but it is definitely an easier ride for long distance with the HT?

 

with a totally stock '00 i can say with the factory hardtop makes a long drive much more pleasent..[at least from a noise standpoint] the "ride" is still a bit wearing over time.

 

Looking forward to your kit soon. I am also doing some research myself, and found a few sound absorber/decoupler, such as this:

Second Skin Vinyl Liner
http://www.secondskinaudio.com/secondskin.html

Quite expensive. How does the material you will be using compare?

For the spare tire well application, it is important that the material used does not fuel fire because the gas tank is right next to it. Maybe that's why Honda decided to put the felt type material all over the gas tank area?

 

Any updates on the project? Very interested!

 

I'm a Miata owner, but I face all the same problems a S2000 owner faces.

McMaster-Carr Hardware is a superb source for sound control materials. They're also a company with great customer service and quick shipping. Some of the more exotic, higher performance McMaster-Carr products are pricey, but comparing them to equal, if not identical, branded products will normally save money. You don't have to buy in bulk and there are bargains to be had.

Doing a keyword search on "sound control" gets you started with *many* choices. They have so many products, it can be a little daunting to find exactly what you are looking for, but they'll end up having it. Page 3236 has a short introduction to methods of sound control. Here are some specific McMaster-Carr products that I've used:

Dampening Polymeric mastic, part number 9709T19. Indistinguishable from the higher priced spread. Self adhesive but need lots of heat and pressure to adhere really well (and it does). Heavy. Asphalt based, but I have had no odor problems. Viscoelastic, part number 9709T26. More expensive, but lighter and has better DLF (McMaster also has a vibration damping compound, part #9545T1 that I haven't used yet. It looks like a good substitute for Cascade's V-Block for places like the outer door skins).

Barrier Vinyl sheeting loaded with lead-free barium metal powder, part # 54665T32. I used 1/8" neoprene sponge rubber, part # 8647K71, to decouple the barrier from the body.

Absorption Between the barrier and carpet, I use the generic gray carpet padding sold at upholstery shops. I used a reinforced type almost 1/2" thick and it was hard to cut and made for pouffy carpets. I'll use a thinner version next time. To fill voids, I used flat sound absorbing foam, part number 5692T49. 1" thick, adhesive back, skinned surface.

Poke around their catalog. The ones I've listed are by no means the only products at McMaster-Carr to use to accomplish sound control.

Stu

 

Sorry for not posting sooner. I'm going to have a double neck fusion in January so I've been a little occupied with that. But... I've tried two different decouplers in the trunk area and a new one that just came out is on the way. The biggest problem is the well for the folding top and the air gaps around it. It will be impossible to correct this without removing the well. I am working with the development engineers at the manufacturer to get the best and lightest product for the job. The post about the pillows sounds interesting and is obviously cheaper, but there goes the trunk space. And regarding Honda's use of felt, it is cheap, cheap,cheap, which is why they use it. Oh, and the house insulation is done! And for Luis, I guess I need something else to insulate. Maybe my coveralls, it is getting cold here. Thank you all for your patience.

 

Wooohooooo!!!! He lives!

Chipperman,

Good to see you back.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by chipperman
Sorry for not posting sooner. I'm going to have a double neck fusion in January so I've been a little occupied with that. But... I've tried two different decouplers in the trunk area and a new one that just came out is on the way. The biggest problem is the well for the folding top and the air gaps around it. It will be impossible to correct this without removing the well.

 

Just a temporary fix till you complete your project. I crammed them into the area where the spare tire goes so i still have the trunk space. I can still fit my golf clubs in there so i'm happy

Can't wait till you finish this.

 

It's not too difficult to remove & re-install the well. It's actually two pieces - the big tub and another strip. I have done some experiments with these pieces to reduce vibration. The best solution that I've found is to take off the pieces, put strips of dynomat (the thinner one) around the edges and reinstall them. I was not looking into sound proofing at the time rather to get rid of the vibration but this also takes care of the air gaps.

I was also thinking about spraying the bottom of these pieces with the 3M sound damping spray. Will probably take me a while to try that, though.

I can tell you one thing, that cheap factory felt does work cause when I got rid of it the noise levels became unbearable.