Fiberglassing and Sub installation

just took a peek...looks very sleek. That is where i was trying to put a sub about 6 months ago, but I've never had any fiberglass experience so I was just going to wait for a retail stealthbox to come out. I think you may have inspired me to use some free time to try to copy you. Very much appreciated!

 

Very nice guide. Great for people who want to fibreglass, but still have no clue (like me). Thanks

 

Thanks. I've been thinking of doing my own box for the sub. Still not sure, as the shop doing the rest of the install will do a much better job than me...

Anyway, your walkthrough was great.

 

Thanks for the nice writeup. I was leaning towards having a box made for me but now I'm thinking of giving it a try myself. I've usually done all my own installs, which I think turn out nicer because I spend the extra time to do a clean install. I'm sure there are shops that could/would do a better job than me but I'm not so sure I could afford to pay the going rate.

I'm interested in any more hints on how to connect the MDF to the fiberglass shell. I really want to make the box as seemless as possible. Any thoughts on getting the MDF the way you want it first ? My other idea is to cut the hole so the sub will fit flush. I could see either using a second piece of MDF behind the first or maybe a ring of MDF that the sub would attach too.

Would love to hear any other idea you might have now that you have yours done.

Ken

 

"I could see either using a second piece of MDF behind the first "

That's exactly what I did to flush mount my 8" sub. I made the top MDF piece hole as large as the outside of the sub, then another MDF piece behind that with the hole the size of the mounting ring of the sub.

I then flattened a 10" grill and screwed it to the front and carpeted the front. All flush and protected against stuff ramming that side of the car.

Sounds nice and looks great!

Pics are at home computer if anyone would like to see them, I can post after work today.

 

This is what I'll have to do (or probably the shop). THe sub I'm using, a JL Audio 8W7 is too deep to sit flat and not stick out too far. It will have to be mounted at an angle, pointing up at about 45 degrees. Also I plan on doing the box on the driver's side and using hte small storage compartment there as well. Take that out and you have plenty of space to work with (about 1.2 cu. ft.)

One question though. How did you secure the box to the car. If not, aren't you worried about it sliding out on cornering?

 

Many thanks for the excellent writeup. Lots of great info.

I would definitely think about securing it with a bolt somehow... don't want the sub to come flying into someone's head in a bad accident.

 

Would you consider making a mold from one of your blank shells, and then making duplicates off the mold? I would think expanding foam mold could be made from a prototype shell, coated with a release agent, could be used to make many shells. Then you could leave the MDF faceplate up to the buyer. This way we don't all risk glassing our carpets, but can make them custom to our sub.

 

Interesting idea about the foam. I have a friend that is a pattern maker and was going to ask him how to go about making a mold. Any idea of what foam to use ?

Ken

 

Awesome job, eagle33199! You make me feel ashamed because I have been meaning to write up something like this for the longest time...well, you've done a way better job of it than I ever could have.

For those considering doing this, I'll tack on my own little experience and additionally stress the importance of having patience in laying up the first layer. I tried to lay it up too quickly, dealing with too much resin at once, and it was a horrible mess. The whole thing caved in on itself. Lesson learned--you can't lay up the entire first layer in one fell swoop. It's a lot like dealing with paper mache.

After trashing my first attempt and successfully getting past the first stages of the second, I did the speaker ring trick supported inside the box with dowels, stretched fleece over the front, saturated it with resin, and built up additional layers from there.

the12volt.com also helped a fiberglass newbie like me with much of this, so hats off to that website.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Mar 17 2006, 08:56 PM) [snapback]226228[/snapback]</div>

If you haven't Velcroed it yet, start with only a couple of strips, and add until you can tear the box out without taking the quarter panel with it - Velcro sticks to the carpeting of the 1/4 panel very well ;-) I have some Craftsman mechanics gloves I leave in the car, and the velcro strips on them kept hooking to the panels, so I finally just shoved the gloves up on the top of the cubby and that's where they're stored.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Mar 16 2006, 11:55 PM) [snapback]225742[/snapback]</div>

The link to the pdf is failing, can someone repost it, or email it to me, so I can post it on VFAQ, and it won't disappear again?

 

Yes, I can not pull up the link either... can someone please help by reposting or send to me as well please??? thank you...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rangerdavid @ Sep 8 2006, 08:59 PM) [snapback]316755[/snapback]</div>

Anyone have the pdf file? I PMed the OP, and the one system he has it on is dead, so he can't get to it right now. So if anyone else downloaded it, please let me know so I can ping you for a copy if noone else has spoken up yet (which they haven't, yet).

 

I have a copy of it and sent you a PM. It's too large (by about 1.5MB) to attach.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusenvy @ Sep 29 2006, 06:18 AM) [snapback]325220[/snapback]</div>

Could someone pleae be kind enough to send the pdf to me?

Thanks.

 

I'm sorry, i didn't get a PM from anyone with the PDF or a link. I really would like to see this if someone could PLEASE send it to me in either PM or email???? Thanks..........