1800: - Wind noise

EJH · Mar 22nd, 2008, 15:50

Greetings from Nice, France. I regularly use my '68 1800s on long fast trips on the French auto route system, often maintaining speeds of well over 80mph for long periods (no motorway congestion here)! The car seems to thrive on sustained high speed driving which is not bad for a vehicle 40 years old and of relatively small capacity.What is less impressive though is the wind noise above 70 mph. It gets very tiring especially on long journeys. The quarterlight seals are new and the door seals are OK. The noise seems to come from all around the windscreen. I have even tried removing the wipers to no avail. This could be simply a down side of driving a design that dates back to the fifties ... the drag co-efficient might not be as good as the body shape suggests, but if anyone has any ideas for reducing wind noise. I'd be grateful. If not, I suppose I'll have to find some ear plugs!

ivor940 · Mar 22nd, 2008, 15:57

Hi On my 940, I have notices wind noise from the black trim strips on the windcscreen. There were small gaps under the trim, especially at the corner pieces. If you temporally fit black insulating tape to the surround, it may prove that it was the cause of noise. Also on the 1800, are the rain gutters wide? On newer cars there are no gutters or narrower ones. Try taping them over as well to isolate the cause of the noise.

ivor940

EJH · Mar 22nd, 2008, 16:49

Thanks for the suggestion. There's a chrome beading in the screen rubber that isn't a perfect fit at the corners. I'll try taping it over as you suggest. The rain gutters are quite wide but if this is causing the noise I'm afraid I'm stuck with it!

RealEstate · Mar 22nd, 2008, 16:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivor940

Hi On my 940, I have notices wind noise from the black trim strips on the windcscreen. There were small gaps under the trim, especially at the corner pieces. If you temporally fit black insulating tape to the surround, it may prove that it was the cause of noise. Also on the 1800, are the rain gutters wide? On newer cars there are no gutters or narrower ones. Try taping them over as well to isolate the cause of the noise.

ivor940

Thanks for the tip.
Hi is it possible to get replacement corner pieces as my 940 is missing the driver's side?
All the best,
Ben

mike gilbert · Mar 22nd, 2008, 18:54

you say the quarterlight seals are new but when you re-fitted the quarterlights did you fit dum dum around the bottom of the quarterlight and in the gap between the quarterlight and the triangular bracket that attaches between the quarterlight and door. This is often forgotten during a restoration and makes a big difference.

B20F · Mar 22nd, 2008, 19:05

If you look at an opened door you can see the triangular shaped chrome piece from the quarter window which is "folded" round de door. This was what was causing a lot of wind noise on my ES. I filled the gap with some body gaulk which reduced the wind noise by quit a bit. (edit: sorry Mike, i meant the same. Didn't notice your comment!)
Also look at the gap from the doors, if the door is't adjusted right this will also cause wind noise. You can adjust the door catch on the B pillar (allen screws) so the doors will fit tighter.
The hood can also cause wind noise if it's not flush with the body.
But wind noise will always be part of the 1800 driving experience at higher speeds.

DuncanS · Mar 22nd, 2008, 20:41

One problem I have with my ES is that the quarter lights don't close tightly enough. There is quite alot of wind noise when driving at speed. If I push the front corner of the quarter light to close it a bit the wind noise is greatly reduced.

The seals are not new but seem OK. I suppose I should renew them to see if this permanently improves the situation, or is this just "feature" of the design?

Thanks
DuncanS

Derek UK · Mar 22nd, 2008, 20:50

If you have door mirrors, next to the quarter lights, they are a major cause of wind noise. If they attach with self tapping screws from the outside you can quickly remove them to check.

B20F · Mar 22nd, 2008, 22:02

@Duncan;
Tap the closing lip on the door carefully a little further away from the closing part on the quarter window. This way the window can be pulled tighter against the rubber when you turn the lock downwards. Not easy to discribe it in another language, but you get my drift I hope..I used the wooden handle from a hammer to tap it with as not to damage the chrome. Needs some force to relocate it, but be carefull not to overdo it. On mine the're are new seals, but it still needed this adjustment on one side to eliminate this source of wind noise.

Mar 22nd, 2008, 15:50	#1
EJH New Member Last Online: Dec 8th, 2008 13:02 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Nice	Wind noise Greetings from Nice, France. I regularly use my '68 1800s on long fast trips on the French auto route system, often maintaining speeds of well over 80mph for long periods (no motorway congestion here)! The car seems to thrive on sustained high speed driving which is not bad for a vehicle 40 years old and of relatively small capacity.What is less impressive though is the wind noise above 70 mph. It gets very tiring especially on long journeys. The quarterlight seals are new and the door seals are OK. The noise seems to come from all around the windscreen. I have even tried removing the wipers to no avail. This could be simply a down side of driving a design that dates back to the fifties ... the drag co-efficient might not be as good as the body shape suggests, but if anyone has any ideas for reducing wind noise. I'd be grateful. If not, I suppose I'll have to find some ear plugs!

Mar 22nd, 2008, 15:57	#2
ivor940 Master Member Last Online: Sep 16th, 2013 07:55 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Malahide View Photos By: ivor940	Hi On my 940, I have notices wind noise from the black trim strips on the windcscreen. There were small gaps under the trim, especially at the corner pieces. If you temporally fit black insulating tape to the surround, it may prove that it was the cause of noise. Also on the 1800, are the rain gutters wide? On newer cars there are no gutters or narrower ones. Try taping them over as well to isolate the cause of the noise. ivor940 __________________ 96 940 2.3 SE LPT Estate 5 spd 171k ( off road due gearbox broken) 94 940 2.0 SE Turbo Estate 5 spd 180k (retd) 92 940 2.0 SE Turbo Estate 4 + o/d 166k (retd)

Mar 22nd, 2008, 19:05	#6
B20F Master Member Last Online: Jul 7th, 2016 21:43 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Zeist View Photos By: B20F	If you look at an opened door you can see the triangular shaped chrome piece from the quarter window which is "folded" round de door. This was what was causing a lot of wind noise on my ES. I filled the gap with some body gaulk which reduced the wind noise by quit a bit. (edit: sorry Mike, i meant the same. Didn't notice your comment!) Also look at the gap from the doors, if the door is't adjusted right this will also cause wind noise. You can adjust the door catch on the B pillar (allen screws) so the doors will fit tighter. The hood can also cause wind noise if it's not flush with the body. But wind noise will always be part of the 1800 driving experience at higher speeds. __________________ Last edited by B20F; Mar 22nd, 2008 at 19:08.

Mar 22nd, 2008, 22:02	#9
B20F Master Member Last Online: Jul 7th, 2016 21:43 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Zeist View Photos By: B20F	@Duncan; Tap the closing lip on the door carefully a little further away from the closing part on the quarter window. This way the window can be pulled tighter against the rubber when you turn the lock downwards. Not easy to discribe it in another language, but you get my drift I hope..I used the wooden handle from a hammer to tap it with as not to damage the chrome. Needs some force to relocate it, but be carefull not to overdo it. On mine the're are new seals, but it still needed this adjustment on one side to eliminate this source of wind noise. __________________

Mar 22nd, 2008, 16:49	#3
EJH New Member Last Online: Dec 8th, 2008 13:02 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Nice	Thanks for the suggestion. There's a chrome beading in the screen rubber that isn't a perfect fit at the corners. I'll try taping it over as you suggest. The rain gutters are quite wide but if this is causing the noise I'm afraid I'm stuck with it!

Mar 22nd, 2008, 18:54	#5
mike gilbert Master Member Last Online: Today 10:10 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Peterborough View Photos By: mike gilbert	you say the quarterlight seals are new but when you re-fitted the quarterlights did you fit dum dum around the bottom of the quarterlight and in the gap between the quarterlight and the triangular bracket that attaches between the quarterlight and door. This is often forgotten during a restoration and makes a big difference.

Mar 22nd, 2008, 20:41	#7
DuncanS Junior Member Last Online: Feb 13th, 2014 22:41 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Gamlingay	One problem I have with my ES is that the quarter lights don't close tightly enough. There is quite alot of wind noise when driving at speed. If I push the front corner of the quarter light to close it a bit the wind noise is greatly reduced. The seals are not new but seem OK. I suppose I should renew them to see if this permanently improves the situation, or is this just "feature" of the design? Thanks DuncanS

Mar 22nd, 2008, 20:50	#8
Derek UK VOC Member Last Online: Yesterday 20:59 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chatham	If you have door mirrors, next to the quarter lights, they are a major cause of wind noise. If they attach with self tapping screws from the outside you can quickly remove them to check.

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