That's a drawing I made today. A good starting point to design the layout of the amps and sub.

I am running a single Focal 40KX (16") sub and 3 possibly 4 Alpine PDX amps, as well as an additional battery back there, to be hidden in the spare tire tub with all the wiring as well.

Thoughts?

I was thinking of doing the sub in the center, protruding upward, with the amps mounted around it.

 

I also have drawings of other pieces that will be modified / redesigned like the door panels, center console, center stack, and the headliner.

Ie:

 

Amazing Etch-A-Sketch skills!

 

What are you using to make your drawings?

 

A program similar to photoshop, Paint.NET.

I'll have some drawings done and uploaded tonight.

 

I've heard of paint.net. never used it though. Heard it's got some great features.

I'm interested to see your hatch design with subs/amps. With the spare and tools removed, the Z's hatch is a great canvas to 'paint' a masterpiece with a sub enclosure and amp rack. But with the Z as my daily driver, I'm not ready to remove the spare in the name of stealth install just yet.

 

It's not going to be stealth by any means. I do want to shove a battery where the tool tray sits though.

 

my new box design is

driver up
2 x 4" aero ports up and elbowed in box
2.5 net after displacement sub and ports
35 hertz
3/4" TRUPAN
1.5" TRUPAN baffle
glued and screwed
30"x18"x14"
all exterior edges routed
got design done
all interior 90 degree angles rounded
now my box builder will execute


that is pretty much as large an enclosure as will fit

how much space are you wanting for your 16" driver

 

Right at 2ft^3 sealed. Does that 30x18x14 fit behind the strut bar? Which way is the port going to face?

Here's an idea I made earlier:

 

For everyone needing help with their own stuff, no one wants to give back.

 

I can make out the sub and the 3 amps, but what is going in the panels on the right and left?

It looks like you have the sub in an under strut box........an 18" sub isn't going to fit. Unless I'm seeing it wrong.

 

yes my boxes go in hatch behind strut bar

ports can face up or driver or passenger side

however with 18" depth back is not the best

 

under strut can only house 10" or 12" not 15" or 18"

 

It's probably because your trying to do something which is outside of the imaginative scoop, the creativity limits or the interests for most members on this board. This is a forum for a performance car, the majority of people on this board are not interested in adding a 16" sub woofer and multiple amplifiers to their 350z.

I am not knocking you for what you are trying to accomplish or making an attempt to accomplish, but if I were you I would brainstorm on my own (and with anyone who will be assisting you with this build) and not expect a lot of feedback from the board members here. Most sub installs here are either done with corner boxes, under-strut setups or the occasional spare tire well install.

In addition, you haven't really let anyone here know what yours goals and limits are. You haven't stated if you are looking for an all out show setup where everything has to be "BAM" in your face or if you are pleased with a much cleaner setup where some stuff is hidden. You haven't stated how much of your hatch you are willing to sacrifice if not all of it. Aesthetics are obviously a huge part in designing a sound system and no one can tell you what you like, you need to tell us what your preferences are.

You also might want to let us know what the space requirements and exact measurements are for your specific sub. It will help those of us who are interested in seeing you project come to fruition to give you realistic ideas of where your sub can and cannot fit in our cars. You should also probably list the measurements of everything you are looking to install.

Take my advice as a form or assistance or don't its up to you. I know from my own experience when doing my install and a few others here will tell you nothing goes as planned when doing an off the wall install in this car. I had to make multiple purchases and returns because a lot of my wants and needs did not coincide with the limited space within this car. In the end it came down to me and my installer physically have to place my equipment in various locations of the stripped down hatch to see what would work.

I wish you the best of luck on the install and I will offer any assistance that I can give. Always remember though, more often than not on this board no responses are better than $hitty responses (there is way too much misinformation passed around on this board).

 

i think the side panels are wiring/distribution blocks or crossovers.. and the sub he has in the floor.. not really under the strut bar

 

Ohhh, ok, now i can see the wire/distro blocks in the drawing At first I thought it was just a design on the panel.

As for the sub, I saw it as being installed vertically due to the oval shape as opposed to round shape. Also,the sub is a 16" not 18" as I said in my previous post. I stand corrected.

+1 to what Kwame has said. This is going to work more like you coming up with ideas then coming here for feedback rather than us helping you design. You know your limits on working with wood/fiberglass/metal/etc. We don't know what you can and can't do. I could tell you I'd like to see the entire sub enclosure and amp rack made out of nothing but 3/4" plexi.....but is that something you can fabricate? I don't know.

 

Not if the sub was in front of the strut bar. Half-in, half-out idea.

 

Sounds good. Thanks for taking the time.

I looked at your install last night with the SO. We love the McIntosh pieces, having had McIntosh parts before.

 

Partially correct. Side panels are distro blocks, and the amps are in the floor. Sub magnet is facing the rear.