Build log: Car Audio in '96 Impala SS

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JasonC

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Apr 27, 2014
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I know Crashmph and others wanted more pictures when I posted a few of the car audio builds I've done and I said I'd start a thread when this car came in.

Tonight around 10pm the owner brought it in. It was his first time at my shop so he hung out, chatted, and checked out the pens and other things I'm working on.

Then we got to his car. Had him back it in so I/we could start gutting it. He had never taken it apart, had never seen the subwoofer that was in it, nothing.

When he brought it in one speaker played, the passenger side rear. The subwoofer hummed no matter what. Didn't matter whether signal was being sent or not - just hummed.

Here's what you see in the trunk. Just a large amp rack with three MTX amps. One Thunder 81000D and two Thunder 8302s. There was also an Alumapro 15 Farad capacitor/distribution center. Behind that amp rack was a large ported enclosure. Put an impedance meter/signal generator on it and found the enclosure was tuned to 35Hz. The speaker would produce sound when feed a direct signal, but nothing from the amp. Issues all around in this car.
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Inside the car was this old Alpine head unit. Non-nav touchscreen unit. Previous owner had moved the HVAC controls to where the ash tray should be and put a Police Interceptor from a Crown Vic on the new HVAC housing.
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At one point the car was bagged and someone poorly fiberglassed a pod to the A-pillar. That pod will get cut away, the A-pillar will get repaired, and both A-pillars will get tweeter pods before getting wrapped in vinyl.
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This is the gear that came out. An Image Dynamics IDMAX12D4, the Alumapro 15 Farad capacitor/power distribution, and the three MTX amplifiers. I get to keep all of the old gear.
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One of the 8302s.
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The 81000D.
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15 Farad Alumapro cap.
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Passive crossovers for all the Diamond Audio component sets. Only the right rear played. Left rear set was completely missing.
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The IDMAX12D4.
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The spider and basket have parted ways. Repairable, but the owner wants something new for dependability reasons.
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So that's as far as I got tonight. Gutted the trunk and found that ALL of the cabling - power, ground, and remote turn-on was red.

There are also video monitors in the back of the front seats. Owner wants to get signal going to those again.

So now, with the exception of the front doors and head unit, the car is gutted.

When the owner gets new gear and I can get going I'll update.
 
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seamus7227

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Awesome! thanks for sharing. Cant believe someone would go through the trouble of the install and then not use the proper coloring of cables. IDIOTS, just sayin
 

Crashmph

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South Riding, VA
That looks like it will be a fun build and score on the free hardware. I can't wait to see the updates as they pour in. What is the time line on this build?
 

JasonC

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Honolulu, Hawaii
Awesome! thanks for sharing. Cant believe someone would go through the trouble of the install and then not use the proper coloring of cables. IDIOTS, just sayin

I don't get it, either. Physical build was nice. The color selection on wiring was off.

That looks like it will be a fun build and score on the free hardware. I can't wait to see the updates as they pour in. What is the time line on this build?

Timeline? I have a craft fair coming up on the 8th. He's going to drop it off between now and then so I can pull the speakers from the front doors and start coming up with ideas for the subwoofer enclosure/rear deck/amp racks and start working on that driver's side A-pillar. My main focus between now and then is getting things made for the craft fair. That will give him time to pick out and purchase his equipment.

I mentioned going with some processing on it like a Rockford 3sixty.3, Audison BitOne, BitTen, or maybe an Audio Control DQ-61. I think that, out of the bunch, he's leaning toward the Rockford - he's a Rockford fan.
 

SDB777

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Feb 6, 2010
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Cabot, Arkansas USA
Almost makes me want to take all the stuff I put on Craigslist awhile back and use it...all new stuff too! 2200W sub-amp(for 2 Cadence 10's), 100W 4-channel(for Focal drivers), 30Farad, and crossover....going to stick with the factory radio.

BTW, last time I built a 'system'? 1997 4th Place Pro-Unlimited Power Class US Regional in Jackson, MS. I love watching other build now! Cause 24-10" subs in an IROC Camaro is just too much to do anymore!



Let's see some more on this build!?!?!?!?! Pretty please......







Scott (loud is fun) B
 

JasonC

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Owner came by again last night. Brought some woodworking goodies. Dye, a piece of Holly that will go to the lathe, and 10oz each thin and medium CA. He told me to pick the subwoofer for the vehicle so I called and got a good price on a JL12W7.

He told me he was looking at Rockford's Punch series amps. Their mid-level stuff. The P500X1bd for the subwoofer and P400X4 for the front/rear.

Problem is that the 12W7 is a (basically) 3 ohm sub (2.7) that wants/needs 400-1000 Watts RMS.

That P500X1bd is rated at 150W RMS @ 4 ohms and 300W RMS @ 2 ohms. He said he could get that amp for $385. I told him that's not even $1:1W

I showed him JL's XD1000/1v2. JL's mid-line amp. Currently listed on JL's website for $600, but I could probably get it for cheaper.

For an even comparison I compared the Fosgate and JL at 2 ohms.

Fosgate is $385 and puts out 300W @ 2 ohms.
JL is $600 and puts out 1,000W @ 2 ohms.

For $215 more he gets an additional 700W RMS and that 12W7 will be an absolute beast.

Then I showed him the XD400/4v2 for the front/rear.

Also entertaining a Rockford 3sixty.3 so imaging and equalization can happen.


He's been a die-hard Rockford guy but when I showed him how much more power he could get for his money he's considering jumping ship.

The 12W7 seems to be a complete go right now, he's debating amps, and I know he'd really like to do the 3sixty.3 after I pointed it out so we'll see what he decides to do.

Made the call today and I can get the XD1000 for $475, the XD400 for 345, and the sub is $600.

He planning to pick it all up on Monday.
 
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JasonC

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Owner came by today and dropped of some stuff.

JL 12W7AE-3, JL XD400/4v2, JL XD1000/1v2, a JL RLC, a set of Fosgate T152-Ss for the front, and for the rear some Fosgate T1693s.
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Also dropped off some up front payment. Been a while since anyone handed me a bag of money to pay for service. :laughing:
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He initially picked up the two amps from the JL dealer and didn't get the subwoofer. Said the guy at the shop told him he didn't see how I was going to put the 12W7 in it. His installers said the same. "There's not enough room"

Immediately I thought of Vinny and Tyrone in Snatch with me being Vinny, of course.

Vinny: What's wrong with that spot?
Tyrone: It's too tight.
Vinny: Too tight? You could land a jumbo f**king jet in that.


So he leaves the shop without the sub. Says the guy running the shop said he would let him try different size speakers to see which one he liked. I asked if the guy at the shop was going to pay for me to build an enclosure for each speaker or if he planned to just throw some pre-fab boxes in the trunk. I then explained that he could listen to the SAME driver in the trunk, in a box thrown in the rear seat, and installed in the enclosure I intend to build and it would sound different in every location and will only be hidden in one.

I explained some of the math and theory to him and next thing you know he's back at the shop picking up the subwoofer. :laugh:

His wife came by to pick him up after dropping off the car and checked out the shop and some things I have here that I've built. She got fairly geeked out then listened to the Murano. She was amazed at the sound so she's all for the hubby getting work done.

As of now the Rockford 3sixty.3 is still up for decision. He's wondering if he should do the 3sixty.3 or put in a new head unit. I told him that it's easier now to go with the 3sixty.3 and handle the RCA/power cabling now. Swapping a head unit later is no big deal. Adding the 3sixty.3 later means power, ground, remote, and more RCAs.

I've got family in town right now. When family is gone I'll get started heavy on this one. Between now and then I'll take time here and there to make measurements, do math, more measurements, more math...

Will probably pull the front door panels and speakers this coming Sunday night.
 

JasonC

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Pulled the drivers side door panel. Found the following.

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That gauge pod on the A pillar was glassed to the pillar, filled (poorly), sanded, then painted. No texture. This will get cut off, filled, and new pods for the tweeters will be built.
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This is the condition of the baffle and speaker when I pulled the panel.


Cut that monstrosity of a gauge pod off the pillar with the air saw. Crap like this is why gauge manufacturers sell gauge pods.
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Some sanding...
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Then a little twist and pry with a chromoly pry tool from Joey at 12vtools. Popped the remainder of the pod off. Seems to have been stuck down with contact adhesive.
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Someone used their paper cup from that day's lunch to make the pod.
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Sanded to bare plastic.
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Die grinder with a sanding disc was used to rough up the inside of the pillar.
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Then a Dremel with a sanding drum was used to remove any overspray from previous work.
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Applied blue masking tape to the outside of the pillar over the hole. One layer in this photo. I did four layers, alternating each layer by 90 degrees.
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Flipped over and ready for 'glass.
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Made a quick template for the first two layers of 1.5oz CSM (Chopped Strand Mat). These two layers will fill the hole in the pillar. Two additional layers will back it.
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Cut out and ready to be put to use.
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Time for fiberglass. My daughter (for some reason) enjoys helping me lay 'glass so she gloved up and wanted to do the repair. :)
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Mixing sticks courtesy of our local Pho place.
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Daughter got to work mixing resin.
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Brushing resin into the hole before applying the first piece of CSM.
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First piece of CSM in and getting resin brushed into it.
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After applying the other three layers she's happy.
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Crashmph

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South Riding, VA
That mod work is what really makes you scratch your head. LOL.

and don't get me started on the the fancy door speaker work.

Definately looks to be in good hands with your "crew". If I wore fancy clothes like that in my shop, I would have to sleep in the shop if my wife found out.

Good work, good luck and keep us posted.

Michael
 
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Tellico Plains, Tennessee, USA.
Your work is impressive, but for me it would be wasted effort... first thing I do when I get in my car, after I start the engine, I turn the radio off. (Except when the wife is with me... she likes the noise) ... you can tell I'm getting old and crotchety because years ago, it just the opposite, start the engine, dial up some music and take off.
 
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