Fiberglass kick panel for Integra - beta version - PICS

[Big Dee 10+ year member]

It's gonna be a couple weeks until I get my component set so I decided to practice making kick panels with my Type-R coaxial speakers, actually I'm just doing one speaker. I've never done a lot of things that go into making these, so I think this practice run is a good idea.

So far I've just made the mold and mounted the ring, I'll finish up the rest tommorow, although I'm just gonna glass then stop, no body filler or carpet until I make the real ones later.

This one is for the passenger's side. I used 5 layers of weaved mat. No making fun of my crappy jigsaw skills on the circles, I know they ****.

Close up of the support brace I made from spare MDF. I don't trust dowels alone. I used liquid nails to attach them.

Close up of the mounting ring. It's made from one piece of MDF. The flush mounting inset was made by routing an inner ring 1/4" deep.

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[James Bang 5,000+ posts]

that type of bit did you use to router the inner ring? looks nice.

 

[Big Dee 10+ year member]

Just a straight bit, don't remember the exact size. It was almost thick enough on the first pass, but not quite, so I made another pass to make it a little bigger. It also took 2 passes to make it 1/4" deep since it's not recommended to go any deeper than 1/8" in any one pass.

 

[dleccord 5,000+ posts]

how long does it take the liquid nails to dry?

 

[Big Dee 10+ year member]

how long does it take the liquid nails to dry?

A long frikin time!!

This is the first time I used it so I didn't know, as of right now it's been about 14 hours and it's still not dry. If I would have use thin layers it would have been dry by now, but I really piled it on. On the parts with thin layers it's pretty much dry and hard.

From the manufacturers website they say it reaches 50 psi strength in 24 hours, and 75 psi in 48 hours, and over 190 psi in 7 days, so I guess it takes a really long time to dry completely. If it's not ready in a few hours I'm just going to put some hot glue on the joints and finish it.

 

[coolahan 10+ year member]

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... perfection takes patience.. and so does car audio.

 

[Big Dee 10+ year member]

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... perfection takes patience.. and so does car audio.

Thank you obi won.

 

[MrSwiss 10+ year member]

hot glue > liquid nails

in this instance.

looks like u used 2 router bits. is that a 1/4 inch radius? and a flush bit to make the inner lip.

btw shouldve done both @ same time. its gonna be hard to get them to look the same now.

 

[Big Dee 10+ year member]

hot glue > liquid nails
in this instance.

looks like u used 2 router bits. is that a 1/4 inch radius? and a flush bit to make the inner lip.

btw shouldve done both @ same time. its gonna be hard to get them to look the same now.

I don't remember the size of the bit, I have several I just grabbed one and used it, it might be a 1/4" bit.

The inner lip was made with a straight bit, not a flush bit.

I'm not even making the driver's side one. This was just for practice until I get my component speakers next week. Now that I see how much space it takes up I think I might go with door pods instead, Integras have next to nothing when it comes to leg room. I don't know, tough decision.

 

[Big Dee 10+ year member]

OK I fleeced now. Gonna glass after this post. What would be strong enough for just temporary use? Can I just resin the fleece and call it a day?

I just want to try it out for a little while to see how it works, I'm not planning on keeping it.

 

[audiobahnuser18 5,000+ posts]

nicely done man looks likes that kickpanel is coming along pretty well.

 

[dbornotdb 10+ year member]

How thick was the mold? Hard to tell from the pics. I would be weary of it warping when resin is applied and starts to cure.

 

Fleece should have been passed up in favor of 'polydex'. 'Polydex' is a polyester blended spandex that stretches in every way imaginable. Takes a small amount of resin to saturate, unlike fleece, and is easier to use all around. http://www.fiberglassforums.com kinda nicknamed it that to save time explaining.

And about the strength. It will need mat added to it, at least 3 layers, if not more, to be sturdy. That fleece alone will be brittle. Anything you use as a molding material will need mat for strength.

 

I know this is just a temporary test piece, just letting you know for future reference.

 

[Big Dee 10+ year member]

Great info there. Thanks man, much appreciated. I actually don't like the way fleece comes out. It has dull egdes and I want a sharp look, but I think it did come out pretty well. I'll post pics tomorrow of the functioning, but unfinished kick.

BTW how can I find out the internal volume? Pour water into it?

Oh and as far as the SQ, it sounds like shit. The volume is not nearly enough for my coaxials, they would probably need to be vented into the frame of the car to get some good mid bass, right now they are one note wonders. I'll look into venting them later. There is something in the way right now, I'm not sure what it is, but it sits right behind the kick.

 

[pwnt by pat 10+ year member]

It's gonna be a couple weeks until I get my component set so I decided to practice making kick panels with my Type-R coaxial speakers, actually I'm just doing one speaker. I've never done a lot of things that go into making these, so I think this practice run is a good idea.

2 char

 

[Big Dee 10+ year member]

No one know of a good way to test internal volume?

I guess I'll just pour some water in there. Does anyone actually want to see the end result? It's not pretty, looks just like the fleece pic except with resin all over it. I'm not carpeting or sanding it.