Engine sound pad does it do any good?
 

I'm putting my engine back in tomorrow, the sound pad is hanging down, not in too bad shape.
I was planning on simply glueing it back in place, but should I just pull it out and forget it?
I have a Targa and usually drive with the top off, just how much difference does the pad make?

Thanks

Jay

i pulled mine from my '74 because it was original and deteriorating. i didn't want anymore tiny pieces of loose, rotten foam rubber entering into my intake. i had no heat issues and i could hear the flat six just a little bit better..not a huge noise increase, but a desirable one. if it's original i say chunk it, otherwise buy a lightweight replacement.
ryan

I'd personally say you should replace it. Keep the car in solid original condition. A sound pad is a small price to pay.

Good question. I have the same issue coming up when I replace my engine. I am not worried about original condition, because my car will be far from original. I look forward to all the input in this thread. :)

Either leave it out or get the lightweight replacement (like Ryan suggested). Use 3M Weatherstrip Adhesive to glue it in and do it in a well ventailed area as the fumes are really strong!

It is the original, I'm leaning toward leaving it out.
Dan, its not the first thing that's not original condition :)

I had bought the 3M 77 adhesive, stupid thing was full and wouldn't spray the glue. So I'm taking that back and thinking, heck 8 bucks, I could put that toward something really important, like the beer to celebrate when the engine is back in.


Jay

A new pad looks a lot nicer behind a 'new' engine then all that sheetmetal covered in old glue.

Jay,
Maybe I gave the wrong impression. My car is very original looking but far from really original. I put the lightweight, Pelican silver sound pad in. I simply liked the way it looked better than having all that dried nasty looking glue showing and I didn't have time to remove all the glue and paint the firewall properly. My car also has backdated mirror, narrow bumperettes, deleted fog lights and polished Fuchs, so I'm not an originality nut. I am more of a clean nut. And also a "Because-I-want-it-to-look-like-that" nut. I think we should all be that last one. Show us pix of whatever you decide to do, Dan

I took my old deteriorating factory one out and replaced it with OEM. Then I removed the nearly new OEM unit and now there's nothing. Nothing is better. Not much more noise. Just a little. It's a good noise.

How much sound does it reduce? A lot or a little? I'm thinking ahead to a big road trip. Thanks and sorry for the highjack. :D

doesn't reduce much in my opinion. i'd guess it's maybe 10-20% louder?? just going by my ear..good sound though, like i said. who doesn't wanna hear these motors?! ;)

It also acts as a thermal barrier.

+1 on the thermal barrier

i removed mine when it was crumbling and making a mess, and have been w/o it for over 3 yrs. after driving around w/ ben's muffler for the past 2, i've made the decision to put another one back in there.

on long drives to the track (midohio 8hrs, vir5-6hrs) it gets very tiresome, to the point that i started using earplugs on the looong drives. makes a big difference.

plus, it made cell phone conversations as well as the walkie talkie stuff impossible. it will still be loud, just somewhat less which is what i'm after. the noise will still be fine from the OUTside ;)

i guess i'm getting soft ;)

Thanks guys. :)

Dave, I'm concerned how Lu's going to hold up after a few week long road trip in the 73E. I think getting soft might be prudent. :D

More important...what does the OE pad weigh? ;)...no seriously.

Mine is removed...no difference with or without...!

it's a thermal barrier, but in my experience of having lived without it in my '74 as a daily driver for 6 years..i had no heat-related problems..even had folks ride in back and none suffered anything other than third degree burns..

;)

i hope no one bought that..

The purpose of this pad, at least the oem one, is thermal insulation. The new one (oem) I installed is a closed-cell foam and weighs much less than one pound. Its density is so low I can't imagine it could do much to attenuate sound.

After reading comments on why its there and whats it weights I would side with mysterytrain. Unless you could remove all the old glue.