Fiberglass subwoofer box build

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Old 07-29-2015, 01:34 AM
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Fiberglass subwoofer box build

So after a few weeks of work (only working on my days off), here is my final finished product.



MDF base and top





Sub ring made and test fit





First layer of masking tape.





Foil laid and protective plastic





All prepped and ready to go





First layer complete.





2 layers and dried. Removed shell from car.





Test fit





Foil and tape removed.





After 8 layers, I mounted the ring and glued the stretch material in place.





Ready to apply resin





Resin hardened and hole cut.





Test fit.





2 layers of fiberglass and test fit.





7 layers and then body filler. And a lot of sanding.








Carpeted and sub mounted.





Final product.








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Old 07-29-2015, 05:35 AM
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Wow that looks great. Must've felt really rewarding to get from a piece of wood to the final product. Congrats!

Is yours the base model or the tech? Curious as to what components you've replaced or will end up replacing.
Old 07-29-2015, 07:13 AM
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curious if you built the box to subwoofer spec and how one would measure volume in a weird shaped box like that ?
Old 07-29-2015, 09:17 AM
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nice work!
Old 07-29-2015, 02:43 PM
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Originally Posted by xtcnrice
Wow that looks great. Must've felt really rewarding to get from a piece of wood to the final product. Congrats!

Is yours the base model or the tech? Curious as to what components you've replaced or will end up replacing.
Its what they call the luxury model here, so it is similar to the tech, but without navigation. I'll be replacing every component, at the moment it has just been fabrication. I'll be installing a new 7" Pioneer headunit, 2x JL audio amps, the sub and new speakers.

Originally Posted by justnspace
curious if you built the box to subwoofer spec and how one would measure volume in a weird shaped box like that ?
It is generally an approximation at the start, but once the ring is mounted, I filled the box with packing peanuts, and then emptied them into a cardboard box and measured the amount. Not very scientific, but gives me a close idea of the cubic feet inside.
Old 07-29-2015, 02:47 PM
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amp rack

This is my foldable amp rack if you guys are curious.

Obviously going for stealth and to maintain as much trunk space as possible.
Attached Thumbnails Fiberglass subwoofer box build-11651344_10154100512746393_2002305902_n.jpg   Fiberglass subwoofer box build-11657328_10154100512801393_1476125890_n.jpg   Fiberglass subwoofer box build-11653202_10154100512831393_1443761035_n.jpg  
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Old 07-29-2015, 03:08 PM
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Off to a great start. I like the stealthy, useable-trunk look you're going for.
Old 07-29-2015, 03:11 PM
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Thanks for explaining how you figure out the volume!
I learned something today!

also neat amp rack!
sub'd to follow more of your progress
Old 07-30-2015, 02:27 PM
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great stuff keep us posted with more updates!
Old 08-01-2015, 08:04 AM
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I love it!! So how much airspace did it turn out to be in the end? Looks like almost a 1 cubic ft?
Old 08-01-2015, 08:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Bchester6
I love it!! So how much airspace did it turn out to be in the end? Looks like almost a 1 cubic ft?
Thanks, so it's a little over 1 cubic feet. The sub isn't very deep so the displacement of the sub won't be too large.

Recommendation for the sub is 0.8-1.2 cubic feet.
Old 08-10-2015, 02:05 PM
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Awesome install, I wish I could do something like this but with the Tech package everything about the radio seems like such a pain
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Old 08-10-2015, 08:03 PM
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Do they make a grill to protect that thing? Hard to throw anything with substance back there without puncturing the cone.
Old 08-16-2015, 09:34 AM
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I'll take one of everything.
Old 08-18-2015, 08:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Bchester6
Do they make a grill to protect that thing? Hard to throw anything with substance back there without puncturing the cone.
They do make one. I had to modify it though as it designed to sit on the sub if it is surface mounted. But since I flush mounted, I had to Dremel the lip off so it sits correctly. Here's the pics.
Attached Thumbnails Fiberglass subwoofer box build-image.jpeg  
Old 08-18-2015, 08:13 PM
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And here is the sub mounted with new black oxidised hex head screws.

It's all in the detail.
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Old 08-19-2015, 12:37 AM
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Old 08-20-2015, 02:24 AM
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Amps are in!

1/0 gauge from the battery.
T-spec battery terminals, fuse holders and distribution blocks.
Attached Thumbnails Fiberglass subwoofer box build-image.jpeg  
Old 08-20-2015, 11:02 AM
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Looks great man. Any rattles in the trunk from that style of amp rack? those hinges must be held down pretty tightly i assume.
Old 09-16-2015, 10:29 PM
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Nice work.. So I see the jl amps .. What components are you doing? I've got the sr124 dvc In a similar enclosure ..my box is much bigger though..but yours looks way better and mine is after two tries lol.. Also attempted an amp rack but does not look that good.. Can you give details on how you built it.. It looks like the one's I've seen in the wrx's
Old 09-16-2015, 11:23 PM
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Originally Posted by BlackNsexy2010
Nice work.. So I see the jl amps .. What components are you doing? I've got the sr124 dvc In a similar enclosure ..my box is much bigger though..but yours looks way better and mine is after two tries lol.. Also attempted an amp rack but does not look that good.. Can you give details on how you built it.. It looks like the one's I've seen in the wrx's
Thanks,

So I chose these JL amps (XD600/1 and XD400/4) because I have heard their quality first hand in a friends system, and I loved their compact size. I think the rack ended up being about 60x35cm. I have attached a pic of when I had assembled and glued it. After I simply carpeted it and then added the hinges. I then used longer screws where the parcel shelf speaker attach and then devised some brackets to hold the rack up. I screw it on with butterfly nuts, so I can access it without any tools. Also added a pic of that too.

The sub I am running is the Polk Audio MM1240DVC.
Attached Thumbnails Fiberglass subwoofer box build-img_4884.jpg   Fiberglass subwoofer box build-img_4867.jpg  

Last edited by onkytonk; 09-16-2015 at 11:30 PM.
Old 09-20-2015, 10:19 AM
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Did you go aftermarket head unit or stock?
Old 12-27-2015, 06:05 AM
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That is a super clean set-up! Good Job!
Old 01-12-2016, 10:13 AM
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I have a question for you.How difficult was it to run the 1/0 gauge cable through the car? I am looking at amp install kits right now. I am planning my system,but I want to leave room for expansion.
So far I am going to run a 5 channel amp,but I might and another sub amp at later time...
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