Quote:
Originally Posted by -=Jeff=-
IS this the first time you are using this particular stuff or have you used it before?
Curious how well it works and where to get it
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6 years ago I did a fairly robust installation in my Tacoma when I was in Florida. I spent a lot of time researching it all before diving in.
80 mil sound dampening butyl mats, a layer of 315 mil closed cell foam (CCF) overtop that, and on the roof I used a sheet of Melamine foam instead of the CCF. It works extremely well I'd say. HUGE difference in the Florida sun, and now that I am in Virginia I see it have an equally appreciable effect during winter keeping it insulated from the cold compared to non-insulated vehicles.
I am a bit of an audiophile so aside from the benefits of temperature insulation the sound dampening is just as impressive. Using some Butyl rope I chased down all the vibrations I heard throughout the cab so the ride was rattle free. Another effect the butyl mats have is increasing the efficiency of your speakers, since the more mass you add to the panels means less energy is lost vibrating the panel and is instead expelled out of the speaker properly. You get less road noise coming through into the vehicle AND your speakers get noticeably loader. The layer of CCF plays in here, too, not because it provides any sound dampening quality on its own, but its a 'decoupling' layer and helps prevent rattling noise from panels vibrating against each other.
Ordered everything from Amazon: Noico brand for the butyl mats and CCF, Second Skin for the Melamine foam, Poweka butyl rope, a generic applicator rolling wheel, and some basic auto shims and wedges for popping panels off. At the time Noico was the best bang for the buck, though the market landscape could have changed that in the last few years.
Money well spent, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
Technically my installation isn't 'the full works' as I have no layer of Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) which is really what takes the project from 'sound dampening' to 'sound deadening' and blocks road noise rather than reducing it.
If you go beyond just using the butyl mats and want to do the CCF don't go as thick as I did. 315 mils made panel fitment an issue in areas and I had to shave the foam thinner for some things to fit right and made the carpet bulgy in areas until it got matted down over time, though I am positive that thickness helps with temp insulation.
I am kind of a nerd with this particular thing, so feel free to ask me anything.