14 replies to this topic

[Kt1966]

About to send my car in for a paint and trim and wondering what people's views are on sound deadening.

I have a great 1100 Special which Oltonlad did a brilliant job with, but with straight cut gears it is, as you'd imagine pretty loud (my wife's not so keen, and I'd like to be able to use it on the motorway....)

What I am trying to work out is how effective sound deadening would be -does it work, is it worth doing, best material, are there any considerations with bits of trim fit etc etc.
Appreciate any views out there.....

Edited by Kt1966, 30 October 2013 - 11:42 PM.

[MichaelH]

Hi,

 

I can only tell you: Go for it! My current Mini is not having any sound insulation at all, it was meant to be as light as possible when I've finished restoring it but meanwhile, I believe it is way too loud inside. Can't bear it any more :-(

 

Sound deadening helps a lot if done properly. A friends's Mini van was so well done that you could have an easy conversation even at 90mph - despite RC40.

I can't tell any brand names (and I possibly use the wrong technical terms in some places, forgive my lacks in english language...) but you need to do two things:

- Adding stick-on damping stuff like e.g. dynamat which keeps the shell itself from vibrating. 

- Adding foam/felt/whatever similar material mats that absorb the noise itself.

The damping material possibly is already present on your Mini (as it came as std. unless very early Minis) unless it has been removed in the past.

I prefer to cover the firewall with foam from both sides (where the engine located side needs different material of course), the complete floor, wheelhouses from the inside and definitely the roof (which usually is already equipped unless removed)

 

 

This will help a lot to reduce noise in the inside.

 

HTH

Michael

[HarrysMini]

Sound deadening won't help.

All it does is reduce vibrations and makes more of a Golf sound when you shut doors, because all it is actually doing is making the panel heavier.

If you want to keep noise out, you need sound proofing. Lots of that applied especially on the bulkhead and under the bonnet will keep the noise out.

[Tamworthbay]

The whine from straight cut drops will be VERY hard to hide. You would need so much deadening material,that you would barely be able to fit in the car! I have only been in a car with them on a few occasions and its painful after a few miles. To my mind it takes all the pleasure out of the driving experience. For racing there is a positive benefit (and you are wearing a crash helmet) but they aren't good on the road.

[Midas Mk1]

Helical Gears. Followed a car with sc drops on l2b and it was annoying me, and my car aint quiet! 

Edited by Midas Mk1, 31 October 2013 - 09:36 AM.

[Lucas1988]

Whats the difference?

[Tamworthbay]

Whats the difference?

Straight cut gears transfer power more efficiency as there is no side thrust on the gears, however this means they whine which is deafening.

[Rog46]

Sound deadening won't help.
All it does is reduce vibrations and makes more of a Golf sound when you shut doors, because all it is actually doing is making the panel heavier.
If you want to keep noise out, you need sound proofing. Lots of that applied especially on the bulkhead and under the bonnet will keep the noise out.

Have you any reccomendations for sound proofing material and or suppliers?

[ejs-1995]

I've heard good things from dynamat although I don't know if it would be suitable for yourself.
A friend of mine had s/c in a mini and the noise was unbearable! I used to hate going in his car...

[TehMarchant]

Silent coat is the same as dynamat but is cheaper.

[freshairmini]

http://www.deadening.co.uk/

 

Above shop has it all or someone like http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/ has this kind of stuff.

 

The best sound deadening solution is as follows:

 

A deadening material to absorb vibrations, something like silent coat or dynamat or similar.

 

An isolation material like carpet underlay. Closed cell foam is used allot with pro audio installs.

 

Then a heavy blocking material like a mass loaded vinyl, this will actually be doing the sound blocking and isolated from the deadening/bodywork by the carpet underlay or better closed cell foam.

 

Lots of info on the TalkAudio forum on this subject but how much it will help with SC gears, I don't know, its the kind of thing that's is not really done on minis as a lot of people would say don't bother (even though I would imagine not many people have tried...).

 

It's also not cheap to do this properly but when done well it can work very, very well. I would say if you got the cash free to experiment (read: throw away lol) then do it, I for one would be very interested in the results!

Edited by freshairmini, 31 October 2013 - 02:27 PM.

[welshdan]

depends what you use the car for. ok in mine, without any sound proofing

 

that's with a sc gearset too.

 

video there on a quiet drive lol

 

 

its just a toy so ok, daily covering many many miles it could get tedious

[Kt1966]

Thanks everyone for the thoughts - really appreciate it.

I guess it's where the compromise is - on either the performance (which is great, and as SC gears go I think it's been set up reaslly well), but the price is noise. It's not a day to day car which helps of course, and the hassle and cost of changing to standard hears is a big factor too. The overall consensus seems to be it's not worth trying to mask the noise too much ??

Having just bought it, I could really do without more expense on engine/gearbox out etc etc

 

One of those toss a coin moments maybe ?

[Ethel]

Christmas Prezzie?

 

 

Seriously, I'd just have a go with any old carpet underlay you can lay your hands on. If it has any effect you'll know if it's worth spending money to improve it.

[welshdan]

Not needed. When it sounds like that, who needs a radio??