Write-up: stereo system install

Haven't been able to work on the car. Just got power back about an hour ago from all of the storms last Wednesday across the southeast. We were fortunate. Driving around seeing everything that has been destroyed is very sobering though. At this point you guys probably know more about what happened than I do. I havent had power to see any tv coverage. I have only heard bits and pieces from other people. Anyway, I hope to get back on the car soon, but other things will take priority for now.

the car can wait a bit.Glad you got your power back.Next weekend it's all you bro.

Bump!!

I hope all is well with the build on this car...

Nigel

Just read through this. Amazing work! How did you learn to make models with foam and fiberglass? Did you educate yourself or did you have work experience or what? Very inspiring!

charlieRobinson wrote:

Just read through this. Amazing work! How did you learn to make models with foam and fiberglass? Did you educate yourself or did you have work experience or what? Very inspiring!

I'm wondering the same myself!
Also, if youre ok with it, I can totally come to you on my (WAAAAY CHEAPER) audio install. I know I have a few questions for you sqrivi.

awesome build man!
hopefully I can learn a thing or two from ya.

Thanks guys. I learned to work with fiberglass by just using it and trying different things. I have also picked up several tips here and there from other people in the audio industry. I have been in the audio field for 25 years as both a car audio installer and a home audio speaker designer/builder.

I haven't had much time to work on the car lately but here is a teaser pic of what will be under each side of the dash.

lookin good!

Scott, any updates?

I have a new plan for the B&W 15" sub. Instead of residing in the trunk, it will be moved to the center of the dash. I will still be able to use the current dash shell. It will become the grill for the sub. There will also be an 8" midbass in each corner of the dash tucked in next to the 4" drivers in the A pillars.

Here is the idea.




Here is the beginning of the enclosure. When finished it will be about 3 cubic feet.

I love it! BASS IN THE FACE BABYYY!!!

scott,you don't mess around ...

Are you building this system for the famous "Burp"? I think that sub will be quite capable of breaking the windshield!

Not building a one note wonder or ground pounder. This is all about sound quality.

One of the most difficult things to accomplish in car audio is for the sub to sound like its "up front" with the rest of the stage and actually disappear into the rest of the music. While competing I have heard some of the best systems in the world......I have never heard one in which there wasn't at least a few notes that drifted to the rear of the car. Or they didn't have enough mid bass and sub output to be accurate. This should help solve either of those problems.

sqrivi wrote:

Not building a one note wonder or ground pounder. This is all about sound quality.

One of the most difficult things to accomplish in car audio is for the sub to sound like its "up front" with the rest of the stage and actually disappear into the rest of the music. While competing I have heard some of the best systems in the world......I have never heard one in which there wasn't at least a few notes that drifted to the rear of the car. Or they didn't have enough mid bass and sub output to be accurate. This should help solve either of those problems.

Awesome. Yeah, having the sub there *ought* to solve that problem!

Nice idea. I've seen this done with smaller woofers, never a 15". Only thing I would be leery of is the presence of dash/interior vibration from having the sub in the immediate listening area. One of the good things about having the sub in rear, it's forgiving about that kind of thing. But I know you're going to build the dash solid as a rock, so no worries!

Yes, the enclosure will be very rigid and damped as well. It will also be isolated from the car with rubber washers and open cell foam. The grill fasteners are also vibration resistant.
The sub has a dead silent motor. I have had it on the bench with no enclosure with a 20hz tone on it and it has no mechanical noise at all. Plus this thing won't be working very hard either.

I'm not to worried about vibration and/or noise causing location ques. The only way to be sure though is to get it hooked up and give it a shot.

Sounds good. I mean, it will sound good. Are you keeping the original fiberglass dash, or are you starting over with it? If I recall, the old plan had the sub in the trunk and a raised area in the center of the dash.

looking slick man!

Raining today so I'm not able to do much to the car. I was determined to make some progress so I pulled the sub enclosure shell out of the car so I could work on it in the garage. Now about 3/4 of the enclosure is glassed. Next I will trim the edges, mount the ring for the sub and glass in the top of the enclosure.

Starting to become apparent just how big this enclosure is.

Damn, man...you should have your own TV show !!! Incredible work.

Thanks man......here is more progress.

Just building up some extra layers today. My oldest daughter (15yrs) has been helping me with this build. She wants to compete as well, she is really into the sound quality stuff.

Got the enclosure back in the car to do some more work.

Working on the mounting flange at the top of the enclosure just below the windshield. You can see the at the top there is a taped off bolt. This is a mount for the factory dash, I will be using it to bolt the enclosure in place.



Also going to utilize the space above the steering column to gain some extra volume for the enclosure, about .25cf.




Still well behind the steering wheel........plenty of room.

So far it's looking insane! Props on lettin the kids get involved!thats great!

wow....

the Fiberglass speaker mounts on the a pillar, are brilliant. i'm thinking maybe i could fabricate something similar... i can hardly wait to see it finished...