I am having new carpeting installed in my 69bird convertible. Is it worth spending the extra money for sound or heat insulation underlayment? How much would that add to a typical installation and is it a waste of money on a convertible?

In my opinion, well worth it for the added comfort provided by the extra heat control.

Of course I DIY...so it cost me probably $40 in extra materials and a couple hours of my time. Since you're having yours done for you, I'm not sure what they're charging you...or what kind of materials they intend to use...or their workmanship or the type of workmanship you are expecting. Honestly the sky is the limit on this sort of thing, and there are too many variables and opinions to give you a real straight answer.

Do it yourself and you won't be second guessing whether it was worth it or not.

For sound it does nothing, unless for some odd reason you drive arond with the top up. But even then it may help 10% because most of the sound comes through the top well.

For heat off the pavement, it will help a lot. Probably to a lesser amount here in the Midwest verses CA or some warming community out west.

Like craze stated, lots of variables.

68 vert in the Phoenix desert that i put a layer of Dynamat in. As Craig states, not much difference in the noise level, but it did make a difference in the heat coming though the floorboards, firewall and tunnel. For me, well worth the time and effort.

What products are you guys using? Dynamat, Second Skin is it all the same stuff. I read somewhere of a product available through Home Depot/Lowes but cant remember the name. Any thoughts are welcomed.

Thanks Pete

Probably lower quality than Dynamat...but:

http://www.frostking.com/foil-and-fiberglass-duct-wrap/

The 1/8" thick version. Dense fiberglass mat with thin aluminum foil layer, sticky back. I found it to be lightweight, inexpensive, effective, and available in stock at most big box home improvement stores. In my opinion only good for under carpet only, nowhere else...adhesive isn't good enough for vertical application to insides of doors, etc. It'll fall off. But under carpet? It can't fall off if it's already laying on the floor and held down by the carpet...2 rolls covered the majority of my floor for less than $20 each roll.

For good/heavy/sticky stuff that will hold to vertical surfaces:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_154017-81326-PS6...8733&rpp=32

It's not light...basically a solid tar/asphalt type of product with thick aluminum foil on one side. This is good stuff for lining insides of doors and quarter panels, etc. If applied to a clean surface, it'll stick seriously and forever. It's dense and heavy. Each roll is like 10 to 15 pounds I think. It'll add some weight to your car.

Read the reviews on that link...it seems there are a whole lot more people using this product for soundproofing/insulating their car than for actually fixing their roofs & gutters...

Do your research on this.

I spent hours going over the different product types.

The peal and seal stuff at lowes is asphalt based and though I have no first hand experience with it, from what I read I decided to steer clear of it.

I ended up going with Damplifier pro from 2nd skin. It doesnt so much eliminate air born noise it is designed to eliminate vibrational noise like hitting a drum.

I only wish that I would have used a thermal blanket too under the carpet as I still get heat up from the floors. Some people get carried away appling the stuff.

Some peaple swear by the spray in stuff too.

http://store.secondskinaudio.com/noise-vibration-coatings/

The problem is how do you measure how well its working. Its all very subjective, and in my opinion just a matter of a degrees between them all. Its also very difficult to find someone that has used different products that doesn't have a biased opinion.

tell me more about the thermal blanket please, i looked at this product http://www.legendaryautointeriors.com/20248/40-OZ-FELT-YARD-/detail.html is it the same or different from the thermal blanket you are talking about ?

i have eastwood co thermo coustic barrier waiting to put in my 68 convertible afetr i get the floor ready for it

las vegas

I was using thermal blanket as a generic term. Lots of different types out there.

I think this one is like the eastwood one if I recall.
http://www.stockinteriors.com/HeatSound.asp?Itemid=4783&kw={keyword}&gclid=COiPrp3x1LYCFQNlMgodZB4AdQ

One tip that I will pass on is be carfull how thick you get under the foot pedal you may need to rebend it a little to get full throttle.

I wonder about some sort of deadening in the doors....My doors close solid but have a tinny sound.....


Although I suppose if I wanted a Mercedes i shoulda bought one LOL

If you want to get all techy the hot rod board will tell you to use micro glass beads suspended in latex paint on the floors before anything else. I got as far as buying the beads but never tried it.
How do you tell if it works or not? Find somebody with an Iphone and record the decible level inside when you go for a drive(my wife has the app on her Ipad)(my car runs at 92db at cruise, she wears earplugs when we go somewhere). Then do it again after you do the work. Only way I know to know for sure.

for "tinny" sounding doors, use peel and stick sound deadener. One piece 4" x 12" stuck to the middle of your doorskin makes a huge difference in both the sound and feel of your doors when closing. You don't have to cover the whole area. Pro Form PF350 is avaiable at Lordco and many others.

I read that whole 23 page post. I'm sure its even bigger now but just was not convinced that was the way to go. The micro ballons act as insulation from heat and it is affective but for the time and trouble to do all that work is it really better then just throwing down a 1/2" thermal blanket?

I read some test that a few people did on tempurature but saw nothing on if it was effective for road noise. However a few people really loved what they did.

Again its very subjective.

I used Second Skin when I redid my interior about 3 years ago. Damplifier Pro on the floor and doors. I used Heat Wave Pro under the headliner. I do not have AC in the car and the temp difference in summer is remarkable. I'm sure there is some noise reduction as well, but with the windows down, who cares? The doors are not tinny anymore and sound more "solid" when I close them.

Tom