2008 C6 Corvette SQ Install for you guys :)

[16psibrick]

did this one a week or so back

 

well, after a long few weeks, i just got done with my first C6 corvett install. It was in all, an interesting car to work on, good in some sense installation wise, not so great in others.

Before i begin, i'd like to thank Leon and Eng for helping to tune the car

So here are the goals:

1. Good Sound quality

2. Classy design with a little bit of flash

3. hatch install able to be hidden out of sight.

those were the original goals...hatch usability was NOT a goal, nor was retaining the T-top storage. but i decided to added one more:

4. retain T top storage ability

 

equipment list:

headunit/processor: Alpine 205/701 combo

front stage: Seas Lotus reference 6.5" midbass, DLS Iridium 3" midrange, Seas reference tweeter

amplifiers: DLS ultimate A3(midbass) A2(midrange) A2(tweet) A6(subwoofers)

subwoofer: 3 x Image Dynamics ID8

lets get started:

The alpine 205 headunit is installed int he stock location, with door chime and onstar retention:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette1.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette2.JPG

the alpine ipod cable is ran to the center arm rest:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette3.JPG

the Seas lotus tweeters were molded into the stock A pillar, aimed across at each other:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette4.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette5.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette6.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette7.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette8.JPG

and here are some build up pics of hte A pillars:

the factory vinyl was stripped off (a major pita) and the rings attached

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette9.JPG

mold cloth streched and attached:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette10.JPG

after that was dry, the inside gap was filled with resin/glass combo so its rock solid:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette11.JPG

the pillars sanded and dampened:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette12.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette13.JPG

and vinyled in factory matching vinly:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette14.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette15.JPG

[16psibrick]

the midbass and mirdange reside in the factory locations in the door, i thought about trying out kick panel midrange, but there is virtually no room behind the kick and keeping hte deadpedal was a requirement.

first, the outter layer of metal is dampened:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette16.JPG

then the front panel dampened:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette17.JPG

then a mdf blocking baffle was cut out, the back side truck bed linered to prevent corrosion:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette18.JPG

and seals the big opening in the back....then, while i was waiting for the UPS man to deliver more dampening, i got bored and did some drawings lol...after looking at it, i think i should keep my day job and not become a cartooniest lol

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette19.JPG

then the speaker baffles were made and sprayed on both sides:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette20.JPG

and attachd tot he door, and new speaker wires were ran into the door:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette21.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette22.JPG

then finally, the lotus seas midbass was mounted:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette23.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette24.JPG

the iridium 3 midbass i built a little baffle in the stock midrange cavity, and then dampened the baffle, the dampend was painted black so it wouldnt show through the midrange grille.

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette25.JPG

and finally, the outter plastic door panel was smothered with dampening as well to prevent buzzing:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette26.JPG

and same goes for hte other side:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette27.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette28.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette29.JPG

and finally, two very solid doors that dont rattle or buzz at all

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette30.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette31.JPG

[16psibrick]

so...moving onto the hatch area...so here is the normal view with things hidden out of hte way, the carpet i have there is just a temp. solution, he is going to have a custom matching trunk mat made in the near future:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette32.JPG

remove the carpet,and here is what it looks like, the entire fake floor is in factory matching binyl, with three big cutouts and tw small ones, note corvette logo on a raised vinyl platform upfront and lettering on the covers:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette33.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette34.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette35.JPG

and here is the view of the front of the floor, with a piece of polished plexi with my logo secured on the front:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette36.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette37.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette38.JPG

pop off all the covers, and here is what it looks like. the theme that i had in my head is that of an engine, with two banks of "cylinder heads" flanking three downdraft carb with intakes. dont take it literally, but its the general theme

one the driver side, the A3 and A2, and on the passenger side, we have the A6 and A2, both sit in their own red vinly (factory matching) racks and are at a slight angle. all the wires in sight have chrome techflex and red shrink. the ground and poewr D-blocks are at the front, and the three ID8s sit ithe middle. the amps and D blocks have plexi over them as well, and the subs have an edge lit plexi border.

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette39.JPG

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http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette44.JPG

[16psibrick]

the platforms that the amps sit on, have an additional layer of edge lit plexi underneath, so with the leds turned on:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette45.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette46.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette47.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette48.JPG

I also modified and raised the rear T-top mounting points so the stop still stows with the system in place:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette49.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette50.JPG

its tight, but it clears the hatch with about 1/8" of an inch on both sides:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette51.JPG

IMo the car sound pretty good, Leon mentioned its one of hte better sounding sports cars he has heard...stage is very nice and high and suprisingly wide. midbass impact is one of hte strongest i have personally heard.

[16psibrick]

now here are some build up pics:

i trimmed out the stoccarpet in the back to gain as much space as possible, and then dampened the entire floor to block noise. i acutally ended up wtih an additioan 2" this way...quite a thick carpet

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette52.JPG

now one of hte biggest challenges is that the entire floor of hte vette is some kind of plastic, so nothing can be screwed into it if you want it to last...so what i did was make a bottom platform board, and attached it securely to the few metal parts in the hatch area, namely hte crossbream behind the seats and the metal behind the wheel well. and then everyhting i build can attach themselves to this piece instead of hte floor:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette53.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette54.JPG

here is test fitting the basic design:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette55.JPG

here is the jigsaw puzzle that is each amp rack well

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette56.JPG

vinyled in red:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette57.JPG

and assembled, each well have their own crossflow fan pshing air over the amps and out the vent in the back

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette58.JPG

the H701 rack whcih sits in the passenger side storage pocket:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette59.JPG

and here are the platforms the amps sit on,

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette60.JPG

with a top vinly board and a bottom plexi piece that is edge lit:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette64.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette61.JPG

and onto the d-block racks:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette62.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette63.JPG

and the finished product, wired up:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette65.JPG

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http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette67.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette68.JPG

[16psibrick]

the subbox:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette69.JPG

and the top fake floor and side pieces during construction:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette70.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette71.JPG

plexi attached to the center piece and then leds secured and taped over to prevent light "leakage"

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette72.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette73.JPG

ready to be installed:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette74.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette75.JPG

final shot of the trunk, all wired up, beofre hte floor goes on:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette76.JPG

and here are some panels i dampened along the way:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette77.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette78.JPG

finally, construction of the covers, whcih ar two-piece each, with a vinyl top and suede bottom, raised vinyl lettering:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette79.JPG

the amp covers done:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette80.JPG

the d-block covers:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette81.JPG

and the sub grille, which is also two piece, with HD mesh secured to one and covered in grille cloth, and black suede on the other:

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette82.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette83.JPG

http://simplicity.elitecaraudio.org/vette84.JPG

[JBLU24]

excellent work as usual!!

[Legacy05]

Wow, very nice!

[mattg]

sick as usual

[axis008]

Wow Bing, I am really loving the trunk setup! Very clean and well-executed.

[SteveFromMass]

I am not into sound systems, but I can appreciate that fabrication.

[biz77]

Come on Bing, you know that speaker set-up is all wrong and can't possibly sound any good;)

 

Did you ever find matching fabric for the A-pillars in the LGT BTW?

[16psibrick]

i havent even had time, but i am going to start my own install hopefully end of htis month, so we will see...you might be onto something with your grille cloth idea though

[executor485]

Amazing work... Wow! Love it, wish you were local, lol

[zmarko]

Wow. Awesome job.