Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: Gmg31 on Friday,September 04, 2015, 12:37:25 PM
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stripped down the chassis today. All the old sound proofing is very old and tatty so ripped it all off and the chassis is In perfect condition underneath. So having looked on eBay there are two good replacements. Silver pads or black matting. Anyone got any experience of these products.
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Find some closed cell neoprene foam. r.d. enterprises on this side of the pond sells some. I found some locally by checking the phone book. I used a 3/8" thickness.
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I used a silver backed closed foam.
(http://www.lotuseuropa.org/gallery/albums/album13/ChassisInsulation.jpg)
(http://www.lotuseuropa.org/gallery/albums/album13/ChassisInsulation2.jpg)
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B-Quiet:
http://www.b-quiet.com/products/b-quiet-ultimate-50sqft
And then put the rdent.com closed foam.
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Some great ideas there thanks. I've ordered some sheets of neoprene. I'll post pics on my restoration thread. Thanks
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What do you chaps use for the front crossmember padding - and the rear y piece?
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I wasn't going to use anything. When I removed the shell the only padding was on the back bone so I wasn't planning to add something that isn't necessary. I'm planning to fit the neoprene matting recommended above, mine will look like the pictures above but black.
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That's interesting - I was reading an article in the body section on the page linked below - it is a 74 TCS though so might be different ...
http://www.lotus-europa.com/manuals/
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That's an interesting article. I had wondered about adding some to the front cross member, I think that's a good idea. I guess for balance I should add a piece to the Y as well.
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Yes, I think I will too - there is "something" stuck to the body above the front crossmember on mine - not removed it yet, it looks well stuck on ... need to chisel it off and see !!!
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Oh I hadn't thought to look inside the shell, thanks for that. I'll check it out when it comes back.
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I started searching for light weight sound proofing mat, and came up with this stuff. Any thoughts?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Silent-Coat-2mm-10-Sheets-Car-Deadening-Vibration-Sound-Proofing-Damping-Mat-/161282941044?hash=item258d366074
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If you're thinking of something to go between the fame and the body, I think you really want something bigger and a little thicker - say 3/8". That will fit snug so you shouldn't have any sound problems.
If you're thinking of something to put on the floor, I feel like the mat under the carpet works well.
Thinking about it, my engine is pretty loud so maybe I wouldn't know! :FUNNY:
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This article is what Nick is referring to and there is a cross member piece. It also covers the thickness of material to be used. I am using self adhesive closed cell 13mm neoprene than will compress down down the main chassis
http://www.lotus-europa.com/manuals/misc/body/Optimized%20Jute%20Padding%201974%20TCS%20before%20removal.PDF
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I was looking at the sound deadening mats but after the advice on this thread (higher up) I bought three sheets of adhesive backed black closed cell neoprene mats off ebay for £60. It is superb, very easy to fit and looks great.
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Is the mat on the chassis needed to make it sit snug to the chassis, or will taking it out just make a lot of racket. Mine is going to be more track focused with occasional road use, so maybe I'll leave it out - I'm trying to figure out if a more solid mounting is a good or bad thing, in terms of stressing the body.
When I hear neoprene I think of wetsuits. Will it absorb and hold water against the chassis?
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I think the mat/pad helps keep the body from knocking on the frame and probably also takes some stress of the bolts that mount the body because it minimizes any movement between the two. If you use closed cell foam, it should not retain water. In any event, it would certainly retain a lot less than the jute that came with the car originally!
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Like BDA, I'd expect closed cell neoprene to be far less of a problem than the original fibrous matting that Lotus used. As an aside, when I took my chassis off many years ago there was no sign of dampness anywhere in the insulation, not even the bottom edges. And that was a car used daily and kept outside in the West Yorkshire weather (rain, wind and that's a typical summer day ;) )
For a track car I don't think I'd bother. I wouldn't expect any material makes a massive amount of sound reduction because there's nothing in the front crossmember to move and very little in the central tunnel that isn't tied down but I'd imagine it takes out a lot of creaks & groans as the body flexes going down the road. On a track car the last thing you'll be thinking of is where that odd squeak is coming from.....
Brian
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Finished mine today. I think if you left it out the vibrations from the chassis would damaged the shell eventually, it's easy to do and in my opinion well worth £40.
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That looks very neat. What thickness did you use?
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12mm. It was very easy to fit
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Just one more update. After a week in the cold garage I noticed that the duct tape I used around the edges had come off. Obviously it isn't essential but its hard to get perfect joints and edges so tape makes the job look much neater. I ended up buying Gorilla Duct tape and re sealing all the joints. Superb stuff £5 off ebay
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I ended up buying Gorilla Duct tape and re sealing all the joints. Superb stuff £5 off ebay
Red Green would be proud! ;) ;D