Author Topic: Out with the old... (Read 1654 times)

MonstaMonsta · « **on:** December 09, 2009, 10:50:39 AM »

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 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 09, 2009, 11:21:58 AM »

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

Enkei · « **Reply #2 on:** December 09, 2009, 12:51:33 PM »

I guess we just sit around and

MonstaMonsta · « **Reply #3 on:** December 09, 2009, 01:27:46 PM »

Quote from: Enkei on December 09, 2009, 12:51:33 PM

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 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 09, 2009, 01:44:27 PM »

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 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 09, 2009, 01:58:06 PM »

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 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 09, 2009, 02:08:15 PM »

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 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 09, 2009, 03:17:41 PM »

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 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 09, 2009, 03:38:29 PM »

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 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 10, 2009, 02:07:23 AM »

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..

MonstaMonsta · « **Reply #10 on:** December 10, 2009, 02:29:04 AM »

heres a quick diagram I "paint shopped" up, what do you all think?

I'm not sure if I want to put the amp in its own little enclosure or not ... I was thinking about recessing it and placing a plexiglass cover over it.. i'm not sure its such a good idea though because of possible heat issues

Enkei · « **Reply #11 on:** December 10, 2009, 02:53:42 AM »

Is your midgate going to flip down? If so you will have that many more wires to bend all the time. If you mount the amp under the seat and just run the speaker wire to the box you will have less wire to worry about. As in porting.. What type of music do you like? I like a sealed box because it gives a nice tight bass. The ported will be more boom and loud. You are useing a 15in sub so you won't get the tightest of bass as you would with 2 12's or 2 10's.

MonstaMonsta · « **Reply #12 on:** December 10, 2009, 03:16:00 AM »

I think i'll keep it sealed. I rather the tight Bass over the Loud and just booming... music

As for the amp... hmmm... I have it under the seat right now... I'll upload some pictures when Iu get home.

Do you think it would help any if I added a 12inch on the left in addition? i have a 12" JVC 1200watts 350RMS woofer exactly like the one below,
http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/JVC-CSGW1200-Dual-Voice-Coil-Subwoofer-Refurbished/4333237/product.html?cid=123620&fp=F&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=12307492

I've also got a 10" JBL woofer rated at 400 watts I don't know the RMS rating

Haha, I'm just throwing it all on the table right now Enkei, Thanks for all the advice !!!! keep it commin!!!

So if i added a hole for this sucker and sealed it off in addition to the 15"it'd look something like this...

I left the JBL there just for comparison. I do realize i would need an additional amp in order to power the 12" JVC but I figured i'd plan ahead.. I'm trying to incorporate what've got laying around. not really interested in purchasing more stuff other than the materials for the midgate... Just curious to see if I can make use of the JVC woofer and the JBL as well...

Enkei · « **Reply #13 on:** December 10, 2009, 03:29:39 AM »

Ok my ADVICE.... We need some sleep..

.. It's 3AM!!!..... What are we doing up? But anyway A big NO!! on the 2 different subs...1 would cancel out the other. the only way to do that would be to build each a different chamber and a cut off switch to turn one or the other on. Not at the same time.
If you ever saw my old Av I had a set up like this. I had 2 JL Boxes. I had the Midgate with 2 12w3's and a center console with 1 10w3v2. I had 1 JL 500/1 to power them. With a switch up front. If I had Jazz or a good movie playing I had the 10 on. It was more up front and I had a 5.1 DTS system in the truck. If I had on some great kick butt music on The 12's would be a Rock'in...

MonstaMonsta · « **Reply #14 on:** December 10, 2009, 03:54:51 AM »

Haha, NOOO! Enkei Stay with me Bro!!!

haha! It's 3 A.M. almost 4 Central or "forum" time haha, it's like 11:50 A.M. Miday out here! I'm in egypt. You should get some sleep, I was kidding.

Thanks Soooooo much for the advice Enkei! So far I'm totally Set! Your the MAN! I need to jump to the gallery and do some seaches for your old Av now cause that thing sounds Awesome. That is some setup!

Sleep well Enkei! And thanks again! I'll update this thread with pictures as soon as I get home.

Enkei · « **Reply #15 on:** December 10, 2009, 04:03:14 AM »

Any one that heard it says it was a sweet ride and sound..It's now in VA last I heard...And it's now 5am here..

Enkei · « **Reply #16 on:** December 10, 2009, 04:11:40 AM »

2 more for ya...

MonstaMonsta · « **Reply #17 on:** December 10, 2009, 10:19:44 AM »

Hubba hubba hubba...

I loveeee the Amp placement!

very cool

MonstaMonsta · « **Reply #18 on:** December 11, 2009, 07:14:34 AM »

Here's a picture of the Kenwood Amp under the seat... I'm a try to get some more "before" pictures of the setup I have now before I go with the install of the MDF midgate

Enkei · « **Reply #19 on:** December 15, 2009, 07:18:49 AM »

Well we are still waiting for some pics.....

Lets see that new box....

MonstaMonsta · « **Reply #20 on:** December 15, 2009, 11:35:00 AM »

Quote from: Enkei on December 15, 2009, 07:18:49 AM

Well we are still waiting for some pics..... Lets see that new box....

Hehehe, I'm still buildin this Sucka!!!

MonstaMonsta · « **Reply #21 on:** March 20, 2010, 08:49:03 AM »


KFC W3012 Kenwood Bumpin

There we go

Thank you for all the advice Enkei! This was a quick vid, wanted to see what you think about it.

BTW When do you know its time for a second battery upgrade? How much power do our alternators "2002" put out?