@SeriesG - I'll bet that stuff does a heck of a job of absorbing sound too.
Yes - I can tell the difference already and I've only done the roof. Inside noise has that 'dead' quality with sound being absorbed.
I've done long trips in three uninsulated Hard Top Defenders. Ears were neigh on bleeding by the end of each journey. I was determined this vehicle, which will be used for extended touring, was going to be bearable. I'd like to be able to hold a conversation and listen to my music.
If you've followed the thread you'll know I'm quite obsessed with sound insulation. Veltrim is the final layer. I've covered this before but for anyone interested who hasn't followed - from the 'outside in' this is what I'm doing:
1. New paint job
2. Vehicle body
3. Foam filled every internal strut
4. Silkaflex sealed every seam, joint and cable entry point (also sealed the external 'wall to tub waist' and 'roof to wall' joints to help prevent water, dust and noise ingress)
5. Silent Coat foil backed bitumen sound deadening mat to roof, walls, floor and struts (front and rear cabins), including inside both seat box compartments (plus closed cell foam to underside of the lids and 'seat box to lid' seals)
6. Silkafex sealed all joints again
7. Acoustic Foam to roof and walls in both cabins
8. Silkafex sealed all joints again
9. 5mm flexi-ply to rear roof and 12mm ply to rear walls and side box sections
10. Foam filled all voids behind the ply - roof and walls
11. Paint sealed all internal wood
12. Veltrim lined the rear cabin (not finished)
13. Sound absorbing non-slip rubber matting to rear cabin floor and locker, shelf and storage bin floors
14. Sofa cushions will be leather (currently being made)
15. Most equipment items will be stored in pre-cut foam inserts to stop stuff sliding around and rattling.
16. Front cab only up to No 8 at the moment - will be a mixture of sound mat/acoustic foam/Silkaflex on the bulkhead, footwells and floor. The rest will be ply, veltrim lined, leather trim (seats, door cards and dash), thick carpet, rubber over-mats. The front cab headlining is a bought in, GRP, one-piece unit and suede lined.
17 Doors are also fully insulated - Silkaflex, Silent Coat mat and either acoustic foam or closed cell foam where it will fit
18. All new door and window rubbers
19. The rear cabin floor is new and is bedded on rubber pads and silicon to isolate it
20. Still got to address the bonnet, engine compartment and transmission tunnel insulation
21. Will be altering gear ratios when I get around to it for a more relaxed cruise and I've fitted 80% road bias tyres on alloys to reduce noise (got some steel rims which will have KO2's for more serious overloading)
There is no bright metal visible in the car apart from a tiny bit on the A pillars. If you tap the outside bodywork there is no tinny rattle now. The bodywork feels solid. No voids or cold surfaces for condensation, or resonance, or vibration. I think this is as quiet as its going to get.
.. You go through them at a good old rate..
