my new DIY boot install - 56K BEWARE

[Dogo]

Note : this thead is also on MEA
And sorry who those who get the email AND the thread.

Hi all,

Im finally finishing off the install that started last January by getting the boot done up with the sub and amp thats been sitting my cupboard.

I wanted to put up a sketch pic of the design but I havnt made it yet so all ur getting is progress pics.

The boot is going to have the sub in the middle against the back seats and an amp in the floor ( glass lid ) behind it. Both sides will be clear for carrying stuff. Im putting my stacker into the wall as you'll see.

Im still toying with how to trim it. Most of it will be plain black carpet. I have a red & cream interior theme and Im still trying to work out how to integrate that in the boot. I've left a bit of space around the stacker opening to allow for a frame

The box is for a IDMAX 12 v3d2. Its 18mm mdf with a double-layer front and bracing along the long sides. Volume should be a bit under 1.4 cubic foot. The trench along the top is for the strut brace ( I couldnt make the box any lower due to the sub diameter ) All secured with screws and pva & liquid nails in some places. Then fibreglass resined on the inside to seal and strengthen. I didnt count screws but they're about 3" apart

I decided to cut all the wood myself rather than get the store to do it. Im a DIY person dirol.gif Theyre not perfect but it does the job. Most of it is with a jigsaw by hand and a circular saw with a blunt blade.
All work is done by me, with occasional assistance to hold things by my g/f .
There were endless jokes about 'screwing' while putting the box together. It just never gets old nea.gif

anyways here's pics, comments welcome

Ive included the obligatory dog-who-got-in-the-way shot and the look-at-me-im-a-subwoofer shot


Still to do :

The walls now need carpet. This is going to be a pain in the A
The box is done and needs carpet. The carpet is cut but not stuck on yet.
The floor framework is done and needs floor panels. The walls then need to be trimmed up to the new floor height.
The sound deadening and sound barrier underlay is partially in.
The amp casing and hinged floor needs to be finished and strengthened because there's going to be some SERIOUS weight on it,
I need to test fit - I hope that box fits !

THEN i can install and tune the system with the new amp

[Dogo]

and more

[Dogo]

more

[Dogo]

thats all for now.

[outbakoz]

Lookin good Dogo, can't wait till its all done then you can do mine

[zappy65]

dam looks good but arent you just a tad worried that once you finish it the car wont move??? (looks awefully heavy)

[Dogo]

no mate after this the next project is to upgrade my turbo to a bigger one thats also been sittng in the cupboard for maybe about 2 years

Its handy to have adjustable height suspension too. I think the weight will drop the back of the car a bit.

[outbakoz]

Originally Posted by Dogo

the next project is to upgrade my turbo to a bigger one. I think the weight will drop the back of the car a bit.

yeah i spose thats a good idea seeing you'll need more grunt to haul that tree around :P

//sarcasm off

Most impressed with hows its looking, keep the pics up, i'm following this intently

[BigBoyLemonade]

Woo, good to see the car is continuing!

[Rupewrecht]

The box is smaller that i thought, once seen in person!

[Dogo]

Thanks guys.

I only had a bit of Saturday arvo to work on it this wkend.
My progress :

• Measured and cut side floor panels
• Cut wall trim to be flush with new floor height
• Did a test-fit and took final designs to amp box
• finished off laying down the deadening

The trim and floot panels need to be carpeted and the centre bit needs to be finished.

And a few pics.
You can see that the strut brace is right up against the box. It takes a bit of shoving to bolt it back in. You can also see the space between the sub and back of the seats.

[Dogo]

Latest addition to the car audio

80gb Ipod - an early bday pressie !!

My mp3 collection is a bit over 70 gb , so this will work just perfectly.

Unfortunately , connecting a cd stacker and ipod with Alpine isn't easy - you can only have 1 unless you buy this other box. Or I've also got a FM modulator that runs straight into the aerial wire ( So better quality sound ) So now I have to work out the best option.

[skitz]

buy the other box trust me i have used both with the box u can scip songs etc through the head deck
u cant with the areal

the arial will be great and fine for a few days then u will wish u had the other

[Dogo]

Im told the new Alpine head units have a 'full-speed' feature which is great with iPod but Ive heard a lot of complaints with the older models that are slower to use with the iPod interface.

[chipa]

Looking good Dogo, any ideas how much weight you're adding to the rear? With the extra 45kg's (guessing here - could be a bit more...) in my boot I need to have an empty fuel tank for the car to 'look' right. Once I fill up with fuel the rear is obviously (well to my eyes at least) too low in comparison to the front.

[Dogo]

Yeh a bit concerned with weight. I'll probably put it on a weighbridge and find out the difference once its all in.

I know the sub is fkn heavy, the box is fkn heavy , and the amp is fkn heavy.

But my suspension is very stiff - i can put my weight on it and it wont move much.

[Dogo]

Almost there !


This weekend I carpeted the walls of the boot.

They're very curved and so laying carpet over them was really hard.
I used non-backed carpet so that it was flexible and lay it down in patches , taking great care to get the seams invisible ( as possible )
The stacker wall is covered in about 12 main patches I think. The other is about 8 , and the back wall is 1

I wasnt sure if it would turn out ok but Im very happy with the result.
The stacker wall looks so much better now !!

I didnt worry too much about the areas which can't be seen. The end that's missing carpet is either facing into the back of the seats or goes under the side cushions

I cut the carpet for the side floor panels as well.

Anyway, pics as usual :
The carpet is black but the flash makes them look charcoal. It also brings out some of the seams that you can't really see in person

[bourbon]

looks awesome mate! you should be very happy with the result.

[BigMal]

The carpeting looks great but thats a very Gay doona cover

[Dogo]

Y'know I never thought of it like that.
But it was a gift from the girlfriend ( its Sheridan )

No pics today but on ANZAC day the boot came together at last.
The floor side panels and walls are in permanently and my shelf has gone back on for the first time in a year or so.

The stacker works great but I need to spend a bit more time re-fitting the walls because the oem clips dont hold properly anymore. It just because the padding and the carpet edges pushes the walls out an extra centimetre or so