Custom Subwoofer Enclosure and Amp Installed

[tmv]

Originally Posted by bagpype

Do you think from looking at it that an 8 inch sub with a 7 inch mounting depth could fit in your box? I have a jl audio 8 w7 that i would love to use but its a huge sub.

Nope. The shallow end of the box is only 5 1/2" deep.

[X5Boise]

Originally Posted by tmv

Look nice. How much internal volumm gain with the modification?

Not as much I'd like to admit--about another whopping 0.04 cubic feet of internal volume. For what little available space is in the compartment bay, I'll take it though

[carlgo]

Wow, years and years ago I did the Essam version and contributed some to the thread, and I return to the forum and it is still a hot subject, with different versions and 32,000 hits!

BTW, mine is still going strong. Cut a hole in the trim panel and installed a grill so it looks stock. Frankly I wouldn't worry too much about tiny differences in volume as I doubt you could hear the dif, but some of the new boxes look very nice indeed and so why not.

Mine was also updated with new speakers so it is vastly better than the awful original.

[X5Boise]

Finally got around to try to install the amplifier and to my dismay, the Alpine MRP-M500 amplifier doesn't fit in the floor space by the L side of the spare tire and access panel. Some other folks got it to fit, but I think with my nav, CD changer, and iBus controller, the current space is about 1/8" a bit too tight in depth and I don't feel like grinding any part of the unibody down. Will have to wait a few more days to get a new amp: probably a Kenwood X500-1 (7 3/8" depth) or MTX TD500.1D (5 9/16" depth) (both 300W RMS x 4ohms). Both will easily fit in the space (measured 3x to make sure).

Nonetheless, the subwoofer and amp wiring all installed and ready to go...

[X5Boise]

Originally Posted by carlgo

Mine was also updated with new speakers so it is vastly better than the awful original.

Just curious, which subwoofer did you use and what are you using now? Thanks.

[X5Boise]

Since I'm waiting for my new amplifier, I thought I'd spend some time modifying the rear cargo cover. I used a 10" metal mesh two-piece cover from eBay ($16 shipped)--the inner piece is a metal ring (about 1/2" deep lip) with mounting holes for screws/bolts, the outer piece is the metal mesh that snaps in place.

I measured where the subwoofer would go on the rear cover, then used the inner metal mounting ring to estimate where to cut the plastic cover. The inner side of the rear cover has a deep pile carpeting which can be lifted from the "mushroom" rivets to reveal the inner plastic cover. An angle grinder was then used to cut the new hole in the cargo cover. The deep plush carpeting was cut with a basic utility knife to reveal the speaker.




The metal inner ring was mounted with #8 bolts (3/4" length; round bolt side facing the speakers) and the accompanying nuts (both were purchased at Home Depot). The included screws that came with the speaker cover were too long and the locking metal tabs were designed to be unsuable for this particular application. I used a medium threadlock on there so the nuts wouldn't work loose over time. After that, I just snapped the outside mesh cover in place--looks factory clean and stealthy and the cargo area is still fully usable (see photo).



If you desire more "stealth", from the cut-out circular deep pile inner carpeting, you can peel a thin layer off of it, and get a 10" piece portion to stay just inside the mesh cover so that the PIONEER logo doesn't show through. Alternatively, you could use a very thin pieice of black cloth to wedge in place as well (to hide whatever speaker you may have behind the speaker grill mesh).

Now I just need the smaller footprint amp (Kenwood X500-1) to get here so I can finally get the missing bass from the factory setup and put the project to rest.

Again, thanks to all of those before who lead the groundwork on this project to make this a relatively easy task.

[aimtimes100]

wondering how the OP setup is holding up.i placed the amp in the same location as his and there was an interference of some sort.constant static noise and when i moved the aftermarket amp it was fine

[nigwhyrito]

I mounted my Alpine mrp m850 under the spare tire. its been going strong for over a year. I also have the sliding floor so it made my install even harder. but the spare tire fits in just the same and my amp has not overheated yet. this includes 5 and 6 hour drives to sc and NJ. I just pushed the amp as far as I could towards the front of the vehicle and dropped the spare tire over it. The tire sits a little bit crooked but once i put the put the removable black cover on its in there and everything opens and closes correctly. Those alpine Mrp m series amps were made well. I never seen a post about them getting hot.

[aimtimes100]

interesting choice.i was thinking of mounting on the panel so that it fits on the backside of it where the 2nd set of fuses are but wasn't sure how practical it was due to over heating.i suspect my amp just over heated so many times it finally just shut down.so your amp fit between the battery and the vertically mounted green box under the floor?

[nigwhyrito]

ill get you some pics today.. its too early for me to go outside right now.
Im checking my harddrive now to see if i have any install pics too.