I've had seven up to now, but the smoothest and quietest one was an early '82 club with the heavy flywheel. That's why during this rebuild I've retro fitted the old type flywheel and clutch to make things a little smoother.

My next experiment is to just put little bits of echo absorbing material in behind the door cards, quarter panels, and anywhere I can think of that would be unobtrusive, just to see if it does make a difference. Any one thing on it's own might not, but all put together they might make for a quiet and comfy ride.

It's probably not going to do much for performance, adding extra weight, but I think the car would feel nicer with a bit more weight in the doors, giving it a more solid feel, of course, there's the school of thought that says if you want a quiet car, don't buy an old 2cv!

I'd be really interested in seeing what difference it makes.

I'll do an honest appraisal when it's up and running and, if the answer is 'don't bother it wasn't worth it' I'll definitely say so.

As for the added weight thing, what I've been using is 5mm neoprene sheeting which weighs virtually nothing. The advantage I'm hoping to gain is from damping any panel vibration and the resonance that goes with it, which must go some way toward a quieter ride.

Frosts do sticky black segments that are only around 3mm thick for the same purpose, but my neoprene roll stuff comes in a lot cheaper. trouble is I've run out now so am looking for some more.

I've tried a weekend with Dry-Therm battens (the glass-fibre padding that builders stuff between brick and blocks on modern cavity-wall builds) spray mounted to the doors, then covered with the door cards. Definitely makes things feel snugger, and it's light as a feather and cheap as chips. However, I reckon this product holds water, so the answer would be to pack them in sealed plastic bags... but that's all a bit faffy.
My next experiment is to buy a sheet of thin Celotex, or equivalent, from somewhere like Sheffield insulations (again, dead cheap in the quantities we need for a Tin Snail). This stuff is rigid, easy to cut, and very lightweight. It's backed with silver foil on both sides too, so it'll be snug. Also, being polyurathane (sp?) it won't draw or hold water.
I'll let you know how I get on.
People tell me the bitumin sound dampening sheets are good, but they seem expensive, and I'm looking for thermal properties too.
I'll let you know how I get on.

I'm rather taken with the neoprene look on the dash, Old-Nail. Another thing occured to me today, though: to create a metal dash/glovebox by putting a front on the parcel shelf. I reckon it'd look good... possibly a bit like an old Beetle, I guess. Has anyone on here tried this?

Not tried it but it's do-able. There was a stall at the NEC last weekend that sold large sheets of neoprene of varying thickness, cheap too. I didn't buy any though 'cause I'd have to lump it round the show with me which I didn't fancy.

That stick on bitumen stuff weighs a ton.
(Well perhaps not a ton exactly, but it's fairly heavy.)

I drove Old Goat's Goatmobil last week and commented on the quietness which he's put down to some strategic soundproofing

That stuff only comes in small strips though Lenny so you don't use much, only reason I've not gone for that is the price. They're a fiver each for 30cm x 20cm, so to do a full car with it would cost around sixty quid, not counting under the bonnet.


I'm confident it will work. By what degree is the only question, and is the improvement worth the work and added expense of doing. That bit I won't know until it's done and tried, it'd be interesting to hear what old goat used and where he put it though.

I really like the neatness of that padding, I'll be keeping my eyes open for the same/similar type stuff, to redo my car.

BTW, Old-Nail, what did you use to create that neat white cladding thing between the upper door hinge and the bulkhead? Looks great.