| There are a lot of products out there for | | | | can actually cut the America mat to the same |
| soundproofing your car but there is precious little | | | | pattern as the protective mat that came with the |
| "How too" information out there regarding this | | | | car that way you know it will fit and look properly. |
| subject. I am here to fill that void. When | | | | Once you have the America mat cut to your liking |
| soundproofing any vehicle, the first order of business | | | | and the underside of the hood is cleaned down to |
| is to take care of the engine noise coming from | | | | the paint, I would recommend cleaning the underside |
| under the hood. Most people don't realize that a lot | | | | with a terry cloth rag and some alcohol. This will |
| of the noise they hear in the passenger | | | | insure good adhesion of the adhesive. You can also |
| compartment of their vehicle is actually being | | | | rough up the underside with a fine grit sand paper on |
| transmitter from the engine and the road via the | | | | an electric sander. Cover the engine with a towel or |
| tires and shocks. In essence these sounds and | | | | drop cloth to prevent adhesive of sand granules from |
| vibrations are transmitted directly into the hood of | | | | getting into the motor. Now you will spray a good |
| the car which is a sheet of steel that simply | | | | quality contact cement to the underside of the hood |
| transmits the noise through the hood I and into the | | | | as well as to the smooth side of the America Mat. I |
| windshield and ultimately to the passengers ears. I | | | | like the 3M Super 77 spray contact cement. Keep the |
| know I know, you have some sort of fiberglass | | | | 2 pieces apart for as long as the instructions say and |
| material attached to the underside of the hood, isn't | | | | once the adhesive has tacked you will adhere the |
| that soundproofing. I'm afraid not, basically that is a | | | | foam to the underside of the hood. You will want to |
| heat shield to prevent the heat of the engine from | | | | use tape to hold the America mat to the underside |
| damaging the paint on the surface of the hood. It | | | | of the hood until it dries enough to stick on its own. |
| does work well for that, but it has absolutely no | | | | When the adhesive has dried you cam close the |
| soundproofing abilities at all. What I suggest is that | | | | hood and drive off. The America mat can withstand |
| you remove that fiberglass hood mat and then clean | | | | temperatures of 240 Deg F and will literally last for |
| the underside of the hood thoroughly. You will then | | | | the life of the vehicle. This system can also be used |
| cut and glue in a piece of 1" America Mat which is a | | | | on trucks and motor homes. We have many |
| dense vinyl nitrile closed cell foam mat. What you | | | | customers who have used the America mat to |
| want to do is trace out the underside of the hood | | | | soundproof the "Doghouse" that covers the engine |
| using a pencil and butcher paper for example and | | | | from the inside of their coach. Now there are also |
| trace out the cut that you want paying attention to | | | | materials that can be used for the floorboards as well |
| the edges and the contours. How do I cut the foam | | | | as door panels and the back areas of station wagons |
| so precisely you ask? Well I'm glad you asked. The | | | | or vans or the trunks of cars. We have also had |
| absolute best way to accurately and precisely cut | | | | people with classic cars use the America mat to |
| any kind of foam is to use an electric kitchen | | | | soundproof their vehicles; it can make your Corvette |
| meat-cutting knife. These electric knives are readily | | | | sound a lot quieter with the top up. I hope this has |
| available at Wal Mart or K-Mart and cost about $9- | | | | helped you in your quest for a quieter vehicle. There |
| $12. It is well worth the investment if you plan on | | | | will be more articles on car soundproofing in |
| soundproofing your entire vehicle. Basically you would | | | | subsequent articles, until then, this is Dr. Bob....Out!!! |
| trace the pattern of the underside of the hood; you | | | | |