Early pics of my handmade 12" fiberglass Sub box. I have cut and installed the trunk liner and carpet since and will post more on the weekend, including a new Head Unit and amp too.

So why a 12" in the rear instead of the 10" under strut bar I had previously?

1) Needed space between strut bar for golf clubs
2) Wanted a 12" instead of 10"
3) IMO under strut install cuts rear in half trapping sound waves..area above strut tower is only 1.5".. max rattle in rear.

7 layers mat/cloth.. 3/4" MDF top and ring using t-nuts and #10 machine bolts, Silicone to secure. 12" MB Quart Reference series with 5.5" Mount depth. Box volume 1.0 cuft. Overall dims 20x19x6 (6 3/4" height with ring). Sits flush and level below stock false trunk liner.

http://mysite.verizon.net/res7sbn3/

Dan

 

how much

 

Uhmm. Well if I I had to do it again with the knowledge I've gained from trial and error I could probably build it for about $90 in supplies, plus the cost of the sub.

Of course I spent more than that on stuff like tools I didn't have, wasted resin and matting, bits, screws,different width MDF, etc.

Tonight I finished the project by cutting holes in the trunk cutout and thick carpet mat. Somehow I made the final cutout perfect and it looks like a dream with the carpet flush against the sub.

I'll post more on the weekend..I am anxious to hear how it sounds but will have to wait a few days as I have also just started replacing my head unit today and I'm struggling with the mounting bracket.

 

I posted a completed pic on the website above with carpet installed. The bright sunlight today may make it look as if there's a gap around the base..but there's not..the carpet is flush with the sub. It was a pain getting the carpet cut..had to use push pins to mark the location of the sub underneath before cutting.

PICS HERE:

http://mysite.verizon.net/res7sbn3/

Dan

 

wow that is amazing. You could really make some dough if you can get the price right. By the way, what kind of sub is that?

 

It actually looks better than the pics show. But I'm not trying to make any money. I just built it because it's the best location for me and no one seemed to have one pre-built.

It took me weeks to build up the fiberglass, and get the whole unit level and at the exact height to sit below the trunk cover without modifying the trunk height. My time was the expense here not the material. If you have a fiberglass hookup and proper tools you could probably get all necessary materials for about $60.

I can take this thing out at a moments notice (only weighs 15lbs without sub) and put the spare back in. The tire hump in the lower trunk and the fact that I covered the inside and outside of the box with rubber based coating actually holds the unit in very tightly, no need to bolt it in place. I'm glad now that I built the box, if I ever need to sell the car, the only thing I changed from stock is the hole in the carpet mat.

 

Nice, but I don't like the "sub in the middle of the floor" look. Always looks out of place just floating like that,

 

Not a lot of places to put a 12" sub without looking out of place though no?

 

True, and I do prefer the sound of a 12 over a 10 for sure!!! So in the Z is does make sense.

I see that type of install in cars with huge trunks though, and it never made sense to me. It's not stealth, not good looking, and the speaker is in a comprimising position.

 

I just finished hooking up the amps. This sub configuration sounds so much better than anything I had in the car before. Much fuller, more powerful, and a LOT less rattles. In fact, I can't hear any rattle outside the car at average volumes..I had to crank up hip-hop near max before rattles in the rear area were heard from outside, and those are different (from the bumper) than those I experienced with the strut tower box which were mostly in the hatch/bumper/and everywhere else. I had tried a strut tower box before this and I also had a stock location sub installed so I have something to compare to. This is way beyond either in SQ.

Best thing is I still have all of my trunk space, I use a frisbee shaped cover over the sub when I want to carry all of my sports equipment back there or anything else.

 

Wow, looks great Dan!

 

Thanks Motown, driving in to work this morning I really couldn't believe the improvement. My old setup sounded fine when I was parked in the garage, but on the highway, I lost a lot of the bass. The new setup "moves" me with bass whether I'm parked or going 90 on the highway.

The rest of the setup is a kenwood KDC-X879 head unit, Fosgate 6.5's, Alpine 4 channell amp, and Alpine class-D mono amp. Next project -- the front fosgates need to go and replace with components. And I'm not too happy with the look of the head unit (has that shiny black plastic look to it).

 

Yeah, I remember the first trip to work after my set-up was finished. I drive 1hr+ each way, so I spent about a week tuning my gear on the highway. Very stop-and-go. More the former than the latter. What part of Cali are you in? I was just out in LA last week. I have to admit, I'm envious. Great weather, smooth roads with no potholes. What little I saw of it (worked 70-ish hrs while there), I really liked a lot. If I could ever afford housing out there, I'd consider it. Unfortunately, my salary would afford me a small cardboard box out there. But, I digress. Glad you like the end product. By the way, did I notice no degree of angle to the sub? Looks like it's sitting square in the enclosure. Change of heart?

 

He he, the flat mount sounds so great I really don't want to mess with angles. Bass accoustics seem to have the entire rear area to build up and then no obstructions on its way up to the front.

Anyway, I live way out near Temecula, which for a long time has been considered the boonies, but is changing I guess since everyone and their brother moved out here because of cheap housing. When I moved here in 1995, my house was $130k..now it is selling for $400..and it's small and in the middle of nowhere.

Let me know if you ever make it out this way again!