majesticix
03-28-2009, 06:33 PM
After driving around for almost a year now with my old 12" sub sitting in the trunk and seeing what a few others here have done, I decided to move my sub to the wheel well since it's basically dead space. Just finished up the install this afternoon and wanted to share what I did for relatively cheap (assuming you already have a sub and amp)
I cut out a 27" diameter 1/2" MDF board for my base to fit in the wheel well. This gives you about 1-2" of clearance beneath for your wires and such. You could cut out a smaller circle and tuck it lower, but I needed the room to fit my amp and box. Built a 14x14x8" box 1/2" MDF to fit my 12" sub, 6" deep (probably should have used 3/4" but whatever, I had 1/2"). Bought some fleece material at Joann Fabric (didn't feel like waiting for automotive carpeting online, and this stuff is a pretty darn close match surprisingly).
After installing the system and playing the sub in my wheel well, I noticed considerable vibration in the wheel well housing (outside the car, inside the cabin its quiet) which had to be addressed. Again, I didn't really want to wait around and order a Dynamat product online...and it is expensive. Did some research and bought some Quick-Roof from Home Depot for $15 a roll (6" x 25') (needed just over a roll, but you could probably do the whole well with one roll...this was my first time so my wrapping skills aren't perfected).
This was the part I was a bit hesitant about, but the stuff worked beautifully. I can imagine working with it in 90 degree whether might be difficult, but when it is 60...it cuts easy and goes in without any problems...and it works wonders. There is a slight odor when you sniff it, so you may not want to wrap you whole car in this stuff...but I can't smell it unless I shove my head in the wheel well and take a big whiff. I hear this will dissipate though, so I'm not concerned.
The results...surprisingly better bass response then when I had it just sitting in my trunk. I thought for sure I would lose some, but quite the opposite. I even placed my new box in the same fashion as my prior setup which sounded about the same...perhaps a hair quieter. In the wheel well though it pounds well. Anyways, attached are some pics. Here is what I spent:
$20 4x8' 1/2" MDF - Home Depot
$10 ($5/yard) charcoal fleece "carpeting" - JoAnn Fabric
$5 Polyfil 16oz - JoAnn Fabric
$15 a roll of Quick Roof - Home Depot (1 roll should do it...might need 2)
I already had my component supplies, but I used the cheap Walmart Amp kit & Line-out converter, 12V low voltage trigger for remote lead, 12" Polk db Sub, Rockford Power 450 amp.
The best part about it: my trunk space is free, I get BETTER bass response, and I still have room for my emergency kit and the air pump that came with the car. And I can now quickly pull the sub out when I hit the drag strip. A thing of beauty!
http://www.g8board.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3325&stc=1&d=1238291636
http://www.g8board.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3326&stc=1&d=1238291647
http://www.g8board.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3327&stc=1&d=1238291659
http://www.g8board.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3328&stc=1&d=1238291666
I cut out a 27" diameter 1/2" MDF board for my base to fit in the wheel well. This gives you about 1-2" of clearance beneath for your wires and such. You could cut out a smaller circle and tuck it lower, but I needed the room to fit my amp and box. Built a 14x14x8" box 1/2" MDF to fit my 12" sub, 6" deep (probably should have used 3/4" but whatever, I had 1/2"). Bought some fleece material at Joann Fabric (didn't feel like waiting for automotive carpeting online, and this stuff is a pretty darn close match surprisingly).
After installing the system and playing the sub in my wheel well, I noticed considerable vibration in the wheel well housing (outside the car, inside the cabin its quiet) which had to be addressed. Again, I didn't really want to wait around and order a Dynamat product online...and it is expensive. Did some research and bought some Quick-Roof from Home Depot for $15 a roll (6" x 25') (needed just over a roll, but you could probably do the whole well with one roll...this was my first time so my wrapping skills aren't perfected).
This was the part I was a bit hesitant about, but the stuff worked beautifully. I can imagine working with it in 90 degree whether might be difficult, but when it is 60...it cuts easy and goes in without any problems...and it works wonders. There is a slight odor when you sniff it, so you may not want to wrap you whole car in this stuff...but I can't smell it unless I shove my head in the wheel well and take a big whiff. I hear this will dissipate though, so I'm not concerned.
The results...surprisingly better bass response then when I had it just sitting in my trunk. I thought for sure I would lose some, but quite the opposite. I even placed my new box in the same fashion as my prior setup which sounded about the same...perhaps a hair quieter. In the wheel well though it pounds well. Anyways, attached are some pics. Here is what I spent:
$20 4x8' 1/2" MDF - Home Depot
$10 ($5/yard) charcoal fleece "carpeting" - JoAnn Fabric
$5 Polyfil 16oz - JoAnn Fabric
$15 a roll of Quick Roof - Home Depot (1 roll should do it...might need 2)
I already had my component supplies, but I used the cheap Walmart Amp kit & Line-out converter, 12V low voltage trigger for remote lead, 12" Polk db Sub, Rockford Power 450 amp.
The best part about it: my trunk space is free, I get BETTER bass response, and I still have room for my emergency kit and the air pump that came with the car. And I can now quickly pull the sub out when I hit the drag strip. A thing of beauty!
http://www.g8board.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3325&stc=1&d=1238291636
http://www.g8board.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3326&stc=1&d=1238291647
http://www.g8board.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3327&stc=1&d=1238291659
http://www.g8board.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3328&stc=1&d=1238291666