Fiberglassed a system into my 350Z

[ActiveTuning]

Well guys, it's that time again, a new issue of Project ActiveTuning

This time we do the entire sound system. I actually split it up into three seperate issues:

- Part 1: Headunit & XM Radio
- Part 2: Speakers
- Part 3: Amps/Amp Rack/Fiberglassed Sub Enclosure

The issues include over 100 pictures, and DETAILED how-to's for installing all of the above things. So, even if you aren't trying to fiberglass a system in your car, but just want to learn how to install a headunit or speakers, read the issues!

Anyways, check them out, and let me know your thoughts. You can also post them in our forum (we have a dedicated thread, just look for the link at the bottom of each issue).

http://www.activetuning.com/pat/4/7/i/93.jpg
http://www.activetuning.com/pat/4/7/i/96.jpg

 

[AzNmAnJLH]

nice mod.... how much it cost totalled?

 

[FleshLight]

I wish I was as rich as you

 

[StageLeft]

That's an extremely nice speaker enclosure. Looks like you put some serious time into it. I wish I had a Z

 

[AzNmAnJLH]

I have a Z... just not the new one

 

[ActiveTuning]

Well I got a hookup on the equipment, so I got really good pricing on that....Then we did the fiberglass work ourselves (would cost $1,000's). I would say I spent about $1,500 total....Not too shabby for the calibar that the end result is if I don't say so myself

 

[ActiveTuning]

Oh yeah and time taken was about 40 hours with 3 people working on it. So I guess that has to be taken into account. LOTS of sanding!

 

[Turkish]

Originally posted by: ActiveTuning
Well I got a hookup on the equipment, so I got really good pricing on that....Then we did the fiberglass work ourselves (would cost $1,000's). I would say I spent about $1,500 total....Not too shabby for the calibar that the end result is if I don't say so myself

$1500 only? :Q Damn that's cheap considering all the fiberglass involved.. I guess doing your own work pays off...

 

[AzNmAnJLH]

for 1500... I say that's a well spent mod

 

[Eli]

:Q

That is badass.

 

[StageLeft]

It does look like a high end aftermarket place put it in or a factory add-on or something. It's snazzy

 

[Apex]

How much did everything weigh?

 

[ActiveTuning]

Originally posted by: Apex
How much did everything weigh?

I didn't weight in the end...but between the amps, sub, amp rack, beauty panel, and enclosure, somewhere between 100-150lbs. I track the car, so that's why we built to take out fairly easy. I say 15-20 min and it's all out.

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: ActiveTuning

Originally posted by: Apex
How much did everything weigh?

I didn't weight in the end...but between the amps, sub, amp rack, beauty panel, and enclosure, somewhere between 100-150lbs. I track the car, so that's why we built to take out fairly easy. I say 15-20 min and it's all out.

Pretty cool stuff. Why the heck are you guys out there instead of in Southern California where we really need you guys?

 

[BurnItDwn]

Awesome job.

 

[ActiveTuning]

LOL, somebody needs to represent central and east coast US. You guys have millions of places over there! Plus it's so expensive to live in CA.

BTW Apex, you know I'm Dave, I used to own SLCentral (www.slcentral.com)?

 

[MikeMike]

prolly a HELL of a lot more than you would think, fiberglass gets heavy fast.

im assuming some of that box is just MDF w/ fiberglass over it, Skoorb, i believe he did the work himself, but someone he worked with has dne installs like that before, trust me ive attempted, but doing kickpanel installs is a bitch, i gave up because it would have taken all of my foot space.

as for the sub installs, its nice. i dont particularly like the coloring of the box, nor how the sub comes out, but its a VERY clean install.

choice of sub is questionable, but figuring as how it was a sponsored install, i say good stuff, Kappa's are very nice components, just would have gone else where for the Sub.

im assuming about 12 layers of fiberglass on the sub enclosure? or so so about 2-300 pounds.

also Xiety: you can get 1 gallon of Fiberglass from HD for 24$ and the mat/cloth for about 3$ although that is cheaper to get online i would assume, however the fiberglass is not as the shipping is expensive. so figure he used about 20 gallons (a lot more than he prolly did) thats only 400 or so for that, plus about 200$ on the cloth, you have 900$ for the rest, which is really not that hard to do.

I wish i had the patience, money and time to do a custom install in my jimmy, i was goin for it, but then money ran out. I want to do door pods, and a custom enclosure in the back over the wheel wells on both sides (take out the jack) and put in 2 12" subs and a custom amp rack and some active crossovers. thats my dream, maybe once out of college.

edit: hmm now that ive read your article on the sub enclosure, weight would be only about 200 lbs. but layer wise, only 1 layer with only a tshirt wont be that strong, i would have gone with about 2-3 layers personally to reduce any flex, however you really are only putting 400 watts on it so i guess that might be good.

MIKE

 

[EvilYoda]

Damn, that's a great step-by-step on a gorgeous install. Very nice! I'll have to pass this along to my cousin who recently got a Z.

 

[ActiveTuning]

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
prolly a HELL of a lot more than you would think, fiberglass gets heavy fast.

im assuming some of that box is just MDF w/ fiberglass over it, Skoorb, i believe he did the work himself, but someone he worked with has dne installs like that before, trust me ive attempted, but doing kickpanel installs is a bitch, i gave up because it would have taken all of my foot space.

as for the sub installs, its nice. i dont particularly like the coloring of the box, nor how the sub comes out, but its a VERY clean install.

choice of sub is questionable, but figuring as how it was a sponsored install, i say good stuff, Kappa's are very nice components, just would have gone else where for the Sub.

im assuming about 12 layers of fiberglass on the sub enclosure? or so so about 2-300 pounds.

also Xiety: you can get 1 gallon of Fiberglass from HD for 24$ and the mat/cloth for about 3$ although that is cheaper to get online i would assume, however the fiberglass is not as the shipping is expensive. so figure he used about 20 gallons (a lot more than he prolly did) thats only 400 or so for that, plus about 200$ on the cloth, you have 900$ for the rest, which is really not that hard to do.

I wish i had the patience, money and time to do a custom install in my jimmy, i was goin for it, but then money ran out. I want to do door pods, and a custom enclosure in the back over the wheel wells on both sides (take out the jack) and put in 2 12" subs and a custom amp rack and some active crossovers. thats my dream, maybe once out of college.

edit: hmm now that ive read your article on the sub enclosure, weight would be only about 200 lbs. but layer wise, only 1 layer with only a tshirt wont be that strong, i would have gone with about 2-3 layers personally to reduce any flex, however you really are only putting 400 watts on it so i guess that might be good.

MIKE

As you said at the end, it was 1 layer....but it really works fine, and is pretty strong. And to be totally honest with you, my business partner who did all the fiberglassing work...it was his first time doing a fiberglassed system...but he has a lot of experience with fiberglass in general. Another thing was that nothing was sponsored, I just got good deals on the audio equipment...and only had certain companies I could get the good prices with. I agree, there are definitely better subs that could have been used, but I am happy with the end result.

 

[ActiveTuning]

My mistake before..

It's actually two layers and two batches of resin. In overlap areas it was more like three layers. The actual layer count does not matter because thickness is also dependent on the weight of the mat. I don?t know what weight cloth I had, but it is heavy. 12 layers of 2 oz mat is equal to 4 layers of 6 oz. mat for example. The entire shape is also curved which adds strength. A flat panel would need to be twice as thick to prevent resonation.

 

[RagingBITCH]

AT - I'm not a Nissan fan but that is the sexiest audio install I've ever seen. Props on the bad ass work you did! :beer:

 

[geno]

WOW - NICE work man, very very sweet setup Do you do this stuff for a living? You could make a lot of money doing setups like that for other people

 

[mugs]

That's pretty impressive.

 

[ThePresence]

:shocked:

Holy cow.

 

[cHeeZeFacTory]

nice...looks easy but dam i've tried and its real tough !!!