sound proofing Camry to Lexus conversion.

[molson.david]

Hello everyone.
Some time ago, apprx. 7-8 years back, I wanted to buy a Lexus ES300,but bought 2001 Camry.
Latter I was ready to get ES330, but bought house instead. Now I like ES350, but got used 2007 Camry.
Looks like I got same problem every time when I’m buying a car: not enough money…
Well, two things I like about ES compare to Camry are faux wood trim and quietness of interior.
I bought 2009 XLE OEM dark wood for my Camry, and looking for steering wheel now. But to fix quietness problem is not that easy.
About time when I got my first Camry I was working at body/mechanical shop. My boss had on call guy who was installing audio equipment and sound insulation on demand. I spoke to him few times and watched his work.
He was no professional, but results always were outstanding, no problems, no compliance and his prices were more than reasonable, in general because he was using “secret” materials. They were cheap, but very effective.
I used Dynamat and some other stuff on my previous car and had some good effect, but never used “secret” materials.
Reading about sound/noise blocking I realized that those materials not just cheap substitute for professional sound deadeners and absorbers, they actually should work too.
Most road and engine noise comes to the cabin through doors, floor and firewall.
Firewall on Camry already has some sound insulation on both sides, so I left it for later. Floor got some spray on insulation and covered by carpet-one of the good insulators, so it is not a worst zone too.
But doors…I don’t know how much Toyota saved on it, but besides few flaps of some material on door panels there is no insulation and considering that doors are empty inside-acting like drums, this is the worst sound proofed zone of the car.
I’m sure most of the TN public knows or can figure out how to remove door panel? Not sure how to call it.




As a sound/ vibration absorber I used B-quiet Ultimate. I used Dynamat Extreme in past, but BQ is lighter, cheaper and more effective than Dynamat if you believe in comparison tests.
One more thing about sound absorbers, you don’t have to cover entire surface of the panel to get good results. It what I was told by that guy and read on few “smart” sites. 30% of coverage will give you great noticeable result, you’ll get maximum result if you cover 50-60%, but you using twice more material, time and gaining extra waight.100% coverage is just overkill.
All these butane based materials designed to absorb noise and vibration from panels they applied to,but they won’t sound proof cabin if used alone and they pretty expensive and heavy, so do not overkill, you can get great result without extra weight and spending.
I covered apprx. 15-20% of outer shell of the door only. I knew I’ll get good results anyway and didn’t want to spend too much material and make my doors armored car heavy.
I used pieces about 2x3, 3X3 and put them across speaker opening and spread them evenly on the outer shell, just to absorb vibration coming from outside, 2 factory 2x4 pc of insulation definitely was not enough for that.
Then applied same size pieces on inner shell of the door. In some places pc. even smaller. Around speaker opening I applied bigger pieces, cut out opening and used this pc. too. By knocking on the door you’ll feel how echo going away when you applying more and more material amount.



Because doors were disassembled, I decided to replace stock speakers too. I never have seen such cheap speakers: they entirely made from plastic with paper cones.
To put 6x9 Pioneer’s I used door speaker adapters for Camry, you need them or lowered glass won’t clear the speaker and mounting holes doesn’t match the speakers anyway.
Always had good experience with Pioneer speakers and stereos, didn’t think about what to buy this time too. On all my cars I used plastic zip lock bags to make a moisture/dust cover for the speakers. By my opinion it adds protection for membranes and connections.
Before installing adapter in place, I applied construction caulk around speaker opening; when caulk cures it will eliminate possible vibration too.




Don’t forget to put plastic weather screen back on the door.
With speaker in place now time for second layer of soundproofing material. Here comes first “secret” material.
Fleece fabric. As far as know, sound doesn’t travel well through soft, full of air materials. Energy of the sound wave soaked into these materials, plus, air get trapped in it too, so this is the perfect light and cheap sound absorber.
I got mine at Wal-Mart, $2.77 a yard! Considering that fabric comes in roles 5” wide, I paid $10 for enough material for 4 doors! And all this fabric weight less than change in your pocket and sell phone, no harm for MPG!
There is different thickness fleece at WM, I used almost thinnest one, but two layers, easier to work, for doors, and thicker one for the floor.
Simply attach piece of fabric to the door, cut opening for the speaker, wires, and clips. You can use little self tapping screws to hold fabric on the door, or as I did, packing tape. There is a technological opening at the bottom of the door and foamy thing on the door panel which goes to that opening, to make it work, cut fabric in vertical strips along this opening, they will bent accordingly to the shape of the thing on the door. I have no idea how to call it and what it for.
Try to fit door panel in place, make sure you got all holes for clips and screws.




Next layer, “secret” too, is a sound blocker. Almost sound impenetrable. Rest of the sound which went through fleece will be stopped and turned back to fleece by that “wall”.
If some have worked in construction, he sure knows about PVC shower pan liner. We also used this material to soundproof couple home theaters; combined with cheap conventional wall insulation it works better than very expansive one.
Lowe’s and Home Depot sales shower liner for $6’. Sheet is 5-6’ wide. $60 will buy you enough material for whole car.
Same as with fleece attach sheet to the door and cut out all necessarily openings.




Put your door panel back and you done.
So far I’ve done doors and front half of the floor. Planning to finish floor and fire wall later, got no time and weather getting colder and colder too.
I felt result as soon I finished front doors. If before car was pretty quiet, no obvious source of noise, after doors I could’ve clearly feel than noise coming from the floor, it means doors became much quieter compare to the floor.
My next big project to remove dashboard and improve firewall insulation. Got all materials ready, waiting for good weather and free time.
I do have diagram how to remove dash, but still can use advice and experience on how to remove it.
Not sure if I need to take steering wheel off , how dash attached to the wall around bottom of the windshield and will air ducts under dash come out with the dashboard or not.

[11LE]

Very legit mod! Maybe it'll help in temperature insulation, too?

Let us know how quiet it gets!! Post a vid where loud music is blasting outside, and then you close the door and it gets dead silent.

[Tek-nique]

Awesome man. Let us know how it comes out.

Just a suggestion... This would be like a great (clean) DIY if you have had the pictures put into the paragraphs where you describe where you installed and what material used. Instead of just putting the pictures in the end of your post. Other wise i just read a big wall of text. (just a suggestion) I did read the whole thing though.......

Again let us know the outcome! This would be a nice thing to do over summer (for me that is)

[7SickZ0]

Agreed this looks very interesting, pictures of products used and links to everything would be helpful too, this is exactly what I been looking for lately for my next mod, road noise gets on my nerves on my hour and a half one way drives to work everyday

[molson.david]

Very legit mod! Maybe it'll help in temperature insulation, too?

Let us know how quiet it gets!! Post a vid where loud music is blasting outside, and then you close the door and it gets dead silent.

thanks.
I'm not a fun of loud music, but do like good quality sound.
I've done it mostly to make cabin quieter and more comfortable and so far I'm happy.
my wife and coworker noticed effect too. It does work!

stock radio sounds much better too, maybe it's a Pioneers or maybe both.

[molson.david]

Just a suggestion... This would be like a great (clean) DIY if you have had the pictures put into the paragraphs where you describe where you installed and what material used. Instead of just putting the pictures in the end of your post. Other wise i just read a big wall of text. (just a suggestion) I did read the whole thing though.......

yep, already done! good advise, thanks.
honestly, I probably wouldn't read all this s..t without pics.too.

[molson.david]

Agreed this looks very interesting, pictures of products used and links to everything would be helpful too, this is exactly what I been looking for lately for my next mod, road noise gets on my nerves on my hour and a half one way drives to work everyday

well, here is link to B-quiet stuff.
http://www.b-quiet.com/ultimate.html
but I bought mine 50 sq.' from e-bay, just little cheaper.

you can find fleece at any Walmart or any other store which sells fabric, no problem here.

and PVC sheet-any hardware or building materials store will have it, just ask for shower liner, they will know what you looking for.

I got all season tires, pirelli P4 (like them a lot) and they should be really loud on highway (UTQG 700 vs stock Michelins 400), but i don't feel any tire noise after I proofed floor and doors.

want to remove dashboard and add insulation under it, to convert my camry to LS 460.
should I put lexus emblem on my bumper then

[Tek-nique]

Ahhh sweet! yea a lot better... This would be a great sticky, if not i just bookmark it! I want to do this as well cause I hate road noise too. Its funny that coming from a sports inspired car before I bought this camry, while test driving the camry I thought it was very quiet. But owning it for about 4 months now, I hear everything! rofl.

As for sound quality, I agree with you there. I like to hear mids and highs. I listen to rock, metal, and some r&B, some rap / hiphop (its not like it used to be). But mostly rock and metal. (Metallica baby!) Now I wished I had money to buy new speakers. hehe


edit: Mods can you guys sticky this?

[Cking]

I was going to do this but with PeelNSeal :p

Nice write up!

[molson.david]

I was going to do this but with PeelNSeal :p

I've heard it works too, but I'm in TX, it going to stink in the summer like brand new asphalt, I know someone with peel&seal mustung, and it heavy too.

[exclusive]

Very nice work and thanks for the write-up
Good luck with the dash because that's probably going to be a big pain.

[molson.david]

Very nice work and thanks for the write-up
Good luck with the dash because that's probably going to be a big pain.

Thanks.
I hope it shouldn't be really difficult, but I'm sure it's not easy too.
Will see.

[Dave-o]

doors and dashboard...in the future will you do trunk as well?

[pmesfun]

Thanks a bunch. I have so many annoying rattles inside the car. I'll give this a try.

good stuff and info, thanks