Thanks, Evil Twin!!!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,900
Likes: 1,840
From: Hot Springs AR
Thanks, Evil Twin!!!
ET,
Just a quick thanks for the Tech Tip you put up about putting the sound insulation in the rear wheel wells. I did it just like you said (hard to believe how much insulation you can put in behind the fuel tank bulkhead!), and while I don't have before/after Db levels (no meter), it's noticeably quieter, I'd guess about half the noise level from before. The best indicator I can give is that now I can hear road noise from the front tires now!
I'm still debating doing the sound deadening on all the rear compartment panels, but the race season is coming up and, well, priorities are priorities!
Thanks again for the Tech Tip, it was a great mod!
Have a good one,
Mike
Just a quick thanks for the Tech Tip you put up about putting the sound insulation in the rear wheel wells. I did it just like you said (hard to believe how much insulation you can put in behind the fuel tank bulkhead!), and while I don't have before/after Db levels (no meter), it's noticeably quieter, I'd guess about half the noise level from before. The best indicator I can give is that now I can hear road noise from the front tires now!
I'm still debating doing the sound deadening on all the rear compartment panels, but the race season is coming up and, well, priorities are priorities!
Thanks again for the Tech Tip, it was a great mod!
Have a good one,
Mike
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Thanks for the thanks, the tunnels are the area that is the biggest bang for the buck in sound control, because of the hollowness. Sound bounces off the inner wheels wells and travels right up that hollow tunnel and into the cabin via the hatch drains...the inner wheel well acts just like an ear drum, amplifying the sound and pumping it up that channel just like an ear horn. Breaking up the sound pulses in that area controls 70 % of the tire noise. Only because that area is a straight shot to your ear drum.
I am happy you are happy... I spent six weeks working in GM's test chamber, on my own time, on my own car to get this done.
I am happy you are happy... I spent six weeks working in GM's test chamber, on my own time, on my own car to get this done.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,233
Likes: 21
From: Baltimore suburbs Maryland
I'm in the middle of this project- I've only gotten the passenger side one done so far. I got lazy and didnt finish the driver side one. I do have a ? though, I was unable to get ANY fiberglass ABOVE the rear wheel wells, since I also put some frost king up there. Do you all put R13 up above the wheel wells?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
This project should take about 16 hours to do correctly. doing the inside, trunk, cabin,and outside wheel wells and tunnels. take your time..the effort will be worth it...
No... batting under the wheel wells.. it's a waste of time..the area is too compressed... either Frost king or reflex will do the trick... actually the tops of the wheel wells alread have a sound barrier already glued on... you can see pictures in the tech tips of reflex installed under the wheel wells.
No... batting under the wheel wells.. it's a waste of time..the area is too compressed... either Frost king or reflex will do the trick... actually the tops of the wheel wells alread have a sound barrier already glued on... you can see pictures in the tech tips of reflex installed under the wheel wells.
Last edited by Evil-Twin; Feb 14, 2005 at 08:35 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,233
Likes: 21
From: Baltimore suburbs Maryland
Oh yeah, one more thing, I had to realign one of the fender well mini-bolts by drilling a new hole. I recall some people could not get the 8th bolt back in either. Did I "stuff" too much in there or is this acceptable?
What about the "rear" of the wheel wells? Any point in putting fiberglass back there?
Bill- is your car ever driven in the rain?
What about the "rear" of the wheel wells? Any point in putting fiberglass back there?
Bill- is your car ever driven in the rain?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,900
Likes: 1,840
From: Hot Springs AR
Originally Posted by eRiCdWoNg
I'm in the middle of this project- I've only gotten the passenger side one done so far. I got lazy and didnt finish the driver side one. I do have a ? though, I was unable to get ANY fiberglass ABOVE the rear wheel wells, since I also put some frost king up there. Do you all put R13 up above the wheel wells?
I was thinking about doing the interior, but was considering NOT doing the drivetrain tunnel (it's kinda short and towards the front) or the floorboards (a balsa/aluminum panel), but just the panels behind the seats.
Or, am I barking up the wrong tree again?
Have a good one,
Mike
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Originally Posted by eRiCdWoNg
Oh yeah, one more thing, I had to realign one of the fender well mini-bolts by drilling a new hole. I recall some people could not get the 8th bolt back in either. Did I "stuff" too much in there or is this acceptable?
What about the "rear" of the wheel wells? Any point in putting fiberglass back there?
Bill- is your car ever driven in the rain?
What about the "rear" of the wheel wells? Any point in putting fiberglass back there?
Bill- is your car ever driven in the rain?
This is not an exact science... stuffing too much may have made the 8th bolt a problem but noting to concern yourself with.
Doing the interior cabin and trunk will reduce noise by maybe 20 %... doing the console tunnel will reduce heat and noise, doing the wheel well tunnels and wheel well area will have the biggest effect on reducing tire noise.. I Have zero tire noise below 45 mph... and cabin noise above 45 mph is greatly reduced,,, my sound meter is my wife... with out any knowledge of my work in this venture.. when I was done we went for a 120 mile trip and the first thing she said to me was.. the car seems so much quieter.. she wanted to know why, did I buy something new??? When I started this project, I did it with the idea to reduce cabin heat and tire noise, without adding much weight, and not spending too much money and something that was easily reversible.
Yes my car is driven in the rain.... it is not a daily driver, but I have been in the rain many times.. the reflex is water proof.. I have 58,000 miles on this car... it is not a garage queen.,,... I do try to avoid rain and salt on the road etc...if I can. I have other cars.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
actually the tops of the wheel wells alread have a sound barrier already glued on
His car must of been built on a Friday
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Originally Posted by Dr. Dan
It figures... 
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
There are no tunnels on late 2003 and 2004 due to the redesign of the rear section for the FFS tanks.
Hey ET; did you still do some consulting with GM after retirement ???
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Originally Posted by Mike Mercury
WOW; first I had heard that.
Hey ET; did you still do some consulting with GM after retirement ???
Hey ET; did you still do some consulting with GM after retirement ???
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,900
Likes: 1,840
From: Hot Springs AR
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
...Doing the interior cabin and trunk will reduce noise by maybe 20 %... doing the console tunnel will reduce heat and noise, doing the wheel well tunnels and wheel well area will have the biggest effect on reducing tire noise.. I Have zero tire noise below 45 mph... and cabin noise above 45 mph is greatly reduced...
I agree with the under/over 45 mph observation, as well. At 75-80 on a noisy road surface I still get a decent amount of road noise, probably about the same as my '94 Z-28, but I think the flintstones my C5's street tires have turned into are noisier on their own than the tires on my Z.
It's definitely a worthwhile mod!
Have a good one,
Mike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,076
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From: Nevada and Florida
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
The 03's and 4's are already quieter than the earlier models because of this.... you can still put a buffer between the inner wheel wells and the inner tub.