1st off what is a good sound dampening, from what I hear Dynamat is good but overpriced because of the name. I see FatMat and other stuff too. I want to add some to the exhaust tunnel and firewall before I put my new carpet in. Also I want to prewire my door speakers and what not and just coil it under the carpet near the door so I can just pull up that part of the carpet to wire it in.. What gauge wire do I use?

 

I can't speak on the sound dampening.

What is the wattage being used? I ran 12 gauge throughout my car, maybe overkill, but oh well.

Will you be running the new wire all the way to the doors? Or just taping into the OEM wires. Also, what car?

 

Car is an EJ8. I read 16 gauge is good. There was a chart I saw with gauge of wires and amps/watts.

 

16 would be better then the OEM stuff, just make sure you buy quality wire.
There is a difference in the wires when comparing, lets say Rockford to eBay/no name. (I've got Rockford wiring throughout.)

Will you be running new wire into the doors?

 

Yep, new wire all the way into the speaker. No sense running 16 gauge then having like stock 20 gauge right before the speaker.

 

exactly. It's kind of a pain, but I felt it's worth it.

 

any pictures of your install? I saw before someone just drilled holes in the plastic wire harness clip and put the wires through there...

 

I'd have to look I don't remember if I took pic's or not.

For you, you will have to drill holes in the plug. It wasn't necessary for me, but I have a DX

 

Oh true well yeah damn power things making things complicated

 

haha very true. I wouldn't mind having a EX for a daily.

The only pic's I was able to find are of my amp install. I am not at home, so I'll check my computer as soon as I can.

 

Look up second skin. Its a great dampener and a bit cheaper. Theres another good one but I cant recall the name.

 

Also, as another has said 16 gauge is fine for the speaker wire.

 

Peel and Seal, home depot/lowes.

 

Have you tried the Peel & Seal? I have heard both good and bad things about it. I got a couple of rolls of 1/8in Frost King peel and stick type duct insulation, but so far I have only done the doors with 2 layers on my Honda Del Sol. I havent noticed a huge difference but I think that is mostly because the majority of the sound is coming from my exhaust and from the floor in the cabin.

 

Note that Dynamat is butyl rubber on aluminum whereas FatMat and Peel-and-seal are asphalt on aluminum. FatMat is actually made by the same ppl. that make Peel-and-seal or a similar roofing product.

The asphalt-based deadeners may melt and become greasy in hot temperatures, and may delaminate from vertical surfaces such as doors.

 

How much power rms will you be running?

 

If you are still looking to sound dampen check out THIS site. I have no affiliation with it except I purchased and installed all the products and like them.