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Posted By: stpaddy2017 Help with customizing - March 27th 2019 1:38 pm
Hi All,

My Name is Rob Grew up in The Hub.....if ur not from here that's Boston love this forum was hoping for somw help starting my build.

I have a 2004 GMC Savana 3500 extended van with 6.0L . The type you see made in to dual rear wheel box trucks etc.The idea was to use it for part time work and use the bed im building as a tool box. I just started the build I live in New England so spring just sprung and I'm eager to get to it. I got my hands on 1 3/8" thick closed cell foam typically used for Gym flooring but has an R-value of I believe approx R-9, more than I would get from board or fiberglass insulation and it fits between wall braces perfectly depth wise.

1st) I have researched the foam Approx $5 SF ouch (got enuf for 2 vans free from ymca ) and it seems perfect for sound and weatherization. it's anti- microbial/bacterial closed cell with a thin layer of what looks like a scotch brite pad. I will post pics but am wondering scotch brite side against wall or foam?? or does it matter?

2nd) a couple cases of flex seal ummm fell off a truck in front of me I couldn't catch up to return em so I plan to spray the entire inside ( Walls n Ceiling at least for dampening purposes) with approx. an 1/8 to 1/4" I have done 2 panels and it seems to work well. Does anyone see problems arising from that? I think 24 cans will be plenty to provide a nice coat for dampening/deadening purposes.

3) I was considering spray glueing mylar to the walls and ceiling to reflect the sun beating on the van and cooking the wife and I. AC I would like to avoid as it's a gas pig already. Should I do this Before adding the foam right to flex seal? before flex seal right to body? or should I glue it to the inside of the 1/4" walls I will be putting in?

4) I also have 1/4" flooring made of 3/8" thick MLV for floor from firewall to back. so I think I have a decent handle on reducing outside noise. Does anyone have any good ideas for reducing sound around firewall and engine cover? I will post more pics this afternoon but wanted to show the foam wondering if anyone else has used it before??

5) I have also read a lot of conflicting things on vapor barrier or not????. thinking unnecessary because of ant-bacterial properties of foam but i'm not sure?? Is the mylar a good idea?? for the cost which would prob be under $50 I would think yes but am stuck on where it should go and should I have 2 coats reflective side out against body for summer and reflective side facing in on interior walls for winter or will it matter??

50 degrees today so will be working on it and add more pics later but opinions on the flex seal and Mylar would be awesome!

Please feel free to offer any comments or ideas. would love to be done in time for some camping with it by end of summer. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Rob

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Posted By: stpaddy2017 Re: Help with customizing - March 27th 2019 1:46 pm
also I will most likely have enough left over foam foe a 2nd van if anyone is interested we can work something out for shipping and will gladly donate it to someone on a tight budget like myself. I know the foam is not ideal compared to spraying the entire thing with lizard skin or something similar but cant justify buying probably 5-7 gallons to do it properly so I'm gonna take a shot with it and keep updating to show results of sound with and without.
thanks again for any opinions or help you can add
Rob StPaddy
Posted By: frscke1 Re: Help with customizing - March 27th 2019 5:05 pm
Welcome to the site Rob ...
Posted By: Gnarlyfoot Re: Help with customizing - March 28th 2019 2:26 am
Welcome to the vannin community .
Posted By: newkirkinc1 Re: Help with customizing - March 29th 2019 10:38 am
welcome to the site.
Posted By: Dyno_Dave Re: Help with customizing - March 29th 2019 10:07 pm
Welcome aboard!

[Linked Image]
Posted By: stpaddy2017 Re: Help with customizing - March 30th 2019 1:46 am
Originally Posted by Gnarlyfoot
Welcome to the vannin community .

thank you any advice on the foam or other insulation ideas I have?
Originally Posted by Dyno_Dave
Welcome aboard!

[Linked Image]



thank you any advice on the foam or other insulation ideas I have?
Posted By: stpaddy2017 Re: Help with customizing - March 30th 2019 1:46 am

thank you any advice on the foam or other insulation ideas I have?
Posted By: stpaddy2017 Re: Help with customizing - March 30th 2019 1:47 am
Originally Posted by frscke1
Welcome to the site Rob ...



thank you any advice on the foam or other insulation ideas I have?
Posted By: frscke1 Re: Help with customizing - March 30th 2019 3:45 am
foam on the wall will draw moisture without a plastic bearier ... home insulation will do the same. The moisture will rust out your van. Others know more than I do.

https://www.vanning.com/threads/ubb...her-with-wall-insulation.html#Post719394

https://www.vanning.com/threads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/743398/Searchpage/1/Main/70881/Words/%2Binsulation/Search/true/re-insulation.html#Post743398
Posted By: Dyno_Dave Re: Help with customizing - March 30th 2019 3:02 pm
I have never added any insulation to my vans, but what frscke1 is saying would certainly qualify as the "prevailing theory" on this forum. So I'd certainly take that into consideration.

If I do anything more with my current van, it will be in the vein of a stick-on auto sound deadening with foil shield, or a roll-on product like a LIzard Skin or Eastwood coating.

Lizard Skin Link

Eastwood Link

While many don't like fiberglass bat insulation in a van, for the reasons frscke1 mentioned, it was the "factory fill" on my '95 Chevy Shorty Sante Fe conversion, and is also used in my '97 Chevy Express Midwest Conversion. My dad had 3 other conversion vans before this Express, and I suspect (but do not know for a fact) that they all had fiberglass bats for insulation. Cheap, light, easy to work with and fairly effective, I think it was the default insulation for most conversions.

But if you have a window or body seam leak, it WILL hold water like a sponge. Just goes with the territory.

Closed cell. I have no hands on experience, though I am eyeing some poly-iso on Craigslist for possible use in my shop. Poly Iso is billed as having "low water absorption and low vapor transmission" according to one manufacturers site. So that sounds promising, but not perfect.
Posted By: Lionvan Re: Help with customizing - March 30th 2019 3:25 pm
My van came with fiberglass. A few years back I saw little bubbles on my back door. I took off the interior panel and the door had a pile of wet fiberglass at the bottom. After I got it good and dry I sprayed rustproofern it. The water came.in the leaky door seal and down inside the door. Even with drain holes that fiberglass held the water.
Posted By: stpaddy2017 Re: Help with customizing - April 03rd 2019 11:09 pm
Originally Posted by frscke1
foam on the wall will draw moisture without a plastic bearier ... home insulation will do the same. The moisture will rust out your van. Others know more than I do.

https://www.vanning.com/threads/ubb...her-with-wall-insulation.html#Post719394

https://www.vanning.com/threads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/743398/Searchpage/1/Main/70881/Words/%2Binsulation/Search/true/re-insulation.html#Post743398



Thank you I was wondering about a vapor barrier but this foam is anti microbial, bacterial. I did not consider water. Wanted to put a sheeet of mylar on first to deflect incoming and on wall facing inside to keep heat in? I think im gonna post in a diffferent section. ty for your help/
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