Hidden Sub

[Dismagik]

I have been looking into getting a custom box built into the Passenger side area of the cargo hold (the area where the Jack goes). I have been told that it will be difficult and expensive, but I don't want a big old box in the cargo area that I have to remove.

There's the intro now my question-- I have been quoted on this being done in MDF and Fiberglass. The MDF is more space in vasive, so I am leaning toward the Fiberglass. Does fiberglass effect the soud quality a great deal or are they pretty comperable.

Please give all suggestions you have and keep in mind that I want to keep the price reasonable but I know that the fabricacation will cost me a lot of pennies. Thank you in advance.

 

[1sty]

no difference in SQ between MDF or fiberglass. It all depends on the air space used.

I think someone on www.protegeclub.com was making a fiberglass box for a few hundred in the exact design you described.

 

[Dismagik]

Not on Protege Club any More

I really appriciate your help, but the guy who was selling them didn't get enough serious orders to justify building them. Thank you for the sugesstion.

I also wanted to know what the differences are between MDF and Fiberglass are if the is no SQ difference. And if anybody has had this done in the So California area I would love to know so I can go to the shop and talk to them.

 

[1sty]

No SQ difference, I only know one person whothough otherwise and he thought wood was better.

 

[Cyberglitch]

Doing fiberglass isn't all that difficult if you take your time and read read read so you know what you are doing. Also if you do it yourself it's fairly cheap. It only gets expensive if you have a shop do it. Whereas a shop will charge you roughly $500+ for what you are looking to do it would only cost you like $40-$70 in supplies and you do the work yourself.

Here is a link for everything you need to know about fiberglassing.
FiberGlass Info

 

[Stealth5]

if you dont mind driving without a spare, maybe you could fit something in there

 

[1sty]

The problem with the spare tire area is we have a gaint lump under it and it can not be removed so there is only an extra 2" of depth in the well.

 

[Dismagik]

I have been thinking of doing this myself, but the link that was provided had no pictures. I am a pethettic (Spell ?) man who need pictures to do anything. If any of you know any good do it yourself sites or books on fiberglassing, espessially dealing with speaker enclosures, that would be great.

I specify speaker enclosures because I have no clue on how thick it needs to be to be rigid enough for a 10-12 inch Sub. I know that this fact relies heavily on the wattage of the Sub. If you know of anything else that might hepl me that would be great.

 

[1sty]

The P5 has the same problem as the sedan in that there is no real depth in the tire well. It only usefull for 8"s or shallow subs.

 

[Cyberglitch]

Sub in tire well install
Trunk Wall Install
Another trunk wall

There some pictures of other people doing up some fiberglass work I've come across and had bookmarked.

 

[LazerBlueP5]

Tell me about it- I wanted to do a flush mount with my W6v2 but the mounting depth was 7"...way too large due to our stupid spare tire well..UGH! Hmm I wonder if they glassed a box in the jack area if they'd have enough mount depth plus airspace to do my W6 if I choose to change the configuration in the future to regain my trunk!

 

[Dismagik]

Thank YOu all so much for all of the help and with the pictures of the other cars I think I can do this job Myself. My question is what happens to the Foil or plastic that you glue the Fiber to in the begining of the the process.

 

[1sty]

When you glass you want top put down masking tape, atleast 3 layers and then it will help alot if you use mold release wax available at www.selectproducts.com. Both Tin foil and tape wont completely come off the glass but its not a big deal. For the most part only small peice won't release.

 

[TUNGSTENGREYWIDOW]

If you are lookink for a good quality sound I would not recomend for you to put a sub in that little side panel, because it will really sound like crap. Im not saying that you should not do it because it's your money, but me personally I would not do it. And for the people who are going to say I don't know what I am talking about. I was featured in the Hifi Buys/Tweeter Disturbing the Peace magazine, also in the september 2002 Auto Sound and Sucurity magazine, and also in Car Audio magazine in the pictures from the Nopi Nationals in Atlant Ga. so I know my stuff.
P.S. I also hold the Whitlee World finals record. I won 2 years straight with my P5. I HOLLA!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[1sty]

If you are lookink for a good quality sound I would not recomend for you to put a sub in that little side panel, because it will really sound like crap. Im not saying that you should not do it because it's your money, but me personally I would not do it. And for the people who are going to say I don't know what I am talking about. I was featured in the Hifi Buys/Tweeter Disturbing the Peace magazine, also in the september 2002 Auto Sound and Sucurity magazine, and also in Car Audio magazine in the pictures from the Nopi Nationals in Atlant Ga. so I know my stuff.
P.S. I also hold the Whitlee World finals record. I won 2 years straight with my P5. I HOLLA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice pat on the back.

Great install I saw that a while back in the tweeter flyer as I am an installer for them.

Are you refering to using the side panel alone or if he also properly made an enclosure there with MDF and glass?

 

[Dismagik]

Please tell me if there is a better alternative to the side panel because I don't need to be supper loud I just want a clear sounding bass but have all of the usability of the hatch, without having to move anything if needed.

I appriciate your concern but I just want a OK sound for all of the music I listen to. (Jazz, Accapella, Rock, HIp Hop, R&B, Classic Rock, etc.)

It seams like there are 2 very knowledgable men in here and there are plenty more elsewhere of this board. As always I thank all of you in advance and appriciate all of the help you have provided.

 

[1sty]

with proper install and setup you shouldn't have a problme putting a sub anywhere. But I don't know which panel you are refering to not the space behind it.

 

[RedP52002]

Dis, is that all you have planned for your P5? Did you do something else, i.e. adding aftermarket speakers and head unit?
I'm also planning on adding a better sound to my car, this thread has some pretty good info.
What I want to do though is keep my stock head unit, add aftermarket speakers, and also add either a sub or an amp, or both.