Everyone knows that any vehicle of substantial vintage isn't going to ride as quietly as a new car, right? With that said, there's no reason old cars and trucks should be excessively noisy-it's just up to the individual owner to determine when and, more importantly, how to get rid of the rattles.
For many, quieting rattles is fairly straightforward: grab the nearest business card, matchbook, or whatever will fit between the window glass and the metal it's coming in contact with. However, when it comes to noise emitted from outside elements, no piece of paper is going to help quiet that. This is when it becomes time to seriously consider insulating your truck's cab-and while you're at it, you might as well replace the window channels/felt and window rubber, right?
Hopefully you're all fairly familiar with the '60 Ford F-100 we've been putting a lot of time and effort into over the last year. Well, it finally hit the road, and while performance-wise it's a blast to drive, it was rather noisy-and we're not referring to the Flowmasters, either! No, like most classic trucks, the '60 was full of rattles from worn-out weatherstripping, and to top it all off, heat from the new Smeding 392 was making its way into the cab, making it quite difficult for the Vintage Air unit to do its thing. Our solution: Install QuietRide Solutions' AcoustiShield insulation/damping material along with new window seals from Dennis Carpenter.
QuietRide's comprehensive kit includes presized damper pads for absorbing body panel vibration; pre-cut insulation panels that act as both a sound barrier and heat absorber; spray adhesive; and sealing tape. With fully detailed instructions, it's easy for anyone to obtain "quiet riding comfort," just as the kit claims. The weatherstripping components from Dennis Carpenter include a complete anti-rattle kit with all the door/vent glass parts; a full cab weatherstripping kit with rubber seals for the doors, windshield, and back light; and a factory rubber floor mat. Though a bit more involved labor-wise than the insulation, when installed correctly, these parts will make any pickup cab quieter than ever. We'll save that part of the job for next month, as we have plenty to tackle with the insulation this month.
On the other hand, if you're content with your truck's discontent nature, you might want to make a doctor's appointment-to get your ears checked!
