Dealing with Wind Noise (7 Viewers)

[Vossie]

Alright, alright.

Let me preface this by stating the obvious... these are tin cans made of solid steel with 60 year old technology and engines and often with oversized tyre's. So why the hell would we be concerned with wind noise???

Well, seeing as a fair few of us daily our rigs, and even more of us sink a ton of time and money into each of our babies, why not?

I have spent a fair amount of time and effort chasing heat out of the cab, applying liners and insulation and sound deadening, etc. And it's gotten to the point where, at least below 3200 rpm, the loudest thing in my 45 is the air it's punching through when I'm cruising at 65mph.

Now I know that saying a 40 series has the aerodynamics of a brick, would be unkind to the brick. It has, in fact, the aerodynamics of two badly stacked bricks.

But there are far too many clever cruiser heads lurking on this forum with way too many years of wheeling these cans for there to be no answers.

So, I put it to you, the reader, what would you do/ have done/ heard about to help out with reducing wind noise?

Here's a Pic of my rig, just to get your attention

I will start the ball rolling with some thoughts, and then I'm sure someone more intelligent than me can either shoot me down or point me in the right direction.

I've been thinking of wind deflectors on the corners of the windscreen frame. Seems that's where most of the air noise is coming from, so maybe something to deflect air away from there?

Anyone ever tried that?

 

[msapers]

Well, I know you'll get some of the usual feedback on this aka "If you want MPG buy a Prius", "If you want to go fast, buy a Corvette", "If you want quiet buy a coffin", "Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line", etc. I'm in the same boat as you. I'm going to be putting a lot of time, money and effort into making my 72 as good as I can and there is such a thing as maximizing what you have, so here's my take:

I've been doing some thinking about this and it seems to me that the noise you mentioned is coming from two sources.

1. The less than stellar door, vent and window seals that most of them have.
2. The wind hitting the brick wall that is the vehicle (grill, bumper, hood, mirrors, roof racks etc). Another big area may be the top where it overhangs the windshield.

I think that you can slowly and methodically chase down the seal leaks and address them one by one.

That leaves the wind hitting the windshield. I think you may be on to something with the deflectors. Maybe even an old school 1980's bug shield at the front of the hood. Neither would have to be very big. I ride motorcycles and there are many devices that different bikes use to manage the wind. It's crazy how much difference a very small piece of plastic can make.

Good luck with your quest and I'll be watching for ideas. Beautiful rig by the way!

 

[GA Architect]

FWIW: I've used Mortite in the outer roof-to-windshield corners to help seal that joint. Easy install, easy removal, and virtually no mess.

 

[Skreddy]

If you take the top and doors off, the wind noise against the bib and windshield is much less noticeable. Folding down the windshield will also drastically reduce the aerodynamic noise.

 

[pb4ugo]

When I was working at a dealership, we would periodically get complaints of excessive wind noise. One tech would drive another tech had a length of heater hose. 1 end of the hose to his ear and use the other end along window and door seals to help locate the origin of the noise.

 

[charliemeyer007]

Shooting ear plugs are very effective.

 

[JohnnyC]

Do you have the upper corner oem gasket where windshield and door header meet?

Windshield gasket between hardtop and windshield?

You think noise is bad … FST is much louder lol

 

[dazerb]

I've got a whistle from the passenger deflector window that will pierce your skull at 50mph. I have to drive with it open no matter the temp for sanity's sake.

 

[Vossie]

Well, I know you'll get some of the usual feedback on this aka "If you want MPG buy a Prius", "If you want to go fast, buy a Corvette", "If you want quiet buy a coffin", "Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line", etc. I'm in the same boat as you. I'm going to be putting a lot of time, money and effort into making my 72 as good as I can and there is such a thing as maximizing what you have, so here's my take:

I've been doing some thinking about this and it seems to me that the noise you mentioned is coming from two sources.

1. The less than stellar door, vent and window seals that most of them have.
2. The wind hitting the brick wall that is the vehicle (grill, bumper, hood, mirrors, roof racks etc). Another big area may be the top where it overhangs the windshield.

I think that you can slowly and methodically chase down the seal leaks and address them one by one.

That leaves the wind hitting the windshield. I think you may be on to something with the deflectors. Maybe even an old school 1980's bug shield at the front of the hood. Neither would have to be very big. I ride motorcycles and there are many devices that different bikes use to manage the wind. It's crazy how much difference a very small piece of plastic can make.

Good luck with your quest and I'll be watching for ideas. Beautiful rig by the way!

My seals, although aftermarket hacks, are actually really good. Which leaves, as you say, the shear weight of the wind. A bug deflector is a good idea, maybe get some of that wall of air up and over the cab.

Ive seen some of the aussies like to run an angled plate mounted on their hoods, usually with a slogan or name on it. Wonder if that helps.

If you take the top and doors off, the wind noise against the bib and windshield is much less noticeable. Folding down the windshield will also drastically reduce the aerodynamic noise.

You mean like this?....

Do you have the upper corner oem gasket where windshield and door header meet?

Windshield gasket between hardtop and windshield?

You think noise is bad … FST is much louder lol

My gaskets are not oem, but they do work well. There is a noticeable difference before I installed it and after

 

[Skreddy]

My seals, although aftermarket hacks, are actually really good. Which leaves, as you say, the shear weight of the wind. A bug deflector is a good idea, maybe get some of that wall of air up and over the cab.

Ive seen some of the aussies like to run an angled plate mounted on their hoods, usually with a slogan or name on it. Wonder if that helps.

You mean like this?....
View attachment 3900032

My gaskets are not oem, but they do work well. There is a noticeable difference before I installed it and after

I saw that pic in the what did you do thread right after I posted this morning.

 

[Vossie]

I saw that pic in the what did you do thread right after I posted this morning.

It's how she's sitting now. Winter is just about here, and that means the dry season is upon us. So for now, it's tube doors and bikini top.

But I'm planning a major overhaul on the drive train and suspension later this winter, so it would be a good time to takle the wind noise.

I like to plan ahead.

 

[rainingagain]

I replaced all the firewall grommets in mine as a pre-emptive move to prevent wind noise as the originals looked tired and there was some daylight shining through. I assumed they had shrunk.

The new ones from Mr T, tough they are now soft and pliable, still have the same daylight shining through .

 

[jim land]

Just try that it doesn't look like a cybertruck

 

[rainingagain]

Just try that it doesn't look like a cybertruck

I saw one of these this weekend on the highway where they had put giant googly eyes where the headlights would "normally" go. I couldn't really tell what they were until it was like 50 yards out and it hit a bump and they moved! I almost peed laughing. They actually looked like they belonged there.

This is not a political endorsement. I just almost went off the highway laughing when they moved.

 

[sleepycruiser]

My ‘64 sounds like a Cessna taking off at all times.

That said, mine has no rubber between the windshield frame and the hard top. Any cheaper aftermarket stuff I can use?

Also…grommets in the firewall….is there a solve-all kit with numerous sizes?

My roll bars also shake and sometimes hit the doors…I need some padding. Maybe a diaper would work…unused of course.

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

I've got a whistle from the passenger deflector window that will pierce your skull at 50mph. I have to drive with it open no matter the temp for sanity's sake.

That's what spare change is for.

 

[sleepycruiser]

I can’t even get my deflectors windows open.

 

[sogncab]

I just got my rig back.

I had the inside of the tub and underside of the tub spray with line-x. Along with the fenderwells.

That and new seals has made a world of difference. It's not quiet, but it is majorly improved.

 

[Skreddy]

It's how she's sitting now. Winter is just about here, and that means the dry season is upon us. So for now, it's tube doors and bikini top.

But I'm planning a major overhaul on the drive train and suspension later this winter, so it would be a good time to takle the wind noise.

I like to plan ahead.

Do you have a fan clutch or direct drive? Metal or plastic? When I swapped the metal fan on my F engine to a direct drive plastic one, there’s tons of fan noise. Just another source for you to look at.

 

[Kleatus]

That's what spare change is for.

View attachment 3900486

Every square body Chevy ever. Usually more than just a penny though