"doghouse" sound insulation

DonGargano · December 2020

Hi Guys,
Another project I will tackle on my 96 212 Festiva this spring is to replace the foam insulation on the inside of the engine compartment cover. Must be original....you just have look at it and it disintegrates! Have heard good things about Sounddown, but this could be cost prohibitive. Would likely need three pieces at about $150 Cdn each.

Thoughts, recommendations?

Thanks guys and have a safe and happy Christmas!

Don G

LaRea · December 2020

I hear you ... that's why I'm replacing mine (and it's 11 years younger than yours).

The ones I found are all around the same cost. It really comes down to "size matters" ... thicker is better, and you pay for it. If you just want it to look better, anything with a mylar coating will look great. If you want sound and thermal insulation, spend to get it.

How big is the doghouse?

RiverRat232 · December 2020

This stuff is kind of expensive but people swear by it.
http://www.dynamat.com/brands/dynamat-xtreme/

Grahamu · December 2020

not sure your location but try Blatchford Acoustics they are on Royal Windsor Drive, Mississauga, ON. Happy Holidays.

LaRea · December 2020

Dynamat and Soundown are different products. Dynamat is a damping layer -- basically a thin layer of butyl tape covered by foil. It will help if the structure itself is ringing like, say, a metal trash can.

Soundown is a sound absorbing layer similar to fiberglass insulation. It absorbs airborne noise and reduces transmission through a bulkhead or cover.

I'm not sure how they compare for heat insulation. But I wouldn't install Dynamat if the original insulation is like Soundown.