2011 Ford Escape - SQ Build

[Donnie W 10+ year member]

I figure I'd post the start-to-finish build and install in our 2011 Ford Escape.

Here's my wish-list:

1. New head-unit. Touch screen, supports USB, iPhone, Bluetooth.

2. New speakers all around, components up front.

3. Subs.

4. Amps for above.

5. Reduce unwanted noise.

Here's my requirements:

1. One through four above.

2. Minimal modification to vehicle.

3. Minimal loss of space.

4. Retention of all factory audio/phone features (SYNC, SWC, etc).

5. Fit within my budget.

I'm not a dreamer, not a butcher, not interested in competition or otherwise displaying (dare I say 'showing off'). This is a one of our daily drivers. The car needs to sound great, look clean/professional, and remain practical.

There are some challenges in this car to be sure. I already know SYNC is a pita to work around, and the room for subs is not exactly great. But I'll do what I can and document it along the way so that others with these popular SUVs get an idea of what their up against. I am not all an expert in this field, rather I work in high-tech forensics. So bear with me as I build this out.

Speaking of what I'm up against, here's the factory dash and rear cargo area. This is what I have to work with.

Factory deck, no sub, no amps. I DO have the steering wheel controls (not shown)

Rear cargo area.

Click to read more...

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

It should be a nice build

 

[Donnie W 10+ year member]

I picked up a set of Hertz component speakers (Energy series). The set includes a 6.5" driver and 1" tweeter, along with the corresponding cross-over. This is the first goal in the build, ditch the front cans.

I didn't take a photo of the stock speakers, however, here is the void left from the speaker. Contrasting the stock hole is the outline of the 6.5" woofer. I also replaced the stock wiring, which is no easy task given the wire harness from door to body:

The inside of the door panel looks like such:

First order of business was to create a mounting ring. Cut, pre-drilled, and beaded with acoustic caulk:

I nice clean strip of high-density door seal and it's ready to mount:

A little bit of black spray paint to finish the MDF ring, mounted the speakers and voilà!:

 

[Donnie W 10+ year member]

Apologies, going to do some catching up here as I just joined the forum after folks on a Ford forum suggested I post here as well. Sounds like they like this place //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I've about two weeks into the build, so I'll bring the thread up to speed.

 

[Donnie W 10+ year member]

FWIW, here is the kit and specs, don't mind the Italian translation:

 

[Donnie W 10+ year member]

So while I poked away in the doors I noticed Ford installed 3 cents worth of foil covered tar in some kind of attempt to knock down the road noise:

I kind of expected as much so I ordered up some acoustic treatment from the good folks at B-Quiet. I'm not about plugging people for the sake of business, rather I mention the people who treat me (and hopefully others here) well. B-Quiet sent the stuff fast, included a nice roller and even called to make sure I got my order.

Install of that stuff to follow.

 

[miker 5,000+ posts]

Looking forward to seeing where this goes. Looks nice.

 

[James Bang 5,000+ posts]

I'd like to see the finished product.

 

[skmfkr 5,000+ posts]

lol yeah i saw that crap on my doors i dunno what that was about. i used second skin damp pro on my doors.

 

[Delusnl 10+ year member]

They should make it an option from the factory...sound deadener that is.

 

[Donnie W 10+ year member]

Got the doors done last night. Two layers of B-Quiet Extreme.

I also placed some B-Quiet on the door panel itself, particularly around the speaker area. Should give it a little more mass.

 

[Boldtothemax 10+ year member]

Man, some of those pics look amazing, what kind of camera?

 

[benzmansl65amg 10+ year member]

looking good keep up the good work in for more progress

 

[Donnie W 10+ year member]

Man, some of those pics look amazing, what kind of camera?

Cheap point-and-shoot Olympus Stylus 8000. Crop, re-size, color balance, sharpen. Nothing fancy.

 

[Donnie W 10+ year member]

Next up, I decided to work on the tweeters in the lower A-pillar.

Drilled and touched up with the Dremel.

Tweeter in place. Only thing I did after this was add a couple spots of hot-glue to keep the tweeters in place, though they were already tight fitting.

The finished product.