I don't expect a 48 Chevy truck to be like a new one but it has wind noise starting at 70mph that requires raised voices to communicate. Has one piece side windows, one piece windshield, Steele rubber, all new felt and window wipes, bear claw latches, door gaps exactly one paint stirring stick wide and door flush with body all around. Can't slam door closed without cracking a window open so its tight. Fire wall, trans cover, and even dimmer switch is sealed. Fire wall mount MC with gasket so no pedal holes. Accelerator cable has thin rubber seal to fire wall. Any suggestions or is this just a fact of life with a 71 year old truck?
My 48 had the effect of riding in a drum . It was insulated as best as I could just the nature of the beast
Probably just a fact of vintage life. Compare the shape of the truck with one a few decades younger (or older). All the angles get smoother with the years, windows move out about an inch, all reducing air turbulence. Even the mirrors are shaped for less drag. All to reduce noise, and improve economy. Garpo
My coupe at 70 MPH sounds like what you would expect it would sound at 140 MPH! Consider yourself lucky.
The best thing you can do to reduce the wind noise on old cars is improve their door seals. Helps keep the heat / AC in, too. Gary
Be glad you have the amount of noise you have. Think about it that truck was probably designed for 45 mph when new. Wind noise was not even a concern back then. Denny
Are the inside of the doors insulated, the roof, firewall? How about the floor, kick panels, and back of the cab? You could try taping the glass to the body with masking tape, to find out if that is causing the noise.
If you want to talk about wind noise, try riding in a 41 Willys pick up at highway speed. With that totally flat windshield theres no way you could carry on a normal conversation. Doubt these old cars were designed with much thought given towards aerodynamics and wind noise mitigation.
my '46 IHC is so bad you can't talk at 45mph. Wind noise, gear noise and tire noise. On the other hand, my '37 Cadillac is as quiet as a new car. Which gets me thinking, the Caddy with a better transmission would be quiet and the tires are straight tread so that explains that but the wind noise I can't explain. The body on both are very similar. I guess you got what you paid for even 80 years ago. sounds like your truck is "well finished" so I'm thinking you have carpet, if not, it may soak up some noise as well as keeping some out.
How much wind noise do you get with the windows down? How many cars/trucks had AC in that time period? Like mentioned before, wind noise was not on the radar back then. That said I will add this. If you drill some holes in the "A" pillar, say behind the door gasket, and other similar areas you could then fill them with spray foam.
If you drill some holes in the "A" pillar, say behind the door gasket, and other similar areas you could then fill them with spray foam. If you do this it will hold water (humidity) and will rust the whole pillar.
If it's too noisy at 70 slow down! we are driving them faster today than they were ever intended to be driven. Be happy you don't have a flat windshield like a Model A or a 32 Ford, you can't hear yourself think. HRP
Put a dollar bill in the door jamb and shut the door. Try to pull it out and compare resistance in different locations. I’m betting you’re tight at the cowl and loosest at the back on top curve. Make sure the door is below the cowl and above the back cab like feathers
Like others said, it's an old truck, your fit and finish not withstanding, aerodynamics was not a big consideration in those designs. I suggest a good sound system or better yet, a thumpin' motor and louder exhaust.
FYI most wind noise is actually caused by air going out of the vehicle not in. As you drive faster the air pressure around you drops, the air pressure inside the cab is higher so the air is basically sucked out the cab. So stopping all wind noise is also highly dependent on aerodynamics. Good luck but I would bet your about at the extent of doing much to help besides doing things to change air path around vehicle, air dams, side window foils etc.
Helped a guy with his 40 coupe a few years ago. When done he complained alot about wind noise at 70-75. His other cars were new Mercedes/ Some folks shouldn't have old cars.
That's why the new cars have the plastic and rubber flappers someware on the very back of the body, to let air out.
wife's '50 Chevy PU had same problem - tried all types of extra rubber seals to work with original style, no luck - need louder stereo - and head sets to talk to passenger
My 40 is actually fairly quiet at road speed-can carry on a conversation and hear radio as well. It is as quiet as her 55 BelAir. Had a couple of C1 vettes-very noisy and hot inside-much louder than my 40-could only hear radio when stopped at a stop light.
My 48 is pretty quiet . I insulated the heck out of it. It's really not that bad even with the windows down. Bill