Slabby convertible question

Zymurgy

Zymurgy

Old Man with a Hat
FCBO Gold Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2012
Messages
6,709
Reaction score
7,620
Location
London, Ohio
If I drive Goldie I drive her with the top down. I have been impressed with how quiet she is topless. There was a time when I did driver her with the top up and window up at highway speeds of 75-80. I was going to a funeral with my wife and father-in-law, so I get a pass that day.

Here is the question the wind noise/baffle was quite bad and much louder than with the top down. Is that common with all slab side convertibles? I have an odd inner ear condition in which certain frequencies and tones really bother me.

Just trying to plan some longer road trips for next year, and I know the occasional shower will come and force the top up. Can you tell I am itching to get back on the road. :)
 
Just for sh!ts and giggles, try cracking the quarter windows just a bit. I had that kind of annoying drumming going on in my PT, and that helped.
 
Likewise with my 1999 Sebring, could not drive with the top up and the windows down. The quarters did help.

Not that it mattered much, if it was nice enough for the windows to be down the top was down, I called the top a convenience cover as the top was down 90% of the time I was driving the car.


Alan
 
Zymurgy said:
Here is the question the wind noise/baffle was quite bad and much louder than with the top down. Is that common with all slab side convertibles? I have an odd inner ear condition in which certain frequencies and tones really bother me.
:)
Click to expand...

I too have hearing issues. I don't own a slab side but I do own a B body convertible and notice the same thing. It is actually easier on the ears to drive with the top down than it is with the top up. Plus, you get to hear the engine better with the top down. :)
 
I'll chime in here too and say the same can be said for the E-body but I'll put up with it.:grin:
 
What can I say, I'm a sucker for a '70/1 Challenger.
 
My 70 300 isn't bad with the top up.

One thing I always do... If any of the windows are open, then I open the vent windows. I think the trick is to keep the buffeting from the wind to a minimum.

I also lined the floor and the inside of the doors to deaden the sound and that has helped tremendously with making the car more quiet... top up or down. A new trunk well liner helped too.
 
Thanks for the thoughts guys. I am glad I'm not alone on this. I like the idea of lowering the 1/4 windows a bit and or the vents, I will have to try that. It is not bad either with all the windows down and the top up, but that won't happen very often because then I would have the top down.

I will do some experimenting when the weather is nicer. I would also go 500 miles with the top down, but my wife not so much.
 
Most of the traveling Ellie and I do in Jazabelle is with the top down. Hey...... it's a convertible. I have also noticed the noise level goes up with the top up. and more so with the windows up. Open vent windows and partially lowering the rear 1/4 glass does help.

Loud or throwty mufflers are a no no on a convertible. The sound will drive you crazy at highway speeds, top up or down.
 
bluefury361 said:
Most of the traveling Ellie and I do in Jazabelle is with the top down. Hey...... it's a convertible. I have also noticed the noise level goes up with the top up. and more so with the windows up. Open vent windows and partially lowering the rear 1/4 glass does help.

Loud or throwty mufflers are a no no on a convertible. The sound will drive you crazy at highway speeds, top up or down.
Click to expand...

I wondered if the fusey bodies were the same. I guess big is big and they all move a bunch of air. I know what you mean about loud muffler and a convertible. I have an MGB with an after market header. I got a crack in the cast exhaust manifold and replaced it with the steel header. It is un-drivable now on the freeway over 70 mph, makes my eyes cross.
 
What Will said, except I haven't really experienced a difference between a louder exhaust and a quieter one... And I have had both under my convertible.

I mean a disturbing sound comes from the wind affect, that's the way I feel it.
 
I guess we all have some hearing issues, Mine were from dealing with pneumatic tools "inside". Now my ears ring all the time, I almost know no peace.

Having an all original convertible for ten years has spoiled me. No loud muffler a nice well liner and a carpeted trunk all helps keep noise down. The original top doesnt leak any water along the header so that tells me minimal air get in there as well.

The other convertible isnt as tight, bad well liner, no trunk mat whatsoever and a bit of leakage between the top and the windshield chrome along with two noisy mufflers makes #2 noisy with the top up and Ive never been so happy.

Mike, I believe your problem is across the board in most older convertibles with some moderation....... I presume Goldie is pretty tight with the amount of work you have into her?
 
Would the top itself make a difference? An Insulated top versus the thinner less expensive tops? And would a glass back window be better than plastic?
 
Big thing about exhaust is to get the exit out from under the car. The tailpipe just needs to be just past flush with the rear pan. You want the sound waves to reflect off the road and not under the car.... At least that's how I understand it and how it's worked for me to quiet down noisy exhaust on other cars.
 
Fratzog said:
Same here for last 5 years. Doc says its tinnitus and I will live with it to the end...
Click to expand...

Too much live music here. My ears ring constantly. I've been wearing hearing aids for two years just so I can carry on a conversation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

mopar Joe 65
Window seal question
Replies
6
Views
611
WissaMan
WissaMan
M
1968 Sport Fury Convertible - how to manually lower the top question.
Replies
6
Views
1K
MAalto
M
John Reddie
'67 Fury drivers door window question?
Replies
0
Views
566
John Reddie
John Reddie
carguy300
Charging question.
Replies
16
Views
2K
jww427
jww427
MattfromMaine
Torsion bar question
Replies
8
Views
2K
Gerald Morris
Gerald Morris
Back
Top