Daily Driver Upgrades (build thread)

[Sleepywagon627]

So I've been pretty calm/intelligent about the daily driver's stereo...until now. Before it was just a decent headunit with a cheap wiring kit and some stuff I had laying around. Pioneer AVH-3200BT HU, stock door speakers, JL 1000/1 amplifier, and a JL 12W7 in a JL H.O. box. No major modifications. Well those plans have changed.

 

The new plans are to run 1/0 power and ground throughout the car. The HU will stay the same, but that's about it. The JL equipment will be sold off and a pair of custom built 15's will be going in. Box will be around 5 cu ft after displacement of subs, port, and bracing tuned to 32 Hz. The box design may change to a 4th order bandpass to give a good response from 20-60Hz, but that is a much larger enclosure. These will be powered by an Audioque AQ2200d amplifier. The door speakers will all be upgraded to components (TBD) and I still have to determine which amplifier to use there, might go with a matching Audioque AQ4X90. Power, signal, and speaker wiring from here on on out will be Knukonceptz.

 

Here's a picture of the daily grinder. A 2000 Legacy L, 5 speed, with over 301,000 miles. I love this car.

 

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/230870_527690023572_77101496_30699546_5087562_n.jpg

 

At the controls is a Pioneer AVH-3200BT. Since this photo was taken there has been an XM portable unit added. Even though that unit is satellite ready, I wanted to be able to use my XM in more places than just my car.

 

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/225350_527690093432_77101496_30699551_7689720_n.jpg

 

I was running a cheap 4 ga power kit to the JL 1000/1 powering my 12W7 in the JL H.O. box. Well as time continued I knew that the 4 ga wasn't going to cut it.

 

Here are photos of the previous wiring after adding grounds and another fused alternator to battery lead.

 

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/311797_539265546132_77101496_30790807_1504522598_n.jpg

 

Well last night began the major wiring upgrades.

 

Streetwires 1/0 was the weapon of choice, mostly because I already had it in my stock pile.

 

New vs. Old

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/svtxr/Grimace/Stereo/_DSC1117.jpg

 

So now it was time for the fun to begin.

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/svtxr/Grimace/Stereo/_DSC1126.jpg

 

All new connections were soldered and shrinkwrapped.

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/svtxr/Grimace/Stereo/fd8405e5.jpg

 

Here is a photo of the finished product as of now in the bay. 1/0 Power wire with 100 amp breaker running to a second battery. I ran a second 100 amp fused lead from the alternator to the battery, which is 4 gauge at the moment but will get stepped up to 1/0. There are 4 4ga grounds added from the battery to the engine, firewall, strut tower, and intake manifold.

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/svtxr/Grimace/Stereo/598d18a1.jpg

 

The 1/0 now runs to a second battery, a Shuriken BT100. The ground is not done yet, as I ran out of terminals but should be getting some tomorrow. Once I get more terminals the ground will be upgraded to 1/0. The wiring is still a mess back there because I don't want to finalize anything that wasn't going to be used for the end result.

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/svtxr/Grimace/Stereo/_DSC1133.jpg

 

 

Stay tuned. This may take awhile to get 100% completed, but it'll get there. I know this may not be everyone's thing, but I enjoy doing it and I spend a lot of time on the road so I might as well make it as entertaining as possible.

[coppertone]

Great start and way to add to the enjoyment of the ride.

[b slaps yo mama]

Wagons hammer. I remember me and my buddy walled 2 18's in a volvo wagon. It got loud

[Ari]

What's going on with this? Any news? I'm interested to see this ridiculousness.