I too found this out on my 89 wolfy, much quieter than my 85 or 87 syncro.
That rubber strip is a hefty piece of rubber too.
While recently at a junkyard I pulled one out of a 90 for my 87 syncro but
you CANT put them in.
VW welded a channel the full length of the door jamb to insert the rubber
into.
I suppose you could fab up a channel and pop rivet it in

Somebody should market an aluminum channel that fits and offer a retro kit.

I know my vans got louder when I ripped out the front carpet and the floor
insulation to put in the factory full rubber mat.
Perhaps doing a heavy duty under coat under the front of the van would help
.

What about those plastic rain gutter strips, they help?

Doug

----- Original Message -----
From: "Al and Sue Brase" <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2004 10:24 PM
Subject: Re: noise reduction

> I think you're looking at slightly the wrong thing. I think it's not the
> air being exhausted out the doors, but rather the turbulence at the door
> intersection with the front door jamb/ corner. What VW did on the 88's
> was to COMPLETELY seal this gap flush right to the outer surface with
> door gasket. I've had 6 of these and the 90 and 91 are  noticeably
quieter.
>
> Reinhard Vehring wrote:
>
> >Regardless, it seems to make sense to block the noise
> >from the door vents. Any suggestions? Just stuffing
> >them shut may not be a good idea. Doors get pretty wet
> >inside when it rains and I don't like rusted out
> >doors. Dynamatting the door doesn't help, if it's the
> >vent opening and not sound transmitted through the
> >sheet metal. Maybe it's better to work on the panels?
> >
> >
> >