Title: Philly Steve's Custom Trunk Build
Post by: Philly Steve on February 25, 2009, 12:32:06 PM
This has been something I've been wanting to do for a long long time, since I'm an audio freak and I need to be able to hear every sound and real real loudly.
I'll either end up going one of two routes here:
Route 1:
$950 at Dedicated Customs in Melbourne, FL will get me:
1 week without my car
2 Custom fiberglass 15" sub enclosures painted white
Amp rack in the spare tire well with clear plastic window and amps stacked diagonally like this /// and white LEDs
Route 2:
Custom fiberglass enclosures (carpeted) by Tim (timot_one) while he's down in FL
Will still have my car but project will probably take a whole weekend if not longer
I don't know if we'll have time to do an amp rack or anything
As much as I want to support our members I don't like having to make Tim work on vacation, and the custom painted fiberglass enclosures and amp rack sound badass. It would be a show setup basically. Whereas Tim's work would look more stock with the carpet and such.
Edit:
I ended up bitching out on the fiberglass. Just too expensive. But I like my new build and I think this one will stay for a long time...finally....
Before:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3469/3234073761_9160fd8346.jpg)
After:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3439/3363400517_23ca2b1e0c.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3364219180_07dc4854f9.jpg)
I'll either end up going one of two routes here:
Route 1:
$950 at Dedicated Customs in Melbourne, FL will get me:
1 week without my car
2 Custom fiberglass 15" sub enclosures painted white
Amp rack in the spare tire well with clear plastic window and amps stacked diagonally like this /// and white LEDs
Route 2:
Custom fiberglass enclosures (carpeted) by Tim (timot_one) while he's down in FL
Will still have my car but project will probably take a whole weekend if not longer
I don't know if we'll have time to do an amp rack or anything
As much as I want to support our members I don't like having to make Tim work on vacation, and the custom painted fiberglass enclosures and amp rack sound badass. It would be a show setup basically. Whereas Tim's work would look more stock with the carpet and such.
Edit:
I ended up bitching out on the fiberglass. Just too expensive. But I like my new build and I think this one will stay for a long time...finally....
Before:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3469/3234073761_9160fd8346.jpg)
After:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3439/3363400517_23ca2b1e0c.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3364219180_07dc4854f9.jpg)
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Fiberglass Audio Build
Post by: ibcnunv on February 25, 2009, 12:45:41 PM
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y95/ibcnunv/Gen7Accord/DSC03997.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y95/ibcnunv/Gen7Accord/DSC03923.jpg)
NOT FOR SHOW?
Steve, you will save some $$$ in the long run working with Tim. The carpeted look works well for us because it blends right into the trunk carpet. You can diffidently show that set up and get attention.
Please to judge that picture too much because as you can see I have no speakers in the enclosures Tim did for me. This summer I could demo it for you…
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y95/ibcnunv/Gen7Accord/DSC03923.jpg)
NOT FOR SHOW?
Steve, you will save some $$$ in the long run working with Tim. The carpeted look works well for us because it blends right into the trunk carpet. You can diffidently show that set up and get attention.
Please to judge that picture too much because as you can see I have no speakers in the enclosures Tim did for me. This summer I could demo it for you…
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Fiberglass Audio Build
Post by: Mike on February 25, 2009, 01:00:21 PM
Tim does wonderful work. If it weren't his vacation I would have him do it. If you want the "show setup" drop the 950, I personally perfer the stock look of Tim's installs
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Fiberglass Audio Build
Post by: timot_one on February 25, 2009, 09:39:27 PM
For the record, I can also paint enclosures too. I will be able to prep them and either paint them myself or have a friend paint them.
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Fiberglass Audio Build
Post by: ibcnunv on February 27, 2009, 07:42:04 AM
Quote from: "timot_one"
For the record, I can also paint enclosures too. I will be able to prep them and either paint them myself or have a friend paint them.
Thank you for chiming back in. For real it's only extra sending, etc prep for paint.
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Fiberglass Audio Build
Post by: timot_one on February 27, 2009, 01:09:34 PM
It's a lot of labor involved when it comes to painting an enclosure. Depending on the size and if you're hand sanding or using an air or electric powered sander, it can take quite a bit of time. On top of that you need to use filler to take care of any dips in the surface. After that's all done, you need to go down from 80, 150, 250, prime it, then go down to 600, prime it again, 600 again, shoot color, wet sand it, shoot clear, polish and then wax it. It's a lot of work if you want it to look good and not have any imperfections.
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Fiberglass Audio Build
Post by: Philly Steve on February 28, 2009, 01:38:16 PM
I don't know if I will be going the painted enclosures route. probably just carpeted with some sort of white LEDs in the amp rack to make it look real clean. I don't think white enclosures in a gray carpet trunk would look clean.
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Fiberglass Audio Build
Post by: timot_one on February 28, 2009, 06:14:18 PM
Sounds good man. Carpet is a lot easier to maintain and you can still use your trunk.
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Fiberglass Audio Build
Post by: Philly Steve on March 15, 2009, 01:31:23 PM
So the car's in the shop right now. I ended up not wanting to pay the $950 for fiberglass, and the fabricator couldn't figure out how he was gonna do it with our super-low trunk hinges (lol noob) Instead i'm paying $250 for a custom built box which will be paneled off to look flush with the trunk (like Rich's setup minus the suede) plus an extra hundred bucks for them to put my car at the front of the line and not slack off or rush.
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Fiberglass Audio Build
Post by: timot_one on March 15, 2009, 02:42:24 PM
$100 just to be treated better than other customers? That's fucked up.
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Fiberglass Audio Build
Post by: Philly Steve on March 16, 2009, 02:58:00 AM
that's life in a world that revolves around money and in a country where everyone's got less money than they need. i offered the extra $100 as an incentive to treat my car as their own. i wouldn't say that's the shop's official policy or anything. lol
went to check on the progress today and it looks pretty badass. not gonna go into any detail yet but lets just say it will be able to be almost completely broken down and removed if needed with no screws or hinges. after seeing what they did so far i might just end up giving them another $50. $400 just seems like a reasonable price to me for the amount of labor and fabrication involved.
it will be done tomorrow.
on a side note, i've been driving my mom's 08 Pilot around while my car's getting worked on. I've never driven an SUV before besides moving it in the driveway and I must say it was a lot more enjoyable than I expected. Sure you can't take turns nearly as fast, but I swear that thing gets better gas mileage than my car...then again it's got like a 20 gallon tank. But it's got the 3-cyl Economy mode like the 08 Accord V6.
I might end up ordering an overhead console from a Pilot. It has a nifty mirror built into the sunglass holder. Good for people with kids or buddies in the back all the time. It looks like it would fit. I'm 90% sure it will. I will test fit the one from my mom's car while she's on vacation.
went to check on the progress today and it looks pretty badass. not gonna go into any detail yet but lets just say it will be able to be almost completely broken down and removed if needed with no screws or hinges. after seeing what they did so far i might just end up giving them another $50. $400 just seems like a reasonable price to me for the amount of labor and fabrication involved.
it will be done tomorrow.
on a side note, i've been driving my mom's 08 Pilot around while my car's getting worked on. I've never driven an SUV before besides moving it in the driveway and I must say it was a lot more enjoyable than I expected. Sure you can't take turns nearly as fast, but I swear that thing gets better gas mileage than my car...then again it's got like a 20 gallon tank. But it's got the 3-cyl Economy mode like the 08 Accord V6.
I might end up ordering an overhead console from a Pilot. It has a nifty mirror built into the sunglass holder. Good for people with kids or buddies in the back all the time. It looks like it would fit. I'm 90% sure it will. I will test fit the one from my mom's car while she's on vacation.
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Fiberglass Audio Build
Post by: Philly Steve on March 16, 2009, 01:37:42 PM
goin to pick her up soon....gettin mad antsy.
edit: went to check it out a little while ago and just happened to show up at the right time to help them tune it to my liking. They are putting the panels in to hide everything and make everything flush right now and I should be rattling my car apart in an hour or so. Might need to post a video to show all this.
edit: went to check it out a little while ago and just happened to show up at the right time to help them tune it to my liking. They are putting the panels in to hide everything and make everything flush right now and I should be rattling my car apart in an hour or so. Might need to post a video to show all this.
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Fiberglass Audio Build
Post by: skizot on March 16, 2009, 08:01:14 PM
Can't wait to see and hear this beast/
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Fiberglass Audio Build
Post by: Philly Steve on March 17, 2009, 12:05:51 AM
so the guy stayed late (til like 10pm) making the panels to make the box look flush, and it turns out they didn't have any carpet left. go figure. but i will be able to pick it up around noon tomorrow and it should be done.
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Fiberglass Audio Build
Post by: timot_one on March 17, 2009, 11:23:18 AM
Can't wait to see pics of the finished product. Is he giving you specs on the enclosure too?
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Fiberglass Audio Build
Post by: skizot on March 17, 2009, 06:56:48 PM
should be soon Tim, I would suspect. 
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Fiberglass Audio Build
Post by: driveaccord on March 17, 2009, 07:22:09 PM
looking forward to see the pics 
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Fiberglass Audio Build
Post by: Philly Steve on March 17, 2009, 07:31:22 PM
Yes he made the enclosures to their exact specs for a sealed box (2.0 cubic feet per sub)
The Capacitor and Circuit breakers are flush mounted to pieces of wood on the sides of the amp rack and are pushed into slots on the sides of the box for easy removal.
There is a panel that is easily removable that covers up the wires and makes the two main amps look flush.
A third amp is mounted on the back of the amp rack and is not visible.
Should I need to get my spare, I just remove the panel, then remove two screws holding the amp rack to the box, remove the panels that make the box look flush (attached via velcro), unscrew the box from the floor, and remove it. A total of 3 screws and I can remove everything pretty easily.
He left a space between the top of the box and the top of the trunk for air to flow into the cabin. That way the sound isn't blocked by the panels.
Finally some pictures:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3439/3363400517_23ca2b1e0c.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3364219180_07dc4854f9.jpg)
The Capacitor and Circuit breakers are flush mounted to pieces of wood on the sides of the amp rack and are pushed into slots on the sides of the box for easy removal.
There is a panel that is easily removable that covers up the wires and makes the two main amps look flush.
A third amp is mounted on the back of the amp rack and is not visible.
Should I need to get my spare, I just remove the panel, then remove two screws holding the amp rack to the box, remove the panels that make the box look flush (attached via velcro), unscrew the box from the floor, and remove it. A total of 3 screws and I can remove everything pretty easily.
He left a space between the top of the box and the top of the trunk for air to flow into the cabin. That way the sound isn't blocked by the panels.
Finally some pictures:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3439/3363400517_23ca2b1e0c.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3364219180_07dc4854f9.jpg)
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Trunk Build
Post by: ibcnunv on March 17, 2009, 07:40:43 PM
Nice... That has to 
hit hard because look at the space it's taking up. Can't wait to hear it...
hit hard because look at the space it's taking up. Can't wait to hear it...Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Trunk Build
Post by: Philly Steve on March 17, 2009, 09:48:35 PM
Quote from: "ibcnunv"
Nice... That has to hit hard because look at the space it's taking up. Can't wait to hear it...
hit hard because look at the space it's taking up. Can't wait to hear it...dude...before i even turn it up to full power my rear view mirror is rendered useless by my windshield flex pushing it upwards. Not that I need it that loud all the time, but I like to shut people down when they've bumping some shitty system. lol
i gotta get some more detailed pics up. it's really pretty intricate. the guy did a great job for the price IMO. ended up spending a total of $400.
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Trunk Build
Post by: Mike on March 17, 2009, 10:08:53 PM
That's gotta make some serious noise congrats!!!
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Trunk Build
Post by: skizot on March 17, 2009, 11:27:34 PM
Seriously. Sometimes the simple box, with the right dimensions make the best sound. Almost every system I have ever designed and built, has been a basic box, with the right enclosure size and have always slammed. Can't wait to hear it.
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Trunk Build
Post by: Philly Steve on March 17, 2009, 11:53:34 PM
Keep in mind that the box is smaller than it appears. The panels go all the way to the edges of the trunk.
That being said, yes, the enclosure is perfect for those subs. When push the cone in slowly and then release, it comes back out niiiice and slow. The guy definitely knew what he was doing. Except he told me it's easier to blow a sub by under powering it than by overpowering it...to which I said "if that were the case I'd blow my subs every time the volume was down".... but otherwise he did a good job.
That being said, yes, the enclosure is perfect for those subs. When push the cone in slowly and then release, it comes back out niiiice and slow. The guy definitely knew what he was doing. Except he told me it's easier to blow a sub by under powering it than by overpowering it...to which I said "if that were the case I'd blow my subs every time the volume was down".... but otherwise he did a good job.
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Trunk Build
Post by: timot_one on March 18, 2009, 12:09:49 AM
The output of your amps should be matched to the power handling of your subs, is what the installer was trying to tell you. It has nothing to do with when you turn the volume down.
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Trunk Build
Post by: driveaccord on March 18, 2009, 11:03:34 AM
damnnn.....thats a big box and subs...i bet it sounds awesome....what if you wanna make a trip and need the trunk?? can you take it out??
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Fiberglass Audio Build
Post by: timot_one on March 18, 2009, 11:16:01 AM
Quote from: "driveaccord"
damnnn.....thats a big box and subs...i bet it sounds awesome....what if you wanna make a trip and need the trunk?? can you take it out??
Here's your answer.
Quote from: "Philly Steve"
Should I need to get my spare, I just remove the panel, then remove two screws holding the amp rack to the box, remove the panels that make the box look flush (attached via velcro), unscrew the box from the floor, and remove it. A total of 3 screws and I can remove everything pretty easily.
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Trunk Build
Post by: driveaccord on March 18, 2009, 12:45:11 PM
^^^im an idiot...sorry for not reading ahead of time.......looks good steve
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Trunk Build
Post by: Philly Steve on March 20, 2009, 10:47:40 PM
ironically one of my tires started losing air yesterday and i found out just how easy it is to take apart....took me around an hour and a half to take everything apart and put it back together. I left my spare out for 'weight reduction' for now. might end up mounting more amps where it used to be.
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Trunk Build
Post by: Jade06 on March 22, 2009, 05:39:38 PM
Nice setup! I like it.
Title: Re: Philly Steve's Custom Trunk Build
Post by: Philly Steve on April 03, 2009, 05:54:54 PM
Again, the box is made to the optimum specifications of the subwoofers. The black carpeted parts are the panels, not the box itself. I actually store my car washing supplies behind the panels on the sides of the box, along with my lug nut wrench. It does look like a lot of box, but it's really a lot of hidden storage.