VT-VZ Sound Insulation Kits?

[robmcg]

I recently bought a 2001 VX Calais International 5.7... and it is not as quiet on open roads as my previous VR Calais 5.0... 17" factory wheels with 235/45 Champiro HPZs on the VX vs 225/50 16s in the VR , partly a reason perhaps.

I've replaced a front hub, handling, steering, ride all excellent, and I'm thinking maybe the sound-proofing in the VX is not quite as good as it might be.

Any factory or aftermarket carpet, underlay, or underside options around?

Ideas ?

Thanks in advance,

Rob [Canterbury NZ]

I don't see many posts here related to quiet ride.

I ought to add I've has VR VS VT cars 3.8 and 5.0. All were quieter than this VX Calais International, even the VS with 17s.. but there's not a lot in it.\\

I've also had Jaguars old-and-newish [XK40 3.6]

Given that some overethusiastic? magazine-writers have compared Holden full-spec cars to Euros, well, my VX looks mint at 90K and has had factory servicing all its life and tyre-rep tells me it's "normal", so maybe I'm missing something? I haven't driven a BMW 540i of slightly more years ex-Japan which I could have had for the same price [nz$25k]\

I'M NOT UNHAPPY but I'm never content.

Just got a feeling that this strong, straight, marvellous VX [stock though it is] has a bit of subtelty hidden in its engineering, and mass-production sound-deadening ain't one its strong points.

Getting an Aussie car 'right' reminds me of getting Lucas distributors and SU carburettors 'right'.

I used to ride 70s Britbikes, and don't mind tinkering, and I used to admire Aussies for even getting the 4-sp auto BMC Mini to work. At least I got it to work [para T5 hand controls]... and I could go on; 12G295 head or 12G940 and suitable cam-breathing...
GM have got the VR-VZ body for so long now, you would have thought they could have got 17" alloys and tyres and a rather noisy bodyshell to live together?

Or are they made of the same stuff as BLMC were?

[Speedy Gonzales]

One word, Dynamat (http://www.dynamat.com/) :)

[robmcg]

One word, Dynamat (http://www.dynamat.com/) :)

Thanks.

I've read a bit about high miles 04 Monaro-style cars in CA US and their gripe is sometimes door seal and general noise from that... the road-seal is much quieter there.

My VR 5.0 had very solid-feel rubber door-seals and needed to be pushed closed. My VS 3.8s had softer newer rubbers and were fine. The VX has softer stronger rubber and closes easily. It leaks a little in rain.
Door-shuts are part of it, easily adjusted.
All fine-tuning?

With this in mind I might pay a visit to a local panel shop. I used to get 4-speed Automatic BMC Minis painted there. They will be amused by my continued existence if nothing else. I raced Britbikes in the early 1970s.

btw I like the LS1. It's not fast enough, of course....

[cbwolf]

One word, Dynamat (http://www.dynamat.com/) :)

Actually, Dynamat will do little to nothing in terms of sound insulation. Dynamat is used for vibration dampening (ie. Boot lining to stop it rattling when you have a sub install) and as such trying to use it to insulate sound will be an expensive and fruitless project - i should know, i have damn near $600 worth of it in my car to stop my panels vibrating.

If you want sound insulation, get the thick carpet underlay and glue it onto the inside skins of your doors and firewall.

If you want your commodore to be more euro with it's door shutting, put a layer of dynamat on the inside door skins, then glue a layer of carpet underlay ontop of the dynamat. This will add weight, reduce noise/vibration and just give it an overall "solid" feel.

[Speedy Gonzales]

Actually, Dynamat will do little to nothing in terms of sound insulation. Dynamat is used for vibration dampening (ie. Boot lining to stop it rattling when you have a sub install) and as such trying to use it to insulate sound will be an expensive and fruitless project - i should know, i have damn near $600 worth of it in my car to stop my panels vibrating.

If you want sound insulation, get the thick carpet underlay and glue it onto the inside skins of your doors and firewall.

If you want your commodore to be more euro with it's door shutting, put a layer of dynamat on the inside door skins, then glue a layer of carpet underlay ontop of the dynamat. This will add weight, reduce noise/vibration and just give it an overall "solid" feel.

If its good enough for high end luxury cars and show cars to be used, I see no reason why it wouldnt be applicable in a Holden. There is more than one product in their range to suit a wide variety of applications.

Maybe you purchased the incorrect gear? Whos knows, one things for sure, if its good enough for car guys like Foose, Trepanier, Coddington, good enough for anyone.

[Toddler78]

turn the wireless up, perfect sound deadening:thumbsup: