False floor plans and ideas.. Need plenty of opinions and inputs!

[JarvisB 10+ year member]

I am going to start on this project very soon so I thought I'd start planning right now..

Here is what I wanted to do.. I did not want to sacrifice my whole cargo area so I got my sub box made to take up only half of the whole cargo space so I can have half of the space to store things or whatever..

And then I realized that I have no place to mount my kicker 2500.1 which is a fairly large amp so I decided that I would want to build a false floor with plexiglass on the other half of the cargo space in front of my subwoofer box.. (as of now my amp is sitting on my rear seat folded down (i definitely do not like it at all and I do not want to mount my amp on the sub box as well)

So I came up with this plan, see pic down below.. Just imagine as if you are looking down on my cargo space from the top.. Sorry if my drawing sucked.. but hope you get an idea of what I am trying to achieve..

(rear seats is on the top of the pic, the box is right behind the rear seats.. The false floor will be on the other half of the cargo space; it is in front of my sub box, behind the trunk)

I will be removing the panel in front of the sub box so I will have some more space to work with.. Normally under the panel there would be a jack and tools for replacing the spare tire.. I plan on relocating the jack to under the rear seats..

I will be removing this panel-

Here is what I will be working with (I will remove the jack so it will be out of the way)

You can see that I drew a outline frame which will be made of 3/4" or 1/2" MDF double baffled and painted black.. At the corners there will be square holes for the fans to fit into..

I want to put at least 1/2" plexiglass on top of the frame, but I plan on making the inside edges of the frame recessed so that way I can flush mount the plexiglass..

After all this, I will still be able to show off my amp and still have cargo space..

I am not sure what kind of fans should I use.. and what size?

Any inputs or better ideas?

Also, as of now, my amp is hooked up to a switch so that way I can turn it on and off since my HU's remote wire gives out constant power even while it is off.. I did not want to have a 12V supply going towards my amp to wake it up so I decided to use the wire from the HU to the switch so I am looking at .5V current, which is just enough to wake the amp up.. But now I would like to connect all 4 fans to the same switch so that way they will be turned on when the amp is on, but the problem is that the switch only got .5V supply as of now.. I dont want to make it into 12V since it would give the sub a bump when I turn the switch on, so any ideas how can I have the fans hooked up as well without having the 12V supply? I am thinking that I can just make the switch a 12V switch and then I can get some kind of a voltage reducer for the wire going to my amp so it would just be .5V while the rest is going to be 12V for the fans.. Am I making any sense?

I need help in finding/picking the proper fans for my set up.. I plan on having 2 fans on the right side blowing downwards while the fans on the left side will be blowing up wards so that way the path inside the plexi from the right to left will have plenty of air flow.. Mind you, my ZX2500.1 gets HOT after playing music for a while.. I was thinking about picking up 4 computer fans but I am not sure if it is the best idea? what kind of options do I have when it comes to fans?? Computer fans were the ones that came up in my mind.

I am definitely open to any inputs or opinions.. Criticize my plans if you have to.. I want the plan to be perfected before I start working on it..

Sorry about the long post, just wanted to have y'all filled in.

Thanks in advance!

Click to read more...

 

[stevew007 10+ year member]

why dont you just make a pullout drawer under your box??

 

[JarvisB 10+ year member]

I could do that but then how do I keep inside of the drawer cool? And I do not want the box to go higher than the rear seats.. As of now, the box sits about 3 inches below the rear seats if the seats are up..

And I thought it would be cool to show off my amp and still have cargo space..

 

[JarvisB 10+ year member]

25 views and no inputs? come on, help a fellow member out! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

On the other forum, some suggested that I should be able to get away with just two 120mm fans since they can be noisy, but music should drown them almost immediatedly..

Also one of the guys suggested that I wont need any intake fan, I should be fine with 2 exhaust fans with intake grill

 

[Ken448 10+ year member]

you need some heavier power/ground wires Those look quite thin

 

[JarvisB 10+ year member]

Yeah I think I should be able to get away with 16 ga power and ground wire!

 

[Ken448 10+ year member]

for the fans, grab some 2 or 3" computer fans, they run on 12V Should be a pretty simple/clean install. BUT I dont think Id go as thick as 3/4 on the plexy. Itll be tough to handle and quite expensive unless you are VERY confident with your skills.

 

[JarvisB 10+ year member]

what do you mean by tough to handle?

I plan on having someone cut it precisely for me.. I want to have 3/4" plexi since I will be using this space as storage space so various kinds of stuff will be placed in this certain area so I would need the floor to be strong enough to withstand any kind of things on top of it..

 

[JarvisB 10+ year member]

updated the OP with few more pics, hope I am clear enough for you all to understand?

Either y'all dont uddy what I am trying to do or y'all dont give shit about what I am about to do lol

 

[smoka 10+ year member]

3/4" say 12"x24" plexi/poycarbonate is prob going to run you around $200-300.

Also it will be hard to keep clean and can scratch easy. If you do go with the plexi might want to consider making a carpeted trim piece to cover it, that way it will look good when you want to show it off.

Even with fans your amp can get really hot with the way you pictured it. You might want to consider using a material other than plexi so your amp can breathe. Like this etc...

http://www.demonkar.com/product/silver_oblong_racing_car_grill_mesh._257.asp

http://www.customcargrill.com/products.asp?cat=61

 

[CJL 10+ year member]

First off I love false floors, im trying to figure out how i can incorporate one in my next install. Second will you f- floor idea cover up some of your port?

Are you saying if you run 12v to your amps turn on input you get the on/off thump and if you only run 5v you dont get any? May have to try that. As far as turning on amp/fans,maybe you can put a resistor on the amps side to reduce to 5v?

In you drawing,do you plan on showing the whole amp and wiring under the plexiglass? Having the plexi that big may cause strength issues with no bracing underneath it.

I always liked some of the amp showing,it looks more clean/custom to me. Maybe you can do that also and it might help you as far as strength for things to be on top of it.

Heres a rough ideas of what im thinking... Also cant wait to see the build log //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[CJL 10+ year member]

3/4" say 12"x24" plexi/poycarbonate is prob going to run you around $200-300.
Also it will be hard to keep clean and can scratch easy. If you do go with the plexi might want to consider making a carpeted trim piece to cover it, that way it will look good when you want to show it off.

Even with fans your amp can get really hot with the way you pictured it. You might want to consider using a material other than plexi so your amp can breathe. Like this etc...

http://www.demonkar.com/product/silver_oblong_racing_car_grill_mesh._257.asp

http://www.customcargrill.com/products.asp?cat=61

Here some 12"x 24" 1/2" Lexan for $36

http://www.estreetplastics.com/1_2_x_12_x_24_Clear_Polycarbonate_Lexan_Sheet_p/3003055100.htm

and 12" x 24'' 3/4" Acrylic Plexiglass for $36 also..... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif

http://www.estreetplastics.com/3_4_x_12_x_24_Clear_Acrylic_Plexiglass_Sheet_p/1004055100.htm

Mesh is prolly ideal but you risk things falling through. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

 

[JarvisB 10+ year member]

CJL- Many thanks for your input!

I sure do like your design.. but I would like the plexi to be a bit bigger if possible? 12" x 24" is not cutting it for me? I think I would like maybe just a tad bigger?

and no I dont plan on blocking my port at all.. my goal is to have everything flush right below the port or maybe line up to the port equally if I have to..

I am really digging your design you just made for me.. but I would like to make the plexi a bit bigger, do you think thats possible?

Also, adding resistor for the wire that goes to my amp sounds good!

P.S. holy batman, never knew that plexiglass is that expensive.. WOW! I guess I will have to ditch my original design and maybe start working around the design CJL made for me.. I definitely do not want to use mesh or anything like that since it defeats the purpose of my idea.. I wanted this space to be "store-able" which I can just throw my stuff in the back without worrying about hitting the amp or falling thru the mesh

 

[mm0142 10+ year member]

willo the amp not fit in the area that the rear pannel is at right now the one for the jack and shit ?? just get thinner plexi and mdf to cover it and keep a slot on both sides for ventalation for the amp . mabee keep some extra carpet unter the rear seats to roll over it when you have to put something back there . as long as you have an inch or so clearance on top of the amp and a slot on both sides to let air through you shouldnt even need the fans .

 

[06goat 10+ year member]

Yeah remember, bigger the plexi= less sturdiness.

Unless... you cut a design into the wood, which makes the plexi get more support..

Idk just an idea.