EricN CX-7 Build Log

[ericnord 10+ year member]

Yesterday's update:

Finished up w/ the sound deadening!

Here is the cargo area empty:

With two layers of RAAMmat (Rick is the **** man, talked to this guy on several occasions and he is a straight talking class act!):

With one layer of Ensolite on the floor, not the sides yet:

Here is Ensolite now applied to the front passenger door. These doors now have 2 layers of RAAMmat on the inner outward wall, one layer on the inner inner wall, one layer on the outer membrane, one layer inner membrane, one layer ensolite, and one layer RAAMmat on the inner panel:

A few extra pieces of Ensolite and RAAMmat directly behind where the mids will live:

 

[ericnord 10+ year member]

Big Update:

I was able to work both Sat and Sun all day on my install, so made a lot of progress. Front stage speakers are installed and A-pillars are painted. All speaker and power wire run and started putting some of the car back together!

First task was to make a speaker ring, so I first made a quick cardboard template:

Then I used my jigsaw to cut out the template and hole. It isn't perfectly straight, but couldn't bring myself to buy a Router just for two **** rings. Installed nuts for speaker's hex screws:

Used some liquid nail and some wood screws to mount the MFD to the plastic door membrane:

Installed the Hybrid Audio Technologies Legatia 6 Midbass driver in the doors using hex scews:

 

[ericnord 10+ year member]

Now it is on to the tweets in the A-pillars!

First I had to cut the holes and prepare the pillars for paint:

Then I cut it using my Dremel w/ a sanding attachment:

Then painted the A-pillar. Put one SEM Texture coat on, then two SEM Landau Black coats, then one more SEM Texture coat, then some Matte Clear that I got from Homedepot. A got a couple flakes while I was installing the A-pillars, so not sure if I needed to prep the plastic first, or if I didn't let it dry long enough. We'll see how it goes, but may need to pull out again and sand before painting.

Then mounted the Hybrid Audio Technologies Legatia L1 using hex screws:

I used some nuts on the back and also some quick connects on the speaker wire:

Here is the other quick connect on the cable run up from under the dash:

Now some misc wiring run pics:

All I'm waiting on now is the Ai-Net extension cable so I can install the HU, run the AI-net and Remote up the middle, then put the carpet back down and the seats. Then I can focus on mounting amps and sub in the back somehow.

 

[miker 5,000+ posts]

Looks awesome!! Great job.

 

[Punk In Drublic 10+ year member]

You're doing great man, keep it up!

 

[ericnord 10+ year member]

Thanks guys!

 

[ericnord 10+ year member]

Yesterday I was able to get the quick connects soldered on the HU harness and get the HU installed using hex screws:

The American Int'l harness only had a Power Ant, no Remote. Since the Power Ant was blue I used that even though there is no Power Ant on my CX-7. Hopefully it will work. I tried measuring it w/ multimeter, but still not sure if it is working.

 

[JayinMI 10+ year member]

You probably have an in glass or hidden electrically amplified antenna. Alot of cars only have one wire that does antenna and amp turn on. Use the amp turn on wire from your radio (remote), otherwise, your antenna and your sounds will shut off when you play CDs but will play fine with the radio on.

Jay

 

[ericnord 10+ year member]

Hey Jay,

I think I did what you are describing since my car only had one blue wire, labeled Pwr Ant. I'm assuming it does amp turn on as well.

thanks

 

[JayinMI 10+ year member]

Since you're changing the speakers and amps, you don't really need to turn on the factory amp, do you? Just curious.

Jay

 

[ericnord 10+ year member]

no, I'm using that wire to turn on my amps //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I'm going from the only wire that is blue in color on my American Int'l wiring harness labeled Pwr Ant to my HU remote and also back to my H100 and amps.

Hopefully this is correct!

 

[ericnord 10+ year member]

Today's Update:

Ok, so over the last couple days I've been putting the car back together! I don't have any pictures of it, but it looks like it did before I took it apart....almost //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Today I started working on the false floor that will be in the rear cargo area. First thing I did cut the bottom piece w/ some 1/2" MDF using the rear cargo cover that came w/ the car as a template. I made notes on amp placement, wiring diagrams, etc on the wood:

Then I started adding 3/4" MDF supports and used a hole saw for wire runs:

Added more 3/4" MDF for support. Notice the extra focus in the top right corner. The ED 13aV.2 sub and box will sit right above this and it is a good 50+ lbs. I also made holes in the side supports for ventilation and for attaching PC fans later if I have heat issues:

Added the hinge piece so I can get to my spare tire as well as the distro blocks:

Then I ran all my pwr and grnd cabling. Used 4awg on the two ED amps and 8awg for the tweeter amp. Amps are not fixed to the board yet so I can still move them around to get to speaker wires and RCAs. H100 will be in the top right square (in case the sub falls through //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif):

Tomorrow I will work on making my RCA cables and then it will be show time. I'll drop it in the car and plug in all the cables. It will be judgement day since I've yet to test if anything actually works, which could be overconfidence on my part considering the car is back together (fingers crossed).

 

[JayinMI 10+ year member]

Comin' along nicely. Can't wait to see more updates.

Jay

 

[mjf 10+ year member]

where'd you get the quick connects?

 

[JayinMI 10+ year member]

For the tweeters? You can pick them up at most hobby shops, they are frequently used on RC car Batteries.

Jay