I'm having someone I trust, a professional installer, doing the Audio install this summer. I'm starting to prepare the vehicle for a real SQ system.
The first step was getting the inside of the thing deadened a bit. There is a lot of steel in this vehicle, and therefore a lot of induced noise. With the third row seats removed there are a number of large holes through the back carpet that lead directly to the steel bed - with many of the exposed holes leading directly through the bed to the outside.
I picked a couple of rolls of Raammatt and about 6 yards of Ensolite. The two rolls of Matt was more than enough to do the entire floor of my cruiser, the rear wheel wells, the walls behind the rear wheel wells and the tail gate. In fact, I did two layers on the rear wheel wells and the front driver and passenger floor boards. I have enough to do the rear passenger doors and probably the headliner, too.
I ran out of Ensolite before I could line the walls of the rear wheel wells. I ordered some more and will have it in sometime next week.
After completing phase one of the deadening, I have to say that I am very pleased with the results. Very noticeable improvement. The tailgate has always had a tinny "ping" sound upon opening and closing. Its now has a solid and commanding thud as I lined both the skin and the inside with Rammatt. All of the holes have been sealed and the back deck is much quieter. The factory system also sounds much better - probably a combination of less intrusion from the road noise and the deadening on the front floor boards.
My wife (1st grade teacher) who was only mildly aware of this project noticed a difference in the sound when she borrowed my truck on Friday. She drove it to school and back and asked if I did something to the speakers or the stereo, as it sounded better in there....
The plan is for a stealth install that will allow me to continue to load in a full cargo area. I'm a scuba diver, photographer and musician - so I'm constantly moving in wet gear or very heavy Anvil cases of drums and PA in and out of the back.
Its going to be a fun road to summer - and I can't wait. IH8MUD has helped inspire me to several recent improvements and fixes in my rig, and I'm really excited about what's going to come. I'll update this thread as I move down this road.
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Ken
BEFORE
This is what I started with. Note the big holes through the carpet directly to the metal
DURING
This is the back end stripped. There is some factory deadening, but, well, you know....
This Cruiser has the rear AirCo unit. I wanted to leave that in, as its a hassle to tear out, resale one day, etc, etc. So we're (not "we're" as much as my guy is) going to have to work around it for the install.
This is the factory sub woofer. as you know, they sort of made a box that took all available space on that side (you should see the shape of this thing!), ported it and added a couple of 4.5's. Its a funky, honky plastic box. It'll be hitting eBay soon
RAAM ON! Tail gate and back deck.
Applied to the skin as well as the wheel wells. What is under that round "hatch" at the top of the pic?
I've read that this stuff is messy. IT IS!!!!!!!!! I was getting black goo all over the place. I tracked it onto my floors in the house, onto my desk, my keyboard and mouse... it gets everywhere. There is that round hatch again. I worked all of the material so I could retain access to the hatch. I opened it, but didn't recognize what I was looking at. Anyone know what's under there????
I was a couple of hours into this project when the sun came over the back of the house. Not a problem, except that I'd just turned the back of my cruiser into an Easy Bake oven with all that foil... Solution? Put up a high tech sun blocker before I moved to the front!
.
.
.
.
.
The first step was getting the inside of the thing deadened a bit. There is a lot of steel in this vehicle, and therefore a lot of induced noise. With the third row seats removed there are a number of large holes through the back carpet that lead directly to the steel bed - with many of the exposed holes leading directly through the bed to the outside.
I picked a couple of rolls of Raammatt and about 6 yards of Ensolite. The two rolls of Matt was more than enough to do the entire floor of my cruiser, the rear wheel wells, the walls behind the rear wheel wells and the tail gate. In fact, I did two layers on the rear wheel wells and the front driver and passenger floor boards. I have enough to do the rear passenger doors and probably the headliner, too.
I ran out of Ensolite before I could line the walls of the rear wheel wells. I ordered some more and will have it in sometime next week.
After completing phase one of the deadening, I have to say that I am very pleased with the results. Very noticeable improvement. The tailgate has always had a tinny "ping" sound upon opening and closing. Its now has a solid and commanding thud as I lined both the skin and the inside with Rammatt. All of the holes have been sealed and the back deck is much quieter. The factory system also sounds much better - probably a combination of less intrusion from the road noise and the deadening on the front floor boards.
My wife (1st grade teacher) who was only mildly aware of this project noticed a difference in the sound when she borrowed my truck on Friday. She drove it to school and back and asked if I did something to the speakers or the stereo, as it sounded better in there....
The plan is for a stealth install that will allow me to continue to load in a full cargo area. I'm a scuba diver, photographer and musician - so I'm constantly moving in wet gear or very heavy Anvil cases of drums and PA in and out of the back.
Its going to be a fun road to summer - and I can't wait. IH8MUD has helped inspire me to several recent improvements and fixes in my rig, and I'm really excited about what's going to come. I'll update this thread as I move down this road.
---
Ken
BEFORE
This is what I started with. Note the big holes through the carpet directly to the metal
DURING
This is the back end stripped. There is some factory deadening, but, well, you know....
This Cruiser has the rear AirCo unit. I wanted to leave that in, as its a hassle to tear out, resale one day, etc, etc. So we're (not "we're" as much as my guy is) going to have to work around it for the install.
This is the factory sub woofer. as you know, they sort of made a box that took all available space on that side (you should see the shape of this thing!), ported it and added a couple of 4.5's. Its a funky, honky plastic box. It'll be hitting eBay soon
RAAM ON! Tail gate and back deck.
Applied to the skin as well as the wheel wells. What is under that round "hatch" at the top of the pic?
I've read that this stuff is messy. IT IS!!!!!!!!! I was getting black goo all over the place. I tracked it onto my floors in the house, onto my desk, my keyboard and mouse... it gets everywhere. There is that round hatch again. I worked all of the material so I could retain access to the hatch. I opened it, but didn't recognize what I was looking at. Anyone know what's under there????
I was a couple of hours into this project when the sun came over the back of the house. Not a problem, except that I'd just turned the back of my cruiser into an Easy Bake oven with all that foil... Solution? Put up a high tech sun blocker before I moved to the front!
.
.
.
.
.
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