Topic: Out with the old...

[MonstaMonsta]

Okay...   I've got my first Major mod in progress here...  might do this over the next week or so but so far all I've gotta say is the midgate "by it self" is one heavy sucka!

[Intimidatoruag]

ok ... someone has to it ... might as well be me ..... lol

 

[Enkei]

         I guess we just sit around and 

[MonstaMonsta]

         I guess we just sit around and 

Haha, Enkei it got late fast...  so here's what I'm up to,

I've had this poorly made sub box sitting in the bed for awhile now.  The sub really doent add as much bass as I'd like, especially since its sealed away in the bed.  So today I decided I'd plunge into the frustrations of fabricating a MDF midgate in order to place my single 15" Clarion woofer.  It's not exactly a great woofer but it does the job for now.  It's rated at 600 watts with I think 300RMS..  its a 2006 model I think..   I'm driving it with a 600 watt Kenwood amp. 

Today I busied myself with removing the four nuts that hold the midgate to its hinges as well as the hinges themselves so that they dont buckle around while I drive to and fro.  I'll snap some pictures tomorrow of the midgate-less avy and head over to the local carpenter for a sheet of 3/4" MDF in order to trace the dimensions of the midgate.

Opinions/advice?  I'm more than happy to hear em!

[Enkei]

Seal all  cracks and ends good. Brace it also.  Make it to the right specs as to the sheet that comes with the sub. 

[MonstaMonsta]

Thanks Enkei!

I know I'm gunna many more questions as soon as I get the MDF cut to the right size...   for now though I've gotta lay off the modding and get some work done.  I'll post up pictures when I get em!!!

Ooh by the way, is there any particular way I should do the bracing?  I searched around a bunch for any directions on how to build your own and all I really found were the same tips you gave me Enkei.  I'm hoping it won't be to difficult. 

[Enkei]

Just different angles inside.  Your not pushing that much power so 2 should do it.  Are you using 3/4 or 1/2 in?  And use screws not nails. Seal all areas. even were the wires are hooked up. Are you using a good terminal cup?

[MonstaMonsta]

I've got a choice of ethier 3/4" or 1/2" inch MDF.  For the midgate replacement I think I'm a go with the 3/4" for the whole door, then use some stronger wood for where I'll attach the hinge.  Analyzing the original midgate shows that I'm probably going to need a piece of wood between the fabricated door and the hinge anyways.   Not sure how much though. 

I'm not sure yet how I'm going to seal it completely other than siliconing the cracks/corners on the inside.  I don't have a terminal "cup" I have a spare sort of "clip type from radio shack...  I'll look for a good terminal cup  just because its smarter than the spring loaded one I have now. 

As for the box I'm going to make around the Clarion PA15-S Subwoofer I think I'll go with 3/4" MDF but I'm not sure.  would it be smarter to use 1/2" ?  or 3/4"?  As for the braces on the inside I'm looking up different design Ideas on some sites right now.  sould I make the braces outta 1/2" MDF? 

The biggest question I have right now though is...  what are the dimensions of the box gunna be?   The Clarion I got was second hand and I don't have any manuals + the online searches I've done only brought up the Clarion Singapore site where they give very little information on the volume requirements for the sub...    So I'm not sure about the volume but figured I'd worry about it when I got there.... 

[MonstaMonsta]

Alrighty, I did some google image searching using the terms "midgate box custom" and have a muchhhh better idea on how I'm going to get this thing together. 

The attached picture is what I'm going for...  maybe make a cool little enclosure for the amp too or somethin a bit more creative     

They used 5/8th MDF...  haha, I'm not shur what thickness to use anymore! 

Advice?

[MonstaMonsta]

So I'm a little short on cash right now ...   hopefully won't be short too long...

Anyway when it comes around I'm planning to do the following,

1- Head down to the carpenter's shop and grap a large sheet of 3/4" MDF
2- Place the midgate down on the MDF sheet and trace out a general shape.
3- Cut the new midgate out and place it in the truck, find out what needs additional trimming sanding whatever.
4- Once I have a good fitting MDF door I'll measure the remaining distance between the hinge and the door.  Its another sheet of MDF ontop the first or just a strip along the bottom in order to bridge the distance between the hinge and the door.  It really depends on how sturdy the 3/4" MDF door feels.
5- Mark a 15" hole for the Clarion Woofer, then decide where i want the amp...
6- figure out the dimensions for the box that will enclose the sub from the bed's end.

**  and Take a bunch of pictures the whole way through so i can post a write up later  **

Only thing left on my mind that I'd Realllllllly love to have answered is,

- Should I port the box?  I heard that ported boxes are tuned to only sound good at a particular freqeuncy?  I'm still a little vague there..