Setting my fuel economy issues aside, I've begun to think about my noise and heat issues in my 1968 130 sedan. Some days the car just feels like a 40-year old steel box...

I am particularly annoyed by "slam" I get when I close the bonnet or boot. It sounds a lot like a trash can, but is obviously not *quite* that bad. I know thsi can be improved by I'd like some advice on how NOT to wreck some other part of the car in my quest for a quieter ride.

I've read that article about heat, rust, and noise in VWs *MANY* times. I tried a few of the suggestions on my wagon (q-pads, kool-patch), but I never got to working on the hood or roof areas. I will probably use those approaches on the sedan's cabin after the weather improves and I can safely POR-15 the interior floor and the inside firewall. I plan to install some eDead or Q-pad type noise filter foam on the floor, firewall and probably above the headliner. I'm lucky to have a car nearly devoid of any body rust and lacking that caustic jute-felt material.

Back to the hood...
I've now replaced the 8 rubber bumpers for the fenders and hood and was sadly not greeting by a significantly less noisy bonnet closing. I know I can put some noise reducers on the hood and trunk lids, but I am a bit concerned about the heat from the engine.

1) I worry that the heat from the engine will not dissipate properly and that the engine and noise-muffling material will get burned by the accumulated heat.

2) I could also install some of that nasa foil stuff you can get at the home improvement stores to reflect the heat, but wouldn't it just reflect the heat back down on my engine bay? I worry about boiling fluids, melting hoses, and overtaxing the "usually-warm" engine condition further.

I imagine that these would not be much of an issue on the trunk lid (boot). Please correct me if I'm overlooking something back there.

So... before I order up some eDead or start to spray on the 3M adhesive to attach the reflective foil, can I get some opinions on quieting the engine bay and making my car's bonnet and boot sound like a solid brick, as opposed to a couple loose trash-can lids...