What are your opinions on the minimum quality for a seat divider? Some guys will say it needs to be out of steel, and some will say the felt stuff is all you need.

I definitely want to provide some acoustic quality to it since i'm sound deadening and insulating the trunk area. Anyone ever got the quiet ride solution off of mustang plus?

 

Well, maybe this is a bad place for me to ask, but what do you mean by seat divider? Are you referring to the console which sits between the front two seats? Or is this a term for the area between the trunk and the back seat?

If this was the wrong place to ask, I apologize. I am just trying to understand so that I can learn for my 1967 Coupe project.

 

The original was black cardboard. You can also get a jute felt piece, to add sound attenuation.

The steel panel is a safety item, intended to keep fuel from a smashed gas tank from entering the passenger compartment. There are several ways to do this, from screw-on panels, to an entire replacement assembly with a solid panel.

 

As far as safety goes (with gas tank spills), I think the above is the best option. Also, a layer or two of dynomat or other sound deafen-ers on that metal would probably quiet it down a lot.

 

As mentioned you can do the cardboard/pressboard stuff as original (has usually deteriorated by now) or install a metal filler plate with self tapping sheetmetal screws or rivets.

I used the NHRA rules as a basis for the thickness of the metal as I plan to make a few trips to the track and they state a min. thickness for the plate if you have a trunk mounted battery. I lost the link but if I remember correctly it was minimum .024 inch steel or .032 inch aluminum. I actually picked up a piece of .040" alum. for a cheap price and plan to put 3M strip caulk/tar around the perimeter to avoid any rattles and install with self tapping sheetmetal screws in case I need to remove it for any reason. On top of that I'll apply my sound deadener sheets (damplifier).
Jon

 

Mustanng Unlimited has the 18 ga sheet metal for about 60 bucks. Comes with the adhesive and self tapping screws. 18 ga is approximately equivalent to .0478 inches, so it's a little heavy and thick, but it is steel and not aluminum, so i guess not bad for the price.

If i went this route, i'd assume prime and paint the metal as well right? I'll definitely apply some sound deadener sheets, but what about the final finish? I've never done the carpet or felt lining. Would I have to detach the divider to wrap the final finish and re-drill it back in?

 

I would imagine the MU prefinished would be painted already. I would just install and cover the entire area behind the seatback with your sound deadener sheets and install the seats. I don't believe the felt could add anymore to the sound deadening over the sheets, probably overkill and you'll never see behind the seat. I would only cover the interior portion and it'll be sealed with adhesive so no reason to 'wrap' it and it wouldn't adhere to the adhesive anyway as carpet/felt is too pourous.
Jon