12 replies to this topic

[steve1978]

Hi, my mk2 cooper has none, zero. Every rattle, vibration noise. Everything reverberates through the shell of the car, my youngest just said, my feet tingle.

 

i have a VW T6 that I stripped to a shell, I then installed dodo deadening all the way through and some dodo insulation, the difference was night and day.

 

my question is this…. I have a pristine mk2 1968 cooper, not a spec of rust. Under the carpet is so clean and dry you could eat your dinner off it…

 

should I go and stick a load of stuff on it to improve the driveability?

would it devalue the car?

could it in anyway cause a problem in the future if it got damp or held moisture, excellerating any corrosion…

[Chris1275gt]

It doesn’t sound like you’re having that much fun driving it about, do you do many miles? Mine was like that with just a carpet all around. As I drive it a lot all year round the first trip lasted 1/2 an hour and I couldn’t hear my self think so I slapped as much insulation and sound deadening as I could get in it and it’s now really comfortable and a pleasure to drive. I personally don’t give a moments thought about how much mine is worth. You could always take it out before you sold it.

[mab01uk]

The Quiet Mini - 1980

BL launched the 'Quiet Mini' in the Summer of 1980. It incorporated extensive sound-deadening in the floorpan, front bulkhead, dashboard, roof and boot, plus a new headlining material. The effect was to produce what could more accurately be called a 'quieter Mini'. Over the years it was slowly reduced under cost reductions and in the front floorpan area it seemed to promote rust by trapping the water leaks.

More here:-

https://www.theminif...uiet-mini-1980/

Edited by mab01uk, 14 May 2024 - 06:57 AM.

[slidehammer]

If it were me I would install sound deadening but rather than the adhesive backed type use a more period type that is loose on the floor and just held down with the carpet, that way you can remove it without any issue should you require. Mini Spares or Newton Commercial would do something

[KTS]

no need to go mad - self adhesive deadening pads (dynamat, silent coat, dodo etc) on the roof, door skins and quarter panels will make a big difference, and as above, felt underlay is pretty good at absorbing noise and easily removed if you do get water in the car

[DeadSquare]

One of the best things that I did to my 1071 S was to wrap the manifold and first 1/3rd of the exhaust in asbestos string.

 

There must be a non polluting equivalent, as I often see motorcycle exhausts wrapped.

[steve1978]

Thanks all, defo some food for thought there. In regards to driving, I use it 2 or 3 times a week, I love it and at low revs it isn’t so bad. Deceleration under gears causes a lot of vibrations. 
 

I will have a think about it, but I’m leaning towards a bit of work

[bpirie1000]

Try the felt sound deadening to start with.

Little to no commitment see what it does. May be enough..

Dynamite acoustic stuff would take a lot longer to do but you are right.. adds weight to the metal and stops 5he reverb..

[Chris1275gt]

I put the felt kit first with only a dab of glue here and there on the bulkhead and then stuck 10 mm foil backed self adhesive closed cell foam on top of that.

[MatthewsDad]

I have a mk2 with traditional felt over the floor, kept in place by a few dabs of adhesive. Works OK. It doesn't eliminate all skakes, rattles and road noise but I wouldn't want that.

[steve1978]

Its a funny thing isnt it. If they designed that same car today they would use these things to insulate the road noise, better door rubbers, retractable belts. however adding that seems to detract from the vehicles authentic side, even though it would improve the car in every way, I still probably wont do it.

[mab01uk]

Its a funny thing isnt it. If they designed that same car today they would use these things to insulate the road noise, better door rubbers, retractable belts. however adding that seems to detract from the vehicles authentic side, even though it would improve the car in every way, I still probably wont do it.

 

The last MPi Minis had several 'modern car' improvements to reduce noise and improve refinement but the significant extra costs significantly raised the showroom selling price, which was acceptable in the later years as the Classic Mini was no longer being marketed as a cheap small economy car under BMW's ownership, ready for the 2001 introduction of the R50 & R53 MINI's which were the first of a new range of 'premium' small hatchbacks, sold at a higher price than the Ford Fiesta / Vauxhall Corsa, etc.

Edited by mab01uk, 15 May 2024 - 04:54 PM.

[steve1978]

I often think though that if you had OEM money and wanted to do something with a classic mini shell you could make a really nice motor. Modern engine maybe a 3 pot like a smart engine. Manual gearbox though, not that piece of crap that comes in the smart. 1 peice centre digital dash like iPad size with Speedo and some nav, Bluetooth radio. Nice deadening and insulation, good door rubbers. Modern suspension bits and discs all round, and everything else leave it as it is.