DIY: My custom audio setup!
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: NV
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DIY: My custom audio setup!
Hey all,
I've made some major ICE changes and rearranged my whole setup. I used to have two 10 subs and recently installed a four channel amp for the speakers. I'm also running tweeters off the deck. Well, I decided to save weight by going to only one sub. The amps were mounted on the box, but now they're on the trunk floor around the sub. Check out my ride page for a pic of the setup.
Here's a summary of what I did if any of you like the setup. It's pretty easy.
1) Remove stock carpet piece so you see the thin cardboard above the spare.
2) Get a wood board (1/4 inch thick) and cut it so it fits from right to left and extends out just enough for the sub box to sit on.
3) Use a circular saw to cut out holes for each amp on either side. You want the sub to be on the top of the wood. The amps should be sitting in the holes you just cut and can later be screwed in to the hard cardboard cover (stock).
4) Cut some new carpet using the old piece as a template. This way you won't have to cut up the stock carpet. After cutting the new carpet, make holes for the amps (but leave some extra to fold over the cuts). Take the wood piece you just made and glue the carpet to it. I used heat resistant spray adhesive and folded the carpet around the amp cutouts.
5) Put the wood piece and carpet back in the trunk and mount the amps. The sub goes in the middle. To make the rest of the trunk space level with the wood peice in the front, I cut 1/4 inch carpet foam to the proper shape and glued the remaining carpet to that. This will make the carpet even throughout the trunk.
6) The hard part is done. For the actual covers on each amp, I used heavy cardboard. There is only one piece going over each amp, and one smaller piece in front to give the illusion of a box. The sides and back are open for air circulation. I used the same spray glue and some tape to attach the two cardboard pieces together and put carpet over them. The covers are just sitting on top and can be removed.
I know it's hard to see how to do all this without pics, but I may be able to explain it better if you have questions.
Let me know what you think
I've made some major ICE changes and rearranged my whole setup. I used to have two 10 subs and recently installed a four channel amp for the speakers. I'm also running tweeters off the deck. Well, I decided to save weight by going to only one sub. The amps were mounted on the box, but now they're on the trunk floor around the sub. Check out my ride page for a pic of the setup.
Here's a summary of what I did if any of you like the setup. It's pretty easy.
1) Remove stock carpet piece so you see the thin cardboard above the spare.
2) Get a wood board (1/4 inch thick) and cut it so it fits from right to left and extends out just enough for the sub box to sit on.
3) Use a circular saw to cut out holes for each amp on either side. You want the sub to be on the top of the wood. The amps should be sitting in the holes you just cut and can later be screwed in to the hard cardboard cover (stock).
4) Cut some new carpet using the old piece as a template. This way you won't have to cut up the stock carpet. After cutting the new carpet, make holes for the amps (but leave some extra to fold over the cuts). Take the wood piece you just made and glue the carpet to it. I used heat resistant spray adhesive and folded the carpet around the amp cutouts.
5) Put the wood piece and carpet back in the trunk and mount the amps. The sub goes in the middle. To make the rest of the trunk space level with the wood peice in the front, I cut 1/4 inch carpet foam to the proper shape and glued the remaining carpet to that. This will make the carpet even throughout the trunk.
6) The hard part is done. For the actual covers on each amp, I used heavy cardboard. There is only one piece going over each amp, and one smaller piece in front to give the illusion of a box. The sides and back are open for air circulation. I used the same spray glue and some tape to attach the two cardboard pieces together and put carpet over them. The covers are just sitting on top and can be removed.
I know it's hard to see how to do all this without pics, but I may be able to explain it better if you have questions.
Let me know what you think
Last edited by gearbox; Aug 3, 2003 at 02:41 AM.
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From: Nebraska
Rep Power: 359 Originally posted by civicvtec1ps
looks tight. very clean setup. i need to make box myself.
my q logic box is taking too much space
looks tight. very clean setup. i need to make box myself.
my q logic box is taking too much space
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From: Beaumont, Texas, US
Rep Power: 0 Hurr's Mine
Here's mine. Im thinkin of actually sellin these. SO if anyone is interested make offers and holla at me. PM or Sim012@hotmail.com
Last edited by Sim012; Aug 20, 2003 at 01:43 AM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
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From: NV
Rep Power: 811 Sim012, great setup. Circuit city installed my subs and amp and didn't adjust the levels properly. I'm now getting the same sound from one sub that I used to get from both. It's also amazing what a small 4ch amp and tweeters can do for your system!
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From: 909, Socal
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heres mine.
i do want to make custom box though. thing is .. i would like to use my spare tire as well. some people had thier spare tire under the car but i dont want to do that.. i suppose i could make smaller box than q logic one i have. this one is VERY heavy
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
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From: NV
Rep Power: 811 My dual box was heavy, too. That's one reason I decided to go single. There isn't much room to work with if you decide to keep the spare. With my setup, though, it would take an hour just to get under there.
lease: 
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From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Rep Power: 0 god i need to login more often
materials were about $60-80. i had a lotta stuff from before and such, especially since we recently developed our basement. i had a bit of 1/2" plexiglass left. as well as lumber. i just bought an MDF sheet (3/4), white LEDs, cotton batting, terminals for subs and leds, vinyl.
i just took out my enclosure today because my car got hit and they needed the trunk emptied out since its going in the bodyshop tomorrow. I'll be taking detailed measurements since someone requested it. as well, i'll post my cache of pictures i used when i built the enclosure.
i'll be reapplying some vinyl, refinishing the amp enclosure. in addition, i'll take the opportunity to completely sound proof my car and insulate some larger areas (I live in edmonton, canada guys. it gets cold here!!). as well, i'll be making a fibreglass trunk lid undersite, as well as a fibreglass cover for the underside of the rear deck (as well as having a little box for the rear speakers). the side carpetting needs to be dyed as well.
materials were about $60-80. i had a lotta stuff from before and such, especially since we recently developed our basement. i had a bit of 1/2" plexiglass left. as well as lumber. i just bought an MDF sheet (3/4), white LEDs, cotton batting, terminals for subs and leds, vinyl.
i just took out my enclosure today because my car got hit and they needed the trunk emptied out since its going in the bodyshop tomorrow. I'll be taking detailed measurements since someone requested it. as well, i'll post my cache of pictures i used when i built the enclosure.
i'll be reapplying some vinyl, refinishing the amp enclosure. in addition, i'll take the opportunity to completely sound proof my car and insulate some larger areas (I live in edmonton, canada guys. it gets cold here!!). as well, i'll be making a fibreglass trunk lid undersite, as well as a fibreglass cover for the underside of the rear deck (as well as having a little box for the rear speakers). the side carpetting needs to be dyed as well.
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 180
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From: Houston, Texas, US
Rep Power: 0 Here are a couple pics of my ride...
I never finished the project 100%, and am planning a new setup as we speak. I need to sew a vinyl cover for the spare tire. My future plans include mounting the three amps recessed into the back of the rear seats. BTW: I used the spare tire well to house a 1.1 cu ft. mdf box for the 12" Pioneer sub. The floor was only elevated about 3.5".
I never finished the project 100%, and am planning a new setup as we speak. I need to sew a vinyl cover for the spare tire. My future plans include mounting the three amps recessed into the back of the rear seats. BTW: I used the spare tire well to house a 1.1 cu ft. mdf box for the 12" Pioneer sub. The floor was only elevated about 3.5".
I wanted to def make a new floor for it, since the stock "floor" is hella cheap and weak. But I might do black vinyl all around, def doing a new mount board (to hide all the wiring) and find a place to put my damn spare.
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From: PhILLy, Pennsylvania, US
Rep Power: 334 lol u guys got some nice setups. i will post mines once my car gets fixed.. (someone hit it wen it was parked)..
COMPUTER FANS!!!.. they fuqqing rock!! haha i have 3!! to help air circulate
COMPUTER FANS!!!.. they fuqqing rock!! haha i have 3!! to help air circulate
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 144
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From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Rep Power: 0 HUGE MISTAKE porting into the trunk
i made the same mistake and jab myself with a pen everytime i think of it. *oww*
now that my system is out, i'll be rebuilding a new box porting into the cabin. there just isn't enough airspace inside the trunk.
i made the same mistake and jab myself with a pen everytime i think of it. *oww*
now that my system is out, i'll be rebuilding a new box porting into the cabin. there just isn't enough airspace inside the trunk.
