[DML] Special-T's Rear Cargo Sound Insulating Kit

[Cliff Schmucker <cliff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

here is a quick report about installing and the performance of
SpecialTAuto's (John Hervey's) Rear Cargo Sound Insulating Kit

access to the foam is pretty easy, remove the rear shelf carpet
(velcro), and the rear vertical trim board (4 screws)

I was lucky, the foam pieces in the car were pretty much still intact
(not mouse-eaten, etc.)

but, the original 25 year-old foam pieces covering the transmission
and engine compartment areas were in pretty sad shape, the top black
layer portion had numerous large cracks and was hard and brittle, and
the "carpet padding" lower layer had seen better days - pretty obvious
why it seemed to be "loud" in the passenger compartment, at least by
today's standards!

removal of these 2 large pieces was easy with a wide putty knife and a
shop vac 

the new foam pieces are made from what appears to be high-quality real
"sound deadening foam", rather than the original "carpet pad" foam

the portion that covers the horizontal transmission area is in two
layers like the original, the lower layer had to be cut to accommodate
the throttle cable, then the upper layer was just placed on top of the
lower

the foam piece for the rear vertical (engine) wall had all the cutouts
for the brackets and cables, only had to make a couple slits to the
holes to place the cables

I attached these pieces with 3-M 90 Hi-Strength spray adhesive from
Home Depot

there are a number of additional pre-cut pieces for the right and left
sides in the fender-well areas - the existing foam was still in pretty
decent shape, so I just added (crammed into place) the additional
pieces as an additional layer

all in all, a pretty quick project (well, really quick as I already
had the seats out for another reason), the one-page sheet of
instructions is helpful and complete

the good news: a HUGE difference in noise level - certainly worth the
$130 considering everything is pre-cut, and given the quality of the
new sound deadening foam - probably quieter than when the car was new

Cliff





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