Date: Mon, 27 May 2002 11:37:11 -0500
Reply-To: Max Wellhouse <maxjoyce@IPA.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Max Wellhouse <maxjoyce@IPA.NET>
Subject: Dynamat install ?'s on front doors(long)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
My poor old 20 year old Nakamichi SP400 stereo speakers finally coughed up
their last Basia tune the other day, and after finding out replacement
drivers for them ran $80 each from the Nak website, I went speaker
shopping. didn't like anything I heard until I listened to a set of 6"
Focal 2 way 165H's at a high end car stereo place in town. Tweeters are
separate and have their own crossover and the kit was about $300(their
kevlar woofer model was like $550 a set!). Installed the woofer(really a
big mid range as I have 8" R/F Punch woofers under the back seat) about a
foot up from the bottom of the door and the tweeter under the stock
Vanagon location. They don't sound nearly as good in the van as they did
in the store, and after feeling how much the bottom of the door vibrates
with this new 6 " speaker in there, I think I see why Dynamat is in business.
The Dynamat is supposed to soak up the vibration and make the speaker sound
better and I've heard enough testimonials to that effect to be
convinced. My question(s) run something like this:
1. With the fresh air channel in the van's front doors, how do you
properly clean the metal door surface so the Dynamat will stick? Not only
is it dirty under there, It appears to be hell getting any cleaning
technique to work. I assume I leave the factory plastic intact, or do I
remove it for cleaning and install and then return it or replace it after
I'm done?
2. Dynamat sales folk say the Extreme Dynamat requires less "rolling and
heating" and is lighter weight(guessing for roof installations). Is it
worth the extra cost considering the tight quarters we're working with?
3. Does the entire door need to be deadend or just "x" number of square
feet near the speaker? I couldn't believe how much that door shook with
the volume up
4. Any tips on advantages of doing other vehicle panels with this
stuff. It is kinda expensive, but a quieter van is a good thing I think,
stereo or no stereo.
5. What sort of solvent/cleaner worked best in your experience? Acetone?
Xylene? Zep orange stuff? Misty LimoSol? 409?
I can't imagine doing the roof of the van, but any help on doing floors/
firewall /back hatch/rear bed area/side door/side panels would be greatly
appreciated. There has to be a point of diminishing returns here and I may
do this project one section at a time as funds are available. I do have to
save enough money here to buy a new radiator this summer!!
Thanks,
Dimwitted Moose and Flying Squirrel
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