The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors How do you sound deadening a task force suburban?

Hi Folks,

There is two inherent problem with sound deadening a Burb.

1: The headliner is glued to the underside of the roof panel. So how would you go about making it silent there?

2: The dual skin quarter panels, it’s virtually impossible to get any “dynamat” stuff in there due to very small access panels and I have not found any way of spraying sound deadening material in enclosed spaces you can’t reach.


So folks any good takes of what to do? I kind of want to get my truck as silent as possible….

Cheers Dyna

I cannot address the double panel situation but as for the headliner I see no reason why you could not use the metallic backed rubber roof repair material I used on my 57' BelAir. Being metal backed should allow the same adhesive to be used and it's only about 2.5-3mm thick. I doubt it would even be noticeable under the headliner. It can be purchased from audio shops but I got a very very similar product from Home Depot here in the States. It is in a 6" wide roll and was 1/3 the price of the audio guys. Has an excellent adhesive pre-applied. I think I have a piece left if you'd like a sample.

How about that expanding spray foam insulation stuff for the dual skin quarter panels? I think it's called "Great Stuff." You might have to drill a few access holes, but that stuff will fill the void.

The expanding foam will push panels apart if not expertly applied so it would not get my vote. We used it to insulate truck bodies but w/o the inner panel in place. It had to be shaved to the proper thickness even with experienced applicators.

Well beside the expanding out of control foam is also very good as a moisture absorbent hence it will keep it damp and nice between the panels which is great if you want lots of rust .

I've been thinking either something you spray but I never found a spray lance that will deposit "lizard skin" type of material in enclosed spaces.

The second thing I been thinking about is solid balls of ping pong ball type but smaller, preferably with some sort of textured surface. You could pour those balls in between the panels nearly up to the brink of the access panels and both get excellent sound and thermal insulation. Untreated the balls would be excellent as moisture traps but if you before application let them bath in cavity waxoil so they are dripping in a heavy coat of waxoil. Well then they would not absorb moist and they would also coat the whole inside panel with waxoil preventing further rust between the panels. I also envision that before you pour the balls in you would pour waxoil in between the panels so the lower portion of the Qpanels are drenched in oil. Further more that you connect hoses to the drain pains for the sliding windows and lead those out in the wheel well or lower inner portion of the qpanel as it is today they drain directly into the qpanels and we all know how well the burbs rust in the qpanels..

Well it's just and idea but I thought it would be worth while discussing....


Cheers Dyna

Think you are absolutely right about that we will see later this winter/spring if it will work..

Thanks Dyna

the best way to prevent rust in that double lower wall is to open the bottom of it by cutting away the inner below the floor, which would also allow access for insulation .... I've never seen a fleetside bed with rust along the rocker like happens with the panel body .... s'how my project panel will be finished

Bill

Don't you have rust preventative services in the UK like Ziebart, Rhinolining, etc? They have the special applicators you mentioned to get into those very tight areas plus a warranty.

Yes we have similar services in the UK. Although I never seen them able to spray the wall inside a box section with sound deadening coating but only with cavity wax.

Cheers Dyna

Well yes that would prevent moisture between the panels since there is only one left. Not so sure I would go that far although. I will make some larger holes although so that I can easily clean the area and also inject cavity wax.

Cheers Dyna

My 46 Suburban had lower access panels under the floor so that would be an excellent modification that would not be obvious.

After cutting the access panels you could fit the foil backed bubble wrap up the panel walls and then make access cover plates to seal it all back up,

Well i just pulled down the headliner in a suburban im restoring and what the owner did 4 years ago was he glued up thin fiberglass insulation like for a house. needless to say DONT DO THAT! probablyworked good then but after 40 years it was dirty and nasty to remove. Ill probably just be putting in dynamat of similar product and hopefully he'll fork over the cash to put in a proper head liner this time. the one he put in consisted of him fabricating a 15 piece, thin fiberglas assembly with aluminum trim pieces. Not very pleasing to the eyes i must say.