Stereo & Electronics - Empire's Trans Am Build Log (56K No Way)

We started this car a long time ago, (thread located here) (http://www.icixsound.com/vb/showthread.php?t=23942&highlight=trans) . But we're just now going to finish it up.

The system consists of:

Alpine 7998
Edi 6500s
Nine.4
11Ov.2
Nine.2x

Onto the pix:

The victim, and the proud owner.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/1.JPG

Stock speaker location

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/4.JPG

Stock headunit

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/5.JPG

The beautiful 7998 box

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/6.JPG

11Ov.2

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/7.JPG

Nice and solid

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/8.JPG

Nine.2x

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/9.JPG

Unpacking the nine.4

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/10.JPG

Nine.4

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/11.JPG

Were thinking of mounting them over here somewhere.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/12.JPG

Not 100% sure. We thought about mounting them on one of the walls in the T-Top well, but there isn't enough room.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/13.JPG

First up, we need to hook this thing in. Installing the deck in this car required a dash kit, wiring harness, and antenna adapter.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/16.JPG

Deck came with everything originally included.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/17.JPG

We begin with the wiring harness for the car and the wiring harness for the deck.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/14.JPG

Weapon of choice for connecting wires. Soldering gun, and solder.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/15.JPG

Slide on a piece of heatshrink, then twist the wires together so they look like one straight wire. Then use the soldering gun to heat up the wire and touch the solder to it until it flows through the connection.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/19.JPG

After allowing the solder to cool, slide the heatshrink over the exposed metal and heat it up to securely insulate the connection.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/21.JPG

I finished off the harness with some techflex. The exposed wire is the remote turn on for the amplifiers.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/27.JPG

The first step to putting the deck into the car is to pop off this trim piece. Use a screw driver to remove the 4 poppers in each corner.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/28.JPG

Be gentle, you don't want to crack this piece.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/44.JPG

Next, remove the 3 hex bolts.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/45.JPG

Disconnect the harness and antenna adapter from the rear and it pops right out.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/47.JPG

This is the stock harness that the harness we created earlier plugs into.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/48.JPG

Attached.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/29.JPG

Next step was to mod the dash kit so that it fit. We began with cutting off the extra munting brackets.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/31.JPG

Then we cut off the inner brackets.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/32.JPG

Then we used an extremely sharp razor to clean up the cuts. We'll come back to the deck later, for now, thats all you get.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/34.JPG



Next task was to run the 0awg to the back of the car. We connected it to the battery using a soldered 0awg ring terminal. The process of doing this is outlined in the big ass project thread. We had to cut off the red rubber protective boot on the stock connector to fit the ring.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/40.JPG

We mounted the fuse next to the strut tower. It is a little far away from the battery, but there is absolutley nothing that could hurt it between the battery and it, so we felt it was acceptable.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/42.JPG
http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/50.JPG

After running it through a grommet on the passenger side, we ran it up the passenger side door sill and out onto the rear deck.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/51.JPG

Next step was to remove the amplifier that the previous owner installed. It is hooked up to the stock speakers using the loc in the amp.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/53.JPG

A couple of screws

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/54.JPG

A few wires and the fuse

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/56.JPG

And its out.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/55.JPG

Last nights update:


Generally, you should put some type of loom over any wire in the engine compartment. We started by putting it on and zip tieing.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/73.JPG

Then we trimmed the excess, and taped the ends.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/75.JPG

Next, we turned our attention to the inside of the car. We begain by hooking up the RCA cables and antenna adapter.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/81.JPG

Next we neatly bundled them after we...

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/85.JPG

...taped the antenna adapter.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/86.JPG

Then we made sure the cage was locked into the dash kit very tightly.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/87.JPG

And installed.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/88.JPG
http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/89.JPG
http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/90.JPG
http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/91.JPG
http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/92.JPG

Then we routed the RCAs to the drivers side of the car

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/77.JPG

Bundled them together.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/78.JPG

And ran them up along the door sill

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/84.JPG

Out the back.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/82.JPG

Then we saw this son of a *****. This thing was fricken huge.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/80.JPG

Next we turned our attention to the doors. Remove all of the following screws.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/94.JPG
http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/95.JPG
http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/96.JPG
http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/97.JPG

Then pop out the buttons, and the trim piece around the handle.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/98.JPG

Then take off the sail panel.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/99.JPG

Lift up and out, and you can see this.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/100.JPG

Next, we remove the 3 hex screws holding it.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/101.JPG

Disassemble it by the wood.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/102.JPG

And trace.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/106.JPG

The perfect baffle. Hopefully, its not too thick.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/107.JPG

And for those interested, 6500s vs stock.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_1/104.JPG

To be continued...

"to be continued..."

u suck....hurry up an post the rest!!! :( im itchin to see the rest of the project. the way u posted makes it look very easy, with pics to help the reading-impaired (like myself).

good job so far!

Damn dude, that's a lot of work!

Oooh can't wait for the sage to continue. I bet that system will sound amazing when it's done.

. . .and Then? ? ?

Alright, my picture host seems to have died, I'll wait a few hours and see if it comes back, if not I'll figure something out.

I have a whole new round I need to upload too.

Decided to switch hosts today, the new plan should be up by tommorow, then I'll continue with the pix.

Try using www.tinypic.com

You can host pics and videos there, it easy to use and you dont have to setup an account to host pics/vid

Oh BTW, you could'v gotten the the nine.1 amp with 4ohm DVC 11ov.2's, wire them for a 2ohm load for each one making a total load of 1ohms, they'd be getting 600 watts each, they can handle that much with no problems too.

Pix are up

First up, get the midwoofers mounted. Here is a revised spacer, we weren't able to use the trace of the stock speaker because it wasn't lined up with the hole on the door.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/29.JPG

Mounted

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/34.JPG

I thought I had way more deadener left over than I did, so we only did around the ring and inside the door. More is coming in the mail.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/42.JPG

Door panel back on.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/44.JPG

Cut off the head on the stock wires.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/46.JPG

Wrap wires around edi terminals

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/47.JPG

Solder

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/48.JPG

Securely screw the speaker in.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/49.JPG

Place the grill on

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/50.JPG

Don't worry, black screws are on the to buy list.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/51.JPG


Next, time to do something about the amp rack.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/10.JPG

Mounting bracket for the amp.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/12.JPG

Glue on

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/9.JPG

Then screw the amps in. The board is velcroed down now, but it will be bolted down soon, once we figure out a way to do it.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/13.JPG

Next, we have some wires that need to be hooked up.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/16.JPG

First the power.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/17.JPG

This is how a compression terminal works. Tuck the wires over the top.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/19.JPG

Then just screw it in.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/20.JPG

Don't forget to secure the distro block.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/21.JPG

Next we figure out how were going to ground it.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/35.JPG

Sand the paint

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/36.JPG

Screw em down. This is over the drivers side wheel well.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/37.JPG

Power, Ground, and RCAs hooked up

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/38.JPG

Anyone else notice anything weird about these? The wires were just hooked up here for a test listen :cool:

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/40.JPG

Unfortunatley, the batteries on the cam started to die, and we didn't have the charger, so we backed off on the pictures to make sure there would be some power left for the end.

Here is everything hooked up, including the crossovers.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/54.JPG

There will be a carpeted beauty board that goes over this. It will flow right into the rear cover.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/55.JPG

A view of the tweeter and mid.

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/56.JPG

Just the tweeter, attached with double sided tape. Anyone else have a REALLY hard time getting the retaining ring to snap down?

http://www.ivmai.net/build_logs/mike/day_2/57.JPG

Next update will be the completion update.

looking good!!

What's the reasoning for the tweeter location?

Looks good. I assume the rear window is heavily tinted? Or will there be some sort of cover over the top. Don't drill in to the gas tank :)

Btw.. Takes lots of patience to snap all those pics as you're doing it. Good job.

Holy pictures! Nice.

Everything seems to be going good. Cant wait to see the end result.

-ty1er

Clean! :hail:

I like the write-up.

Just some suggestions: Paint the heads of the screws in the door speakers and at least paint the amp board, if not carpet it.

Question: Why did you mount the cross overs there? That makes for a lot of extra wire running the length of the car all the way to the speakers they power, not to mention signal loss.

Question: Why did you mount the cross overs there? That makes for a lot of extra wire running the length of the car all the way to the speakers they power, not to mention signal loss.
I think your a little mixed up. There is no "signal" loss associated with the passive crossovers. If you mean electrical resistance loss by the long wires, then it is actually LESS loss. 4 pairs of wires from the front to the back is going to have less loss than only 2 pairs. This is the prefered way to do it, plus you can access the x-overs quickly to adjust them.

What's the reasoning for the tweeter location?
That's the sweet spot in the these cars.
Mine are in same location with similar angle.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/JasonWW/99%20black%20TA/Untitled-37.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/JasonWW/99%20black%20TA/Untitled-34.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/JasonWW/99%20black%20TA/InteriorPic.jpg

how did you mount the tweeters in the pod? was that hot glue or something?

how did you mount the tweeters in the pod? was that hot glue or something?
Yeah, I used hot glue. It lasted a few years, but the texas heat eventually softened it and it came unglued. This time I tried super glue, and it seems to be holding them fine, but time will tell. Epoxy may be best but it's more permanent. You might have to cut them out if you used epoxy, which is why I didn't use it.

There are sprays that undo epoxy (if you can get a hole somewhere to spray it.