re sx18....were my hopes too big?????

[pinoy2o9 10+ year member]

good start. we all start from somewhere.

 

[fatboytyler]

I would certainly deaden the tailgate. I know how those things are built and you're losing a lot of sound output due to the port hitting it. Also, do you have the electrical upgrades for properly support 1600 watts? I know that Bronco doesn't have a very big stock alternator.

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

I must say that's better than I expected given your other thread.

Yes, the back window open and panels flexing will lose you a lot of output. I would also experiment with sub and port firing up. If you can lay the back seats down also experiment with pulling the box up towards the front another 8 inches or so to see if allowing a little more space in front of the port helps.

I'm wondering if the tuning may be a bit low to play actual music on that box? Also is the box adequately braced? A box that big will flex a lot without bracing and that loses output. Otherwise, it looks like you definitely have a big enough box and port to properly run an 18".

Really you need to make sure your electrical can even hang with that amp, I'm sure that amp is enough to break that sub so chasing bigger amps is probably the last thing you'll want to do.

Do you own or have access to an SPL meter?

 

[sharkman]

View attachment 26549609View attachment 26549610View attachment 26549609View attachment 26549610According to my volt meter my stock electrical is holding up fine. With the car off i stay about 11.7 when its on about 13.4..... i do plan on getting batteries upgrade my alt... i did add sound deadening to the tailgate. Not as much as i would like but its there. Plus there was stock material under my panel that the previous owner got rid of so have to find some of that. As far as bracing i have 2 closet rods inside with 2 inch bolts. Holding them down. I doubt im gettting any flex

 

[mazdakid 5,000+ posts]

Any bracing from bottom to front baffle?

 

[sharkman]

Sorry about the pics. And i also need to find out what im doing with my spare tire since mines didnt come with the taiilgate mount. Alot of people on the bronco forums say you cant just add one. My tire was inside my truck. I will try to get some pics today. Dont really drive thhe truck much gas is a killer

 

[sharkman]

Any bracing from bottom to front baffle?

Front baffled is braced to back. I. Got lazy and skipped the other two braces i had cut for top to bottom

 

[mazdakid 5,000+ posts]

Ya I guess that's what I meant, top to bottom.

I'm sure there some flexing there if it's not braced then.

 

[csu87 10+ year member]

The box is not the problem. The tailgate is. Get some weatherstripping and put it around the window and see if that helps any

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Front baffled is braced to back. I. Got lazy and skipped the other two braces i had cut for top to bottom

Get the sub going full tilt and put your hand on the un-braced panels and see if you can feel any vibration. You'd be amazed how much MDF will flex without some bracing..... put it this way, 6$ in wood and a couple squirts of glue is a small investment to triple up on bracing to be 100% sure. Otherwise I'd agree that the rear window/hatch is probably your #1 issue.

 

[sharkman]

View attachment 26549662View attachment 26549661View attachment 26549660

Ok i flipped the box and have the sub and port firing up. Doing so i got some nice roof flex. As for the window im able to crack but not shut it all the way or i will get noise from glass hitting the weather stripping . My weather stripping is trash but its cool since it would help keep the truck cool. The truck sounds solid. But i think i tuned too low for my liken. I can feel the bass rather then hear it. Inside the car its great but once outside its not loud.. i will also try to turn up my sub sonic filter. I just think the sub is doing what its supposed to do with the size box i built.... i was think maybe i should add some 12s in my center console to add to the higher end?????

 

[Sidebinder]

Try to tune it to about 35 Hz and upgrade your Alternator and Battery if you haven't. If the Big 3 are done and you have 0 gauge going to the amp, that is a good start. MB Quartz 1600 Watt on that Sub should slam and be very much audible well away from the car in the RIGHT install and enclosure.

 

[Sidebinder]

You may also want to try Steel Threaded Bracing and Glassing the inside of the enclosure. I'd rebuild the whole thing.

 

[sharkman]

Yeah im not rebuilding the box anytime soon. I think if anything i will work on getting a dd1 and adding 10s or 12s in a custom center console. Im not really worried too much since i do plan on doing a stronger recone or upgrading the sub in a year

 

[Sidebinder]

You could just leave the sub the way it is and forget about adding 10's or 12's, just make your 18 slam the way an 18 is supposed too. You can definitely upgrade the coil through RE if you want but the point is that you really don't have to with the amp you have. It is sufficient. I guarantee the Enclosure and the lack of upgraded Alt and Batt are your key problems. You may also want to go to True Copper 0 gauge on your Power loop and run True Copper 8 gauge from your amp to your Sub, if you haven't already.