Your S30 should have a quieter cabin for a better and quieter driving experience! These old sports cars have very thin metal panels that tend to let in too much road noise. Plus the engine sounds and annoying wind vibrations. It can all be a bit much at times.
You'll find lots of different ways to cut back on cabin noise without hurting the performance. From new window seals to sound deadening materials - and even useful parts like our Skillard camber plate covers - the right combinations will make your Z car more pleasant to drive.
Let's take a look at some noise reduction options for your Z car!
Table of Contents
Insulation and Sound Deadening
Road noise plagues classic Datsun S30 owners because these vintage cars don't have much modern sound insulation! You'll be happy to know that getting rid of these annoying sounds isn't too hard if you can use the right materials.
Your S30's floors and doors let in most of the unwanted road noise. The transmission tunnel and wheel wells also make the situation worse by acting like drums that improve every little bump and vibration from underneath your car.
Today's sound deadening materials prove more useful than anything available when your S30 rolled off the assembly line. Products like Damplifier Pro are great at quieting down metal panels. Their butyl rubber layer turns vibrations into heat instead of noise. Just stick these directly onto the bare metal of your floor pans and doors.
Mass Loaded Vinyl should be your next step in creating a quieter ride - this thick and heavy material blocks out airborne sounds well. For maximum effectiveness, pair it with some closed-cell foam to create a small air gap. This combination helps knock down tire noise and wind noise.
Your S30's doors need attention too. First, take off those door panels and give the inner metal a complete cleaning. Then put some damping material on the outer skin and inner door panel. Remember to fill any empty locations with closed-cell foam so nothing rattles around in there.
That trunk area creates racket in S30s too. Put lots of damping material on those wheel wells and the trunk floor. When you add some sound deadening to the rear quarter panels it helps cut down on tire noise coming through the back end of your car.
The firewall between your engine and cabin deserves focus since it's a big noise source. Modern sound deadening products manage engine heat just fine. Cover every bit of metal you can reach with damping material and noise barriers.
When you take your time during installation it pays off. Give the surfaces a good cleaning before sticking anything down. A roller tool helps you get rid of air bubbles as you go along. Don't rush the cutting and fitting. Doing it right the first time prevents problems later.
Camber Plate Modifications
Camber plates create most of the unwanted sounds. You'll need these plates to dial in your wheel angles for better handling.
Thankfully, we at Skillard have some camber covers that address this familiar issue head-on. Our aluminum covers sit right on top of the holes from your weld-in camber plates in the strut towers. We designed them to cut all that noise down. They also stop dirt and grime from getting into your cabin. We pack the mounting hardware you'll need right in the box.
Once installed, these covers won't give you any problems. Just position them over your car's rear strut towers and you're almost there. Make sure they sit flush against the surface. They won't create new rattles of their own! The supplied trim pieces give everything a great and clean look too.
Want to take your noise reduction game even further? Try adding some sound-deadening material under our covers. S30 enthusiasts swear by products like Second Skin Luxury Liner for blocking out extra noise. Just remember to cut the material properly and use strong adhesive to hold it in place.
Your camber plate setup can affect how much road noise gets into your cabin. Those popular polyurethane plates tend to be much noisier than the original rubber bushings. They're harder and let more vibrations through. Our covers let you tame that extra noise without affecting your suspension settings.
The parts you pick for fighting road noise make a difference in the long run. Our aluminum covers prove useful because they stay rigid and don't add new rattles to the mix. S30 owners can actually mix and match different solutions for the best results. Think hard covers combined with soft sound-deadening materials underneath.
Tire Selection for Noise Reduction
You'll see a massive change in handling and comfort based on your tire choice! Here's what you should know about picking the right tires for a peaceful drive.
These tires pack proven rubber compounds and tread patterns that soak up road vibrations! You'll especially love the Bridgestone Turanza series for its whisper-quiet performance on the road.
Your performance tires will naturally run louder because of their aggressive treads. While they'll give you lots of grip - they'll also fill your cabin with noise. Modern performance tires deliver better balance between noise and grip compared to older models.
Your tire's sidewall height matters for noise control too. Taller sidewalls can soak up more road bumps and vibrations. Your 16-inch wheels with higher-profile tires might actually give you a quieter ride than bigger wheels.
Tire technology has advanced recently. Manufacturers like Pirelli now pack sound-absorbing foam right inside their tires. This innovative tech dramatically cuts down the racket you'll hear in your car.
Your driving style should guide your tire choice. For commuting you'll want touring or all-season tires to stay peaceful. Though if you love spirited weekend drives, you might not mind the extra noise from performance tires.
The rubber in your tires can affect noise control quite a bit. Soft compounds tend to run quieter than harder ones on the road. Just keep in mind that these quieter and softer tires might wear out faster and might not grip as well in wet weather.
Premium manufacturers like Michelin and Goodyear have created low-noise models. Even though these tires cost more than budget options, drivers swear by the peaceful cabin experience they deliver.
Window Seals Replacement
Road noise always bothers classic Datsun S30 owners and worn-out window seals are the main source of unwanted noise from outside. Your seals will naturally break down as time goes on so you need to keep an eye on them.
You can fix problematic window seals once the warning signs appear. Water pooling on your seats after rainfall is a dead giveaway! Your car might also make whistling noises while you're cruising down the highway. Your windows might stay foggy no matter what you do to clear them up.
When you swap out your window seals it might feel like a scary job at first - but you'll find it's easy. Just pull out the old seal with basic tools from your garage. Then wipe away any sticky residue and debris from the channels. Finally push the new seal right into place.
When you pick the perfect seals for your S30 you'll succeed. Each model (if it's the 240Z 260Z or 280Z) needs its own door window seal kit. And remember that 2+2 models need sets too. Even the quarter window seals aren't the same between early and late production cars.
Some S30 owners try to pinch pennies with cheap replacement seals. But it'll cause problems down the road! Quality seals cost more up front. But they'll last much longer. They're better at keeping all that annoying road noise outside where it belongs.
When you take your time during installation it pays off at the end of the day. Some people like adhesive while others skip it completely to avoid potential leaks later on. Both methods work fine as long as you're careful with what you're doing.
Why not look at your S30's doors while you're at it? Look at the weatherstripping around every door opening. Those small openings let in way more road noise than you'd expect. Double-check that all your seals push against their contact points when you shut the doors.
Sound Deadening Coatings
You'll find that modern sound deadening coatings can solve this frustrating problem. These materials create a useful barrier between you and all that outside racket!
Your S30 has some coating options that'll work well. LizardSkin Sound Control can give you a reliable and useful spray-on answer that's good for the Datsun platform. You might also want to check out Boom Mat Spray-On since it covers wide areas with each can. These products are easy to work with and they'll be performing year after year.
Getting your surfaces ready makes a difference before you start coating. Start with cleaning the metal surfaces thoroughly and remove any corroded sections. Your surfaces need to be bone dry before you put down any product. When you follow these steps your coating will stick better and last longer.
Put your coating work where it can count the most - those areas where road noise sneaks into your cabin. The unwanted noise usually comes from your floor pans and wheel wells. The trunk area and doors need sound deadening too. The roof deserves some attention because it lets in lots of noise from above.
These sound deadening coatings don't need any fancy tools to apply. Based on what you buy, you can use a regular brush and roller or spray gun. You'll get better results from a few thin layers instead of putting one thick coat. Just remember to let each layer dry completely before adding another.
Sound deadening gives some extra benefits too - it shields your car's metal from rust and moisture damage. These tough products manage high temperatures without breaking down. Some even let you paint right over them once they're completely dry.
Most modern sound deadening materials won't cause any safety problems. These products normally have water-based and non-toxic formulas. Products like Boom Mat meet the state's environmental rules. If you make a mess, most coatings can clean up with regular soap and water.
Mass Loaded Vinyl Installation
MLV can change the noise levels you hear on the road - this dense vinyl sheet packs small metal bits inside that block unwanted sounds. It basically works like a sound-proof blanket wrapped around your car!
You'll see the biggest improvements after installing MLV on your S30's floors doors and trunk areas. The material catches those persistent sound waves before they can sneak into your cabin. Your ride will feel way more luxurious and refined once you have MLV in these places.
When you install MLV into your Datsun you'll need some prep work. First you should map out all your coverage areas and grab a sharp utility knife and straight edge. Remember to cut your pieces slightly smaller than needed - you don't want to end up with annoying wrinkles.
Your S30's curves and tough shapes will test your patience when working with MLV. While the material does flex, it can fight you around tight corners. When you break up the job into smaller pieces for those tough places it'll save you problems. This also gives better coverage.
DIYers often team up MLV with other sound-deadening materials for maximum effect - this combo addresses airborne noise and body vibrations. The modern MLV products also come with built-in foam backing to make your job easier.
After installing MLV you'll see the change in road noise. Your car will run much quieter at highway speeds - especially over rough roads or during downpours.
Good results mean laying down complete coverage without leaving any gaps. Even small holes can let noise creep in and ruin your hard work. When you seal up the seams between pieces with acoustic caulk or barrier tape it locks down that sound-blocking protection.
Sound always finds the easiest path into your cabin. You'll want to focus extra attention on covering your floor pan wheel wells and firewall. These areas let in the most noise.
Build Your Dream Car
When you make your classic Datsun S30 quieter you'll need some patience and attention to detail. You'll see how each upgrade can build on the others too. It can give you an even better driving experience! With the right strategy your sound reduction methods will change your noisy classic into a refined machine.
When you look at these noise reduction possibilities you'll realize there's no one-size-fits-all answer for your S30. You might want to start with some wheel well insulation and tire upgrades. These usually give you the biggest results for your dollar. Or maybe you'll like tackling every place with multiple layers of sound deadening materials. What matters is finding what works best for your preferences and how you like to drive your Z car.
That's why we created Skillard - to help Datsun enthusiasts like you turn your dream builds into reality! Beyond noise reduction, our complete lineup of custom-designed parts improves the style and performance of your S30. We love that.
From our signature aluminum door cards and center consoles to our popular bumpers and spoilers, each component improves your classic Z car. Ready to level up your build? Head over to Skillard.com and check out our full catalog of prime-choice upgrades for your project!
