Sound-deadening insulation in top?

Has anyone ever tried to "pad" a new top? What I mean by that is to install some sound-deadening material or insulation in the top, or will it crush the rear window when it folds up? Modern cars have pretty quiet roofs, and yet these old bigger cars are like driving a tent down the highway, they drone and flap at anything faster than 60 mph. There's always going to be noise, I understand that, but it's so bad that when driving 65-70 on the hiway I need hearing protection the drone is so loud.

Does anyone know a way to make the tops quieter at hiway speeds?

Thanks,

 

I installed a Kee Top on my 1970 Skylark back in 2003. And I have to say that noise is NOT a problem....
Any additional material will cause you problems so I would not deviate from the factory specs and add material to deaden the sound...
Maybe a new top is the answer....

:3gears:

 

Fix the drone. It sounds like something needs repair.

 

I had a 75 LeSabre that had just what you describe as an option. It was a padded section that went between the windshield and the first bow. Never got around to getting one as a 85 Riviera begged me to take her home. No noise in the Rivie.
You might contact a convertible top installer and maybe he'll be able to help.

 

Thanks for the replies; - I'm going to be putting a new top on the car, the old one is pretty much shot. It's the original one (I think) and it's pretty much shrunk and over stretched. The centre bar loop on the inside was ripped off years ago because of shrinkage and when the top inflates it rides too high causing it to flap.

Hopefully a new top stretched to the right dimensions will go a long way to quieting that thing up.

 

" Driving a tent "
Very accurate discription to my car, very funny. Thanks for that one:laugh: .
Goran

 

have you tried driving with the window cracked open? on the Skylark it keeps the top from inflating.

-nate

 

Yeah, that's pretty much how I have to drive it. Still, it's noisy, and above 65 mph it still sounds like a DC-6 on a take-off run.

Hopefully a new top will fix the matter, and the next time I'm on a hiway I'll be able to listen to the radio at speed...

 

Around here guys use this stuff from Lowes its $30 for a 2' X 25' roll just apply with spray adhesive......
http://www.lowes.com/pd_13357-56291-BP24025_4294858104+6_4294937087?productId=3011904&pl=1&currentURL=/pl_Foil%2BInsulation_4294858104 6_4294937087_

Here is a 80 Malibu project where it is being used..........

 

Have You Had Any Problems With The Bubbles Popping When Used On The Floor?
Gary