How to quiet the hard top?

[strider]

I've got my floor cleaned up and plan to start my quieting by using a lineX type material covered by carpet. I'll go after the top with some sort of matting over the winter. I'll be taking pics along the way too.

 

[Project_bronco]

This is an awesome thread!

 

[bajabronc]

Has anyone figured out how to insulate around the windows? I have the headliner in with insulation above in it in my Stroppe- both bQuiet -(like dynomat) and some foam insulation, but there is still exposed area and metal around the sides of the hard top. It would be great to insulate there as well, and have it look good. Any ideas? i would be great if someone made fiberboard covers for the sides of the hard top as well. - does anyone?

 

[Tomdee]

Top noise!!

For years used 3/4" board styrofoam between the roof and headliner,Great for noise reduction and insulation (a/c)
Tom D.

 

[Steve83]

Has anyone figured out how to insulate around the windows? ...there is still exposed area and metal around the sides of the hard top. It would be great to insulate there as well, and have it look good. Any ideas? i would be great if someone made fiberboard covers for the sides of the hard top as well. - does anyone?

I put upholstered steel panels in Frank's '75. Click this, then look at the NEXT several:



His truck is quiet enough to have a speakerphone conversation with the cruise set at 85.

 

[bajabronc]

What type of metal panels did you use? -how did you attach them to the hard top? I would like to do something similar.-

 

[marty]

here's what i did. i used the original cardboard headliner as templated but had to custom make other parts due to the fact my truck is a early '69 and had vacuum wipers and i made a original electric setup work with the holes so the cover had to be enlarged. also custom made the sides panels and sort of shadow boxed the windows. i used luane plywood for the structure and marine hull liner as the material just spray glued to the wood. been up for almost 2 years and no problems. trying to find more pics but coming up blank.

 

[Stroppe-Envy-77]

here's what i did. i used the original cardboard headliner as templated but had to custom make other parts due to the fact my truck is a early '69 and had vacuum wipers and i made a original electric setup work with the holes so the cover had to be enlarged. also custom made the sides panels and sort of shadow boxed the windows. i used luane plywood for the structure and marine hull liner as the material just spray glued to the wood. been up for almost 2 years and no problems.

Hey, that looks pretty clean. I wonder if any of the vendors would consider offering something like these. I'd be in.

 

[bajabronc]

It would be great to even just have something for the sides made out of the same fiberboard material as the headliner, so we can insulate behind it, and have a clean look. I would definitely buy that from a vendor. I wonder where I can get fiberboard that is the same white color as the headliner, so I can make something - any ideas?

 

[Steve83]

What type of metal panels did you use?

Roof gutter from HD, hand-cut & bent to shape. Then I sprayed them with 3M upholstery glue & stretched the same naugahyde onto them as the door & bed panels have.

how did you attach them to the hard top?

Their outer edges slip behind the headliner/bed panels & the inners slip behind the window gasket. Those pics can be supersized by clicking them again in the new window, and browse the PREVious & NEXT few.

I wonder where I can get fiberboard...?

Craft & sign stores sell several types: foam-filled posterboard, corrugated PVC sheets...

 

[marty]

It would be great to even just have something for the sides made out of the same fiberboard material as the headliner, so we can insulate behind it, and have a clean look. I would definitely buy that from a vendor. I wonder where I can get fiberboard that is the same white color as the headliner, so I can make something - any ideas?

its pretty easy if you make yourself. most of this stuff is held together with some small stainless screws(so steel screws don't rust through the headliner once covered) and hot glue gun. the glue gun is the key. it has great strength and will fill seems very well. and the hull liner is not that expensive and can be found online in different colors.

 

[Stroppe-Envy-77]

It would be great to even just have something for the sides made out of the same fiberboard material as the headliner, so we can insulate behind it, and have a clean look. I would definitely buy that from a vendor. I wonder where I can get fiberboard that is the same white color as the headliner, so I can make something - any ideas?

Well, I'm thinking that Home Depot, Lowe's, et al have fiberboard, but the thicker stuff. Perhaps a place that specialized in plywoods, veneers and Formica?

Once the right material is found, it's be pretty easy to just spray it with Parchment interior dye, which most classic Mustang vendors sell if the Bronco places don't. The finishing touch would have to be the welting, which the factory headliner has around the bottom edges. I'm thinking an upholstery shop could get it, but you might have to buy some gigantic roll of like 100' or something.

But, bottom line: It'd be sweet if they were available ready-made. I'd pay something in the $150-200 range for a professionally done pair.

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Great info! I am planning on making a fiberglass panel for the headliner and side windows. It is at least 2 years out to that point (maybe sooner of the cash flow somehow increases.....) but when I do, I have to make a plug then pull a mold... will see how it turns out at that time. Just planning on the FG to be the base, still will be upholstred to make it a finished product.