2021 Ford E450 dog house has improved insulation

[Bob Nodine]

In January we test drove a 2021 Quantum JM31 built on the 2020 Ford E450 with the 7.3 V8. We thought it was noisy and had already done research on how to improve the insulation. That was going to be one of our first projects until we drove our new 2022 JM31 built on the 2021 chassis. Evidently Ford has improved the insulation because the 2022 was significantly less noisy than the 2021. Trying to figure out how to get the radio out today we pulled the dog house. We took a few photos showing the insulation and the engine. Notice that the XM Radio module was just hanging down. It is now mounted up high with cable ties. Looking at the part number on the plug wires we believe they are the updated version.

As a side note we noticed that the cupholder and tray section on the front of the dog house will lift off. It occurred that if one wanted to increase the leg room getting in and out of the seat from inside the coach they could remove that. It would not be difficult to fabricate a new less intrusive cup holder to re-attach to the dog house.

[Chance]

Thanks for pictures — shows details I was curious about with new V8.

Center picture shows (unfortunately) that the 7.3L V8 is wide enough across valve covers that Ford wouldn’t be able to make doghouse much narrower even if they wanted. Picture also shows clearly why the “scalloped” area on passenger side of engine cover ended up much larger than on driver side.

Ford would probably have to go to a much narrower in-line engine to make it worth the investment of revising body sheet metal.

[Chateau_Nomad]

The thin foil in our 2020 E-350 doghouse was more of a heat shield than noise barrier. I removed it in ours, then put a layer of Kilmat followed by a layer of Noico sound deadener, then replaced the original foil/insulation heat shield. MUCH less engine/tranny noise! After doing the same layering under the entire rubber floor mat in the cab - it's actually pleasant to drive!
Glad to see Ford is listening - realizing the noise complaints!