FRED's MAZDA 6 BUILD LOG***

[fwb_1234 10+ year member]

OK.

So, I've got an '04 Mazda 6i Hatch.

I already have a beginner bass system (which I plan on upgrading eventually), which consists of 2 Audiobahn 400W (AW125T's) subs and and Audiobahn 800W amp (A8002T).

Please don't bash. I know you guys aren't fans of bahn, but I got an unbeatable deal on the stuff (~300 Installed).

Here's a pic of the current bass system.





Today we did the Big 3...errr 2.

Here's what Sean and I managed to do to my car. Keep in mind that we had no idea what to do.

Pic of engine bay.



The negative to ground was the easiest and the first thing we did.

Then we tackled the engine to ground connection. We had to take the battery out and the battery holder to get to the connection.

Here are a couple of pics showing the hard-to-reachness of the engine connection. If you pay attention, you can see that we even left in the stock wire.





We couldn't get to the alt. connection because of this little cover. I got it partially off, as you can see, but didn't want to force it. Tomorrow, I'm going to jack it over my head and see if I can get to it better.



Oh, we thought that we would show you the robustness of the Knu fuse holder (ordered) compared to the db Drive one the car audio shop put in.



Here's an overall pic. so far. Just pretend there is a battery in the large vacant spot.



Coming Soon to be installed by someone who has never done such a thing are:

This wonderful set up ordered off Crutchfield (great deal).

Pioneer HU (in sig) deh-p7800mp - http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Hi23hepHpmm/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?search=7800&i=130DEHP780

Metra Dash Kit - http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Hi23hepHpmm/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?search=mazda+6&i=120997503

PAC SWI-PS Steering Wheel Control Interface - http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Hi23hepHpmm/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?search=swi%2Dps&i=127SWIPS

That's all for now. I'll have more pics as this project develops.

Click to read more...

 

[EnvEe 02 10+ year member]

That fuse holder is huge. I ordered the same one and when I got it it took me some time to try and figure out where to mount it in my engine bay..

 

[fwb_1234 10+ year member]

Yeah. It's ridiculously huge and solid. I have no idea where to put it. The other fuse holder is just dangling by the other wire.

Also, I've decided that this is an install log more than a build log, so if the mods want to change the title or whatever, that'd be cool.

 

[Wkbdkid 10+ year member]

Not bad, but IMO i dont consider $300 an unbeatable deal. But everyone starts somewhere

 

[fwb_1234 10+ year member]

Alright, not "unbeatable" but pretty good. The subs were SeanDub's old ones, ordered the amp, and bought the box.

I finished big 3 today. I went to a my friend's shop and was able to get under the car. Pretty happy with the job I did, but a little frustrated because I still have dimming. Suggestions on fixing this problem are welcome.

Pics:

...in a little bit (imageshack is down)

 

[fwb_1234 10+ year member]

I know you guys were just DYING for pics (j/k, unfortunately). I really mean this to be educational, because when I started I couldn't find anyone who had done anything similar.

Coming off of the alt.



Battery Terminal and Fuse Holder



All Done with Big 3.



How did I do?

 

[regal8r 5,000+ posts]

overkill for an audiobahn 8002t (actually had those same subs and amp as my first system lol), but im sure you are going to want to upgrade in the very near future. good work

 

[elementxero 10+ year member]

Tomorrow, I'm going to jack it over my head

That seems like an unnecessarily awkward position to squeeze one out.

Either that or you are hung like a brontosaurus.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif :laugh: //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif :laugh:

 

[fwb_1234 10+ year member]

To regulator, yeah I'm planning on upgrading eventually, but I did this mostly to get rid of some dimming (and b/c it's fun).

To element: I was talking about the car, but now that you mention it... I'm not gonna try to be modest or anything.

 

[fwb_1234 10+ year member]

All right. FINALLY my stuff came in. I had to wait like 4 business days AND a weekend.

I'll be starting the install in a couple of days. Right now the car is at the dealer getting some plastic and minor stuff done to it, as it's still under warranty.

Anyways, here's what I ordered.

Altogether



Metra Dash Kit



My Beautiful HU



That's all. How do you like my set-up?

 

[tapout 5,000+ posts]

nice

 

[fwb_1234 10+ year member]

Well, it's been a ridiculously long time since I updated this thread, although I have done stuff in the meantime.

I installed all the stuff shown above, and I thought I took pictures of it all installed, but I can't find them. I want to show you guys a little stealth aux in that I did, but I'll post that up when I get back home.

Anyway after that, at some junction, I set out to deaden the doors with my free quart of SS Spectrum. Here are some pics of that.

Doors look like this.



When you take the panel off, they look like this. I've already taken the speaker out in this pic.



Fricken glass.



Ah, my simplistic solution.



Stock little 4x6. To be replaced, soon.



Here are three shots of my painted on work. Notice how it gets darker.







Here is what my workshop looked like.



Car guts all over the garage to dry overnight.



After I finished, I decided that I definitely needed more. So I ordered a gallon, which is sitting in my garage. I think that I'll order a sprayer from parts express or from SS to keep going. This is just taking forever.

After this I'll do the trunk, which I think is the second most importantly and definitely the "rattliest."

 

[fwb_1234 10+ year member]

During fall break, I ripped this out.



And put in my MD43 and MD2D. I also built a ported box for the Fi Q, which came out extremely clean (with sanding). I was thinking of painting it plain black, and painting some stencils of the Fi logo and a Clemson paw, but now I might use the paint featured in the "big juicy box" thread. I like how that stuff looks.

I'm going to replace the door speakers obviously.

I'm also going to alter that big plastic door panel. I can't get rid of it, but I think that I can get rid of that whole corner and replace it with either glass or MDF. Certain places on the plastic have holes, and I'll cover those up with either a thin wood or some metal flashing to seal the doors well.

I should get alot of this done during Thanksgiving break.

 

[fwb_1234 10+ year member]

Feedback?

 

[audioarsonal 10+ year member]

I would ground the battery to sheet metal in the the same place you put the sheet metal to block.