Complete Insulation Guide for a Land Rover

The Land Rover Defender is probably one of the most iconic vehicles ever made. When this highly versatile off-road vehicle rolled off the assembly line in 1948, the acoustic materials that are available to us nowadays did not exist yet. The noise produced by the Land Rover Defender was simply considered as part of the deal, and even as an added value to the experience as a whole. Nowadays, a lot of people own the Defender as a second car, in which case the noise does stand out in a negative way. This gave rise to the desire to make the vehicle quieter and more comfortable by means of simple adjustments. A quieter car makes it possible to have conversations with the passengers and drive longer distances without being disturbed by the noise. The Acoustics Shop offers a variety of solutions and matching products to satisfy this desire.

The best results will be achieved by insulating the whole vehicle at once, and the end result will stand out more. When you carry out the project in several phases the improvement will be less noticeable.

Engine Noise
Reducing the noise produced by the engine starts with insulating the bonnet. Clean the bonnet thoroughly on the inside and make sure it is 100% grease- moisture- and dust-free. Then, cover all the flat parts with STP Black Silver. This method of insulating is called anti-drumming: extra mass is added to the bonnet, causing it to radiate less sound. Subsequently, you apply an absorption material on top of these anti-drumming mats in order to mute the sound. To this end, you can use Acusticab with a thickness of 19 or 25 mm, depending on the available amount of free space. Is the space you have very limited or is there a lot of heat? In this case we advise using Merfocell GW, an absorption material with a higher heat-resistance, thanks to a glass cloth finishing layer. All mentioned products are self-adhesive, rendering the use of glue unnecessary. Make sure that the absorption materials do not touch the engine!

Engine noise also enters via the bulkhead, the bottom plate and the containers of the chairs in the cabin. The bulkhead (also called firewall) separates the cabin from the engine compartment. These parts also need to be insulated (by means of anti-drumming). The optimal way to do this is via the side of the cabin, not of the engine.

If you have enough space at the side of the engine you can add Aluglass. This material prevents the radiation of heat. Aluglass absorbs sound, but is primarily used as a heat shield. In case you don’t have that much space, it doesn’t make sense to mount a bunch of small pieces of Aluglass. This method allows for too much sound and heat leakage.

In order to insulate the bulkhead, you need the heavier type of anti-drumming mats. The optimal choice is Vibraflex Extreme or STP Aero Bomb, since these two products insulate low frequency noise the best. Both products are only used vertically or horizontally and are never mounted upside down, so don’t apply it to the roof or the inside of the bonnet! You apply the products like a sticker, make sure to avoid air bubbles. Using a pressure roller is very convenient and optimises the adhesion of the anti-drumming mats. You can apply Isomat VM (floor mat) as a nice finishing layer and for extra insulation, with or without sealant. 

Driving Noise

Rolling tyres and wind can cause a lot of noise nuisance, especially when you have coarse tires. This noise enters mainly via the wheel arches, bottom plate and the trunk. In this case we advise you to use Vibraflex Extreme or STP Aero. Cover as much plate surface with these anti-drumming mats for the optimal result.

The heavier anti-drumming mats add quite a lot of mass, but provide the best result. In case weight constitutes a problem, for example because you frequently drive off-road, we advise you to use the less heavy Vibraflex Normal or STP Black Silver. Isomat VM (floor mat) functions as an ideal finishing layer in this case as well, offering even more insulation. Don’t attach the mat if you frequently drive off-road or if there is a chance for the mat to get wet. If you do want to attach the mat you can simply use a few drops of mounting kit.

Miscellaneous insulation

What’s left are vehicle parts like the roof, doors and side panels. These parts vibrate while driving, thus causing noise. As for mounting against the roof, which can get quite hot during the summer period, we advise you to use the less heavy STP Black Silver mats. You could use the absorption material Acusticell VSP as a finishing layer. This product is available in black and contains a toplayer of punched leather.

Noise may enter through the chairs as well. Equip them with Vibraflex Normal and cover it with the original seat upholstery. In case you don’t have the original seat upholstery (anymore), you can use Isomat FM. After equipping the side panels with Vibraflex or STP anti-drumming mats the vehicle is optimally insulated.

Questions?

Please feel free to contact us, we will be happy to answer your question as soon as possible.