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Started my stereo install...

Mo_GT

By Mo_GT
in Interior/Audio

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Mo_GT Community Regular

Mo_GT

Posted
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Hey All,

I've begun my stereo install, so far, I've finished laying the cables and kinda half way with the sub enclosure, here are some pics:

 

The before pic:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/405000-405999/405982_63_full.jpg

 

 

Masked and waxed ready to be glassed:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/405000-405999/405982_68_full.jpg

 

 

With a few layers of glass:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/405000-405999/405982_67_full.jpg

 

 

This is a pic of the cast i made of where the box will be fixed to the car - if you look carefully you'll see two holes that are masked, I'll be using these to bolt the box to the car. I'll fix this to the bottom of the box.

EDIT : I didn't end up using this - it was too messy. I ended up making a new box fully out of fiber glass. Later pics will be of the new box.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/405000-405999/405982_69_full.jpg

 

 

Front of the enclosure with the front attached, the circles drawn were mistakes :D

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/405000-405999/405982_66_full.jpg

 

 

Pic of the bottom - note that the bottom is a perfect imprint of the car's boot floor, this enclosure will just slip into place and "should" be easy to secure. The little bit of glass that you see on the bottom on the MDF is where the 'mounting cast' will be fixed.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/405000-405999/405982_64_full.jpg

 

Cables!!! cables!!! cables!!!

There's a 0g for power, 12g for speaker (amp to x-overs) and 2 pairs of RCA cables. Oh and the purple wire is the trigger:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/405000-405999/405982_65_full.jpg

 

 

Hope to finish the sub box this week and start on the amp rack...then onto the HU...not looking forward to that...

 

Bye,

Mo

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S0CalGT Collaborator

S0CalGT

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Mo,

When you install the HU, can you do a Walkthrough. I'm trying to do the same for my USDM Legacy GT (and I understand that the wire harnesses are not the same). I have the JDM Bezel with the single climate control, and hopefully my friends and I can pick something up from your install and modify it on mine to work. This Dual Climate Control thing is a PITA, but if there's a will, there's a way!

 

-Fred

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abakja1 Mentor

abakja1

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Mo,

When you install the HU, can you do a Walkthrough. I'm trying to do the same for my USDM Legacy GT (and I understand that the wire harnesses are not the same). I have the JDM Bezel with the single climate control, and hopefully my friends and I can pick something up from your install and modify it on mine to work. This Dual Climate Control thing is a PITA, but if there's a will, there's a way!

 

-Fred

 

Yes,..PLEASE!!:icon_bigg

 

I would be greatly interested too on the wiring hookup from stock radio to your aftermarket HU,..Please take pics if you can as this would be very helpful and your wiring hookups,...

 

thanks

Kevin

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Mo_GT Community Regular

Mo_GT

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No probs with the HU install - but i won't be using any of the factory wiring - except for the ignition wire. So, the HU has its independant power wire from the battery, will find a nice solid ground and RCA's out to the amp.

 

I'll keep updating this thread as i go along. The HU part is atleast 2 weeks away - I'm only working on the install a couple of hours a day when i can.

 

Bye,

Mo

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  • 3 weeks later...
Mo_GT Community Regular

Mo_GT

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The sub will be a 12".

 

Crash course in glassing (for a sub enclosure like mine)

1) tape off the area using good quality masking tape (i used 3m). make sure that you have very good coverage and that the tape is stuck smooth (no crinkles).

 

2) draw an outline of the area where you want the enclosure.

 

3) make sure the sub will fit in this area

 

4) mask the sourounding areas and tape paper all aorund it (to cathc spills and drips.

 

5) wax the area that you've masked - this is so that the fiberglass enclosure will come of the taped area. You can use normal car wax, petroleum jelly. Since you don't need a perfect finish at the back, no need to use a proper mold release agent.

 

6) mix up some resin and catalyst and using a brush "paint" a small area at a time. Then add a bit of fiberglass (what ever you are comfortable using - lighter weight choped strand is easier to work with) in sizes that you are comfortable working with. Dab more resin on top of the f.glass and make sure its soaked right thru and that you have a nice flat finish.

 

7) repeat untill you cover the whole marked area and make sure that you overlap the drawing you made earlier.

 

8) build up a few layers - enough for it not to flex.

 

9)once its cured, pull the glassed bit out of the car.

 

10) if its strong enough, trim it using a saw to the size you want (what you marked out earlier).

 

11) test fit it and make sure it clears everything and it is big enough, etc etc.

 

12) add more layers of glass if it needs it - since its out side the car, it will a lot easier to work with.

 

13) add the front section

 

14) pull speaker grill cloth ( you can use fleece too) over the front of the enclousre right to the back. make sure you have no creases. Mix up some more resin and paint this and let it cure.

 

15) now you have a choice, you can either add fiberglass from the back and keep the front nice and clean or lay over the front (easier) and try to get a nice even finish.

 

16) trim and sand and sand and sand untill your happy with it.

 

17) cover it - carpet or vinyl or paint, etc

 

18) mount sub

 

19) run wires to amp

 

20) done!

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executor485 Veteran

executor485

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Thats aus dollars too btw... I just went to Home Depot this evening and got almost all the materials I needed for about $50USD (thats just for one side right now... not sure if it will cover the other side yet), I would actually reccomend going to Wal-Mart cause the fiberglass materials and such were a bit cheaper there. Still Home Depot for the MDF though.

I am planning on doing both sides of my trunk just cause I have 2 subs... so hopefully it will look good when I am done. I will be posting my results with pics sometime when I finish the project.

I would recommend wearing gloves and/or buying acetone to get the fiberglass and resin off your hands though. I found it to be a somewhat messy job, but then again, this is only the first time I have worked with fiberglass.

Good post though, I look forward to seeing the end result.

If I pass you on the right, I'm flipping you off.
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Mo_GT Community Regular

Mo_GT

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Yup, protective gear is a must, i go thru a lot of gloves and dust masks. Ileave my brushes in acetone while inbetween too.

 

US$50 is about Aust $65 - that would buy me just the resin...

 

And if anyone wants to know, my enclosure is 32L in volume and the glass is about 1/4 inch thick.

 

I'll hopefully finish it this weekend and have it ready for covering next week! Lots of sanding to do...

 

that reminds me, need to go get some bog...

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Mo_GT Community Regular

Mo_GT

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Worked on the box some more -

 

EDIT: This is the new box, notice there's no mdf at the bottom. Everything except where the sub is mounted is fiber glass.

 

 

Wraped in speaker grill cloth, a coat of resin applied and left to cure, then trimmed:

 

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/405000-405999/405982_70_full.jpg

 

 

 

Test fit:

 

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/405000-405999/405982_71_full.jpg

 

I've started laying glass on the inside and should have it ready to cover next weekend. I've also started on my amp rack, but need to finish the sub box as amp rack will butt up against the sub box where it curves towards the front of the car.

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NatesGr8 Community Regular

NatesGr8

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hey mogt, you were an inspiration for me to get off my a$$ and give this a shot on my own. however i do appreciate your offer, and if it doesn't come out right i'll be taking you up on it. right now i'm waiting for the first few layers to dry so i can pull it out and then layer it up.

I'm using the right side and going with a 10" sub. I plan on putting the amp inside the car under one of the seats, since i'd like as much trunk space as possible.

I will post pice of the end result, which i expect to be next weekend.

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Mo_GT Community Regular

Mo_GT

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Thanks guys :) I only get to work on the install a few hours a week so its going to take a while...

 

NatesGr8,

No probs :) take your time with the glass and be patient, you'll be fine! And i look forward to seeing pics.

 

Bye,

Mo

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Mo_GT Community Regular

Mo_GT

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I worked on the box a bit more,

 

Here it is with all the "structural" glass work complete. Most of the it was glassed from the inside except for the top portion and the bit that goes on the right - you can see the layers of the woven cloth in the pic below:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/405000-405999/405982_72_full.jpg

 

 

Last layer of glass cut and ready to go on:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/405000-405999/405982_73_full.jpg

 

 

Last layer of glass + resin:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/405000-405999/405982_74_full.jpg

 

 

Here, I've put the "peel ply" cloth on and have tried to smooth it all out as much as i can:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/405000-405999/405982_75_full.jpg

For those who don't know what "peel ply" is, its a very thin cloth like material (looks and feels a bit like silk) that you put on top of the last layer of glass with a little bit of resin. You then pull it to shape and get it as smooth as possible - i used a roller, a brush and a scraper. What happens is the peel ply makes the glass and resin set with a smooth surface - cuts down sanding! Or if you want to cover it in carpet, this will be more than good enough a finish.

 

Peeling the peel ply. Next step, sand and bog it up!

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/405000-405999/405982_76_full.jpg

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NatesGr8 Community Regular

NatesGr8

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very nice, i'm extremely jealous. I've got the back half completely done, i'd say i've got it build up to about 3/8". My front will not be as fancy, i think i'm gonna just glass in a piece of 1/2 " mdf. I'm too lazy and cheap to glass the whole thing.

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NatesGr8 Community Regular

NatesGr8

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yeah i agree 1/2 by itself wouldn't be thick enough, but i was planning on putting some layers of fiberglass over it to build up a little more thickness and then sand it smooth. Do you think this will work? if not its no trouble for me to go with 3/4.

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