, and not the pad? Thanks for any suggestions or thoughts. I did make a 2 piece floor mat using matts from Menards, but it just doesn't look that great. So am looking for something more professional looking but something that won't cost a ton. Again, thanks!
I plan on deadener and mat. The deadener is the butyl rubber stuff and the rubber floor mat cover. I don't want any jute/rodent nest material, but that circumstance may not apply to you. Plus if any water gets in the jute it will hold the moisture on the metal = rust.
If it was of no concern to me I would do deadener, then jute, then mat and I would pay special attention to cab step area and try to find some sort of termination bar to close it off so that the jute pad doesn't show under the mat.
I have similar dilemma at the firewall too, for sake of cost I'll probably have to use a jute pad w/rubber face cover for that 50$.
I plan on using peel and stick deadener off Amazon... some off brand of course. Its about 1.60$ square foot, comparable to the duct/pipe insulation at DIY centers.
About 350$ for deadener, firewall cover and mat. (Enough deadener to do the floor, firewall, back of cab, doors and headliner area = 75SF +/-)
niobrarafun I just use cardboard,fit it with a carpet knife,use hot glue in places then write Kentucky carpet with a phone number on it. People at car shows just cackle. Onlookers just like to see the interior and gauges which all work since original cept gas gauge. Don't use anyway is propane burner.
Thanks to both of you for giving me this information. I went ahead and ordered the deadener and mat (which is on backorder) and went with Kilz off Amazon for the pad stuff. I got a kick out of your Kentucky Carpet idea Fixtie! LOL I was disappointed with the cutouts on the deadener, they don't line up very well in a few places. Sad to see that. Anyone else have issues with that? Thanks again. Niobrarafun
I went with 2 boxes of Kilmat off Amazon last summer & still have 50% of the 2nd box. I did the floor, back of gas tank,wall just behind gas tank & the headliner area. I was too lazy to remove the firewall pad,but i'd do that too if it was already off. I didn't want to ruin the "stock" look so I painted the kilmat that's under the seat. It blends in & I don't notice it unless i look for it.
It made a BIG difference in sound ! All the empty drum sound went away & I can hear myself think now. Its not car quiet but its money well spent. I will use the rest inside the doors eventually. It feels like a different truck now.
When I was in college, we would first paint the floor with some thick enamel paint. Let that dry really well. Then get about 3/8 inch thickness of newspaper, wet it with a mixture of water and flour (roughly equal parts) and press it firmly against the floorboard on a dry day. Your 3/8" will then be more like 1/4". Run it from floorboard to inner firewall and across from side to side. Let it dry completely and if you've done it right, it will perfectly follow every indention, bolt head, channel, etc. Once it dries, it will sort of resemble a thick egg carton. Carefully remove it (note: you may have to cut it in the middle with a box cutter...sometimes you can't easily remove the entire piece), lay the back side up and coat it with a couple of coats of polyurethane to give you a vapor barrier and for strength. Let this dry and recoat. Then set it back inside and coat the top side with polyurethane. Now you have a custom mat that will absorb noise and keep your interior more warm in the winter. A friend who had a 49 Plymouth made it so quiet you could hear the car's clock ticking.
