02 Jeep Grand Cherokee Build (AKA Project Silent Night)

[Papermaker85 5,000+ posts]

the handy dandy angle finder huh..

 

[nkrell11 10+ year member]

the handy dandy angle finder huh..

I don't think I've actually used it for anything before, but it's a handy thing to have.

 

[nkrell11 10+ year member]

Well just keep plugging away, today I got most of the floor done. Added 119 more self tappers bringing the total so far to 455. I also cut the piece for the roof, but I can't fit in through the front door in one piece. I think I'm going to rip it down the center and then just put a strip in over the cut and that should do the trick. I had my dad take the project box to work and spray paint it as he has a warm enough area to do so, he's certainly not a professional painter but it's ok I'm glad he helped me out. I don't think I'll get to soldering it tomorrow but we will see. Tomorrow I'm hoping to make more progress not sure on what parts yet we will see I also have to get ready to leave etc so busy day tomorrow outside the build.

Most of the floor in:



The top that won't fit in one piece:



RCA Distro Box painted up:



Also I welded up a grinder stand for my dad today. He picked up a 12 inch pipe flange some, tubing and cut a piece of half inch plate for the top. It's heavy but hopefully it works well.

 

[CSCStang]

I have a similar build that's nearly complete and I'll be doing a full build log. Never counted the self tappers...that's detail. Looking great btw...

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[nkrell11 10+ year member]

I have a similar build that's nearly complete and I'll be doing a full build log. Never counted the self tappers...that's detail. Looking great btw...
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

I'll be looking forward to seeing that, if you can remember to send me the link I would appreciate it.

 

[nkrell11 10+ year member]

A little more progress today, made the angled pieces and got the roof to fit in although it had to be two pieces. I just put it in place temporarily to get figure out the angled pieces. The floor piece I got attached the roof and back angle I pre drilled the holes in the wood but I don't have confidence in any of the drill bits remaining to drill any steel. I also cut the copper bar for the lithiums. Lastly I did a little beautification of the RCA Box. It just needed something to spice it up, so I used some carbon fiber vinyl to add a little pizzaz I like it a lot better now. Oh also I paid for a Vci-1 voice coil temp sensor, or the rest of it my subs came with the temperature probe the person I got the subs from just removed the rest of it (display and whatever else) so it will be shipped to me. Oh also for anyone counting screws still I put in 18 today and pre drilled another 156 holes. This will bring the grand total to 629+whatever I use for the front baffle and so forth.

Should have vacuumed before this picture:



Top temporarily tacked up:



MMMMMMMMMM COPPPPPAAAAAA:



Looking much better in my opinion, just needs solder:

 

[nkrell11 10+ year member]

Alright so as usual one of my favorite parts about coming home after being gone for 3 weeks is opening goodies, it's like Christmas. Anyhow I bought quite a few things some haven't showed up yet because I ordered them Friday night but I'm not going to share what they are to build suspense... I can show you guys what did come in though.

4 McLaren MLT-4B 8 Ohm Tweets, 2 per door might add more tweets per door not sure yet.



8 Crescendo PWXM 8's 4 Ohm, 4 per door... well hopefully not sure if they will all fit. I had originally ordered 6.5's but they sold out super fast because crescendo was/is having a big sale on all of their marine mids (they're the same as the black ones just waterproof) so I was going to pay the difference to upgrade to 8's but they upgraded me for free so crescendo FTW on that one. Came with a lanyard and decals too.



Got my dual inputs from Ill Customz for my 8k's they fit a little snug but they're awesome especially with the non conductive coating.



Lot's of KNU Krystal RCA's (7) 3' 2 Channel, (1) 25' 4 Channel. Never thought I'd buy over $100 on RCA's *KNU didn't even send a decal but they'll send you stickers when you make small orders. Also 100 feet of 14 gauge OFC Sky High speaker wire,*100 feet of red & black primary wire can't remember what gauge, 2 3/4 inch heim joints for the windshield brace*and 50 2/0 lugs from windy nation good deals on lugs.



Drill bits since I broke so many hopefully this will get me the rest of the way, tap and t-handle for when I make my bus bars.



I bought this Jeep alternator bracket that I might use it and replace my AC rather than fabricating a dual alt bracket. Also if I went this route I could get a bracket from Rob the demo bus guy and use the 2 320's and 2 large case alts if necessary we will see.



Hopefully I can get a lot done this week, I may be transitioning jobs again as my application for a union apprenticeship was approved just have to take a test Tuesday so not sure what will happen schedule build time wise. I just need to acquire some 8 gauge lugs for all the sub speaker wire, 250' or so of 2/0, fiberglass stuff for the doors more wood and I don't know what else but I believe I have the majority of what I will need.

 

[nkrell11 10+ year member]

Well every aspect of my build is deciding to fight with me today. First off Dewalt drill bits never again. My bus bars are not going good at all really needed a drill press (don't have access to one) and now I'm thinking I should have done something different. A drill bit snapped when I was drilling my pilot holes and it isn't going to come out. So I'm thinking I might see if I can't find an audio machinist to work with me and do what I need to be drilled. Additionally the roof holes on the drivers side didn't line up with the steel in some places so I had to move the holes over in a few places. Waiting on my design so I can do any more wood working, hopefully it's done soon. Additionally my scope came in yesterday really the most positive update. I had a DSO Nano before so hopefully this velleman works similarly.

Ruined..... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif



Fully lined a lot of self tappers and quite a few snapped drill bits later:



Scope:

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Counting the screws? OCD much?

Build is coming along great though. Keep up the good work.

 

[nkrell11 10+ year member]

Counting the screws? OCD much?

Build is coming along great though. Keep up the good work.

Haha thanks man I prefer to think of it as fastidious but sometimes I consider that I may be slightly OCD. For the record I ordered another 300 screws just in case.

 

[nkrell11 10+ year member]

Well I finally got this thing soldered up, I've never soldered before but I think I did a **** good job. This is the only part of my build that went smoothly today. Would have been less tedious if I hadn't twisted the wires together but I wanted a clean look. I may make a duplicate and sell it to offset some of my costs as I have everything to make another one.







Just in case people didn't know what I was soldering RCA distribution block for 4 monos and 4 4 channels.

 

[nkrell11 10+ year member]

Well today has had me baffled... you'll see what I did there shortly. It rained here most of the day so I only worked on this sporadically today. In other news the other half of the VCi temperature meter came the other day, should have more things coming tomorrow.



I went through Hunter Martin at EZ DB's for my design he used my sketchup SKP's that I sent him to come up with my design, I believe he's Raptorman something on SMD but I can't remember exactly. I did put a small twist on the loading wall with the steel core but it will end up exactly the same overall. The baffle I rounded over the cutouts on each side and on the front side I made the lips for the basket edges to sit in so they'll be easier to mount inverted. Used a lot of Titebond 2 to glue them together and they're currently drying. Tomorrow I'm hoping to get the loading wall done including the steel core.

 

[Papermaker85 5,000+ posts]

you figured out how to drill that copper yet? i had the same problem burnng up bits. hint copper is a very good thermal conductor and is very soft.. lol

 

[Papermaker85 5,000+ posts]

craftsmanship i couldn't match. *bows

 

[Boomin_tahoe 5,000+ posts]

You need a machinist, I'm your guy... @nkrell11 PM me if you'd like. We can talk about what you need done.