This is the first time I have done this... But I keep getting torn between views.
First, what do you think of this set up? (origianlly made so I could keep the spare tire, pack the trunk with heavy things... the freaking amp box is almost bullet proof , and remove sub quickly if needed)

Second, should I get rid of the spare tire, and tuck both the amplifier and sub in that space. Plexiglass over amp, more in the rear (even with surface of trunk), and sub firing straight up mounted on the floor with the same grill over it?

(using this old site of mine, to prevent tracking my location so these are the only pics but if you want, in your reply ask, and I will get them up)





For anyone that cares about what I am using in my whole system....

-Headunit-
----- Kenwood Excelon KDC-X859

-Speakers-
----- 6.5" Kenwood Excelon KFC-XR601 2-Way
----- 6x9" Kenwood Excelon KFC-X698 3-Way way
----- 10" Kenwood Excelon KFC-XW1025dB

-Amplifier-
----- Kenwood Excelon KAC-X650D

-Wires-
----- F3 PFKP4 4awg amp power kit
----- Scosche EFX Iced Purple RCA cables (2 for channels A and B)
----- IXOS Performance Grade RCA cable (for sub channel)
----- Auto Audio High performance speaker wire 18awg (for normal speakers)
----- Auto Audio High Performance speaker wire 14awg (for sub)

-Custom/Various things-
----- Sub mount and trunk reinforcement
----- FishMan Pro Series 12" Sub Grill
----- Amp Box
----- Dynamat Speaker kit (front speakers in door)
----- Dynamat 12sq' pack (rear deck, some trunk, and license plate)

---WATTAGES---
(using amp power not speaker power and at 12V not 14V because I am probably only 12V in my civic)

-RMS- 400W (perhaps more, I'm just guessing the lowest that I know it could be by power ratings.)

-Peak- 1080W (I know this is more because the (A) channel speakers are 2ohm ((because of the factory tweeters being hooked up)), and that max is not listed, only the 4ohm.)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CooBlueDAB &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">This is the first time I have done this... But I keep getting torn between views.
First, what do you think of this set up? (origianlly made so I could keep the spare tire, pack the trunk with heavy things... the freaking amp box is almost bullet proof , and remove sub quickly if needed)

Second, should I get rid of the spare tire, and tuck both the amplifier and sub in that space. Plexiglass over amp, more in the rear (even with surface of trunk), and sub firing straight up mounted on the floor with the same grill over it?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

whether or not you want to remove the spare tire in favor of a clean install is up to you. you have to weigh the importance of trunk space with the new install vs. the idea of not have a spare there in an emergency. i would definately say that setup needs to be changed if asthetics are important. it looks cluttered and just thrown in there.

 

it looks alright. as far as wanting to be able to access your spare and stuff i think it's a good job. my only questions is, is your amp box shiny like metal? maybe im' just like blind in the picture or something, or is it an entire plexiglass box? you could mount it in the spare tire well but then if you get a flat i hope belong to AAA or something like that. overall i think it's looks pretty good.

 

thank you for honest opinions... Hrm perhaps I can keep the tire... if I figured a new place to put it in the trunk... like passenger side, above the well.. there is soo much more space below the trunk floor than the tire takes.

And to answer your question. No, the amp box is wood, I just had a really powerful flash... It used to be at an angle, on the back edge of the trunk, and then slanting down and to the front, like a wedge, looked nice... but then I got a sub, and decided I wanted most of my room in the rear of the trunk

 

looks ok,

 

Does your rear seat fold down?

If so you can build a new mdf false floor and make a box to fit where the amp is and hold both the sub and the amp.

This way, you will have two pieces that make up your trunk floor. If you ever get a flat you can just remove one of the pieces and dig out the spare.

 

What is the best way to fire the sub in the trunk of a car? I see you have yours turned. Does the effect vary with the position? Does your trunk rattle and do you still get the full effect with it in the trunk? I am looking at doing this so your post interests me. This is my daily driver so having access to the trunk space, tire, jack is of a concern to me also.

 

Im not sure why the seat folding down matters, but... Ive thought of that. But this amp is pretty big.. not the biggest, but larger than normal. To do that correctly and do the sub, I would not be able to keep the spare... However im really thinking of a way to put the amp in a resessed floor... I dont mind having the sub out in space, especially when I could change its location later, and make it easier to take out.. like putting it where the amp is now, same direction. But I also have to deal with putting a Snowboard or two in, which is another reason for beefyness and ease of removal for sub.


well I have a 2000 EX coupe... The only rattle i ever had real trouble with is the rear pannel with 6x9s, covered it with dynamat, problem solved. Also, it depends on the power and size of the sub as well for rattle.. mine is 250 RMS and 1000 peak, even when it is bumpin, no bad rattle or any i noticed for that matter, but to each car its own accoustics (and personally I think Civic coupes at least have rattle prone designs that also trap the sound between the interior and exterior body pannels).

As for the firing direction... in the trunk, with the seats there, the location and direction isnt as important, a lot of people will say that subs are non directional.. thats BS... it is hard to tell, quite hard.. in a car, but you can tell some.. and I am pretty anile about that stuff. I don't any, ANY direction from it being sealed off with the seats in the trunk though. In your case... I would say, just make it fit, and if anything.. maybe dont fire it straight back, but I never noticed placement when I moved it in the trunk.

Daily Driving... The whole basis for this design was durability, quick removal for getting the spare out, and keeping room in the trunk. I am still doing to change things in the summer... but basically... The sub can be taken out easily.. 3 L joints... I can take it out and put it in with a screw driver. (its mounted on plywood so I dont screw stuff up, also, ridgidity) That amp box... is freaking strong. It had to be since I sometimes do deliveries of pop, filling the trunk and covering everything, as well as putting in some snowboards (which decided that I couldnt put the amp on the back of the drivers side rear seat... its the large one, and the hole I use to stick the boards through... Its design was almost all function over form, and is actually edited from its original design. It doesnt need to be taken out to access below... It has holes on the side, and the plexiglass for venting. and I can still stand on it, and probably hop some without damaging it.

Here are some more pics since someone cares... If you want my detailed writeup of installing all of this as well, PM me and I will send you the link.


I chose a prebuilt box because I honestly had no experience and little time... This image shows why I got a slanted one, and used the slant on the side... There is 12" clearance between the stock floor and that bar when it is closed. if I made the box I designed.. lower... it would not have stuck out much at all past that bar. I also found out that my VAC is much lower than I though, so I could have made it much smaller.


Ply wood to mount the box on, you have to have something in there to keep it in place... eventually the whole floor will either have a one-two peice MDF or Plywood floor, depending on if I change my set up... a 2 peice will work on normal hinges, so the spare can be taken out in no time, and with little strength.



Any questions feel free to ask... from taking the dash apart, in detail... to this amp install in a civic.... including wiring places and step by steps.... with pics for almost all the steps... reply, or PM.

 

If the seat folds down you could still have access to adjust the amp without having to move the box around.

 

just thought of this. what if you built a special amp-rack type thing against one side of the trunk, say opposite the sub? i don't know if this makes a lot of sense but if you want i'll draw up a little diagram really quick.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hightek505 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">just thought of this. what if you built a special amp-rack type thing against one side of the trunk, say opposite the sub? i don't know if this makes a lot of sense but if you want i'll draw up a little diagram really quick.</TD></TR></TABLE>

ive thought of it, it was the plan I had in the beginning.. it was going to be the passenger side (drivers side has less area because of gas tank), and then in the future putting my sub in the tire space, that would have been possible, except on further examination... I would be drilling into a very small amount of inside body metal. I would have to have attached a 2x4 or welded more metal on that area to have a sturdy grip, even when mounting it on an angle like a triagle.

I neither had the know how, materials or money to pay someone to do that, I still dont. And I would like to keep the body as OEM as possible until the car is payed off.

 

another option is to build sub box, possibly that goes along the rear of the trunk, but it sounds like you need that space to fold down for your boards. but it you built the box then you could mount the amp on the top or back of the box. but if you're more concerned about show then you want to consider something else.

my bad, after looking at the picture agian i believe you said the driver side of the seat folds down correct? you could build a sub box stretching along the driver side, mounting the amp on top or something.

 

im going to reevaluate the space in my trunk tonight or tomorrow, Ill let you know some ideas, I know one guy really wants to know a good clean install with use of everything.