Revisiting The Buick Rainier - Team Megaloud

[Skooter 10+ year member]

Well, this summer was going to be my time to, "complete," basically meaning upgrade, my build from last summer. Unfortunately, and fortunately at the same time, due to a few complications, I'm going deeper into audio than I had anticipated. I'm a newly added member of a team, Team Megaloud, based out of Texas, and will be, at the end of my build, utilizing a few of their amps.

In case you haven't seen my current build, here's the rundown:

Head Unit:

- JVC KD-R730BT

Front Stage:

- 2 Sundown Audio NeoPro V2 6.5"

- 2 CDT TW-25's

- PPI BK800.4

- 2 Factory Bose Audio 3" midranges off Bose Amp

Sub Stage:

- 2 Sundown Audio E8V3's in a 1.8 cubic foot box tuned to 35Hz

- MB Quart ONX 1.1000D

Electrical:

- All stock components, with DEKA Battery and two runs of 4AWG, one for each amp.

Deadening:

- Stock Deadening accompanied by fiberglass insulation and spray foam.

Well, times are changing, and my thirst for audio is too. The vehicle, my 2005 Buick Rainier, has current mods of:

- 4" Belltech Suspension Lowering Kit - Springs, Shocks, and Struts.

- Spohn Adjustable Panhard Bar

- DJM Sway Bar

- Poly Bushings

- MaxxLink Shortened Endlinks

- Roof Rack Delete

- Plasti-Dipped trim and wheels

- 6000k HID Headlights and Fogs

Recently, as you can see in the picture above, the motors of my E8V3's fell off, so I'm planning something bigger and better. Sundown is honoring their warranty, and allowing me to upgrade with warranty added.

So, here's the new plan:

Head Unit:

- Pioneer DEH-80PRS

Front Stage:

- Sundown Audio NeoPro V2 6.5"

- CDT TW-25's

- Tang Band W3 3" Mids

- Alpine MRV-F505 Expert Series Amplifier

- PPI BK800.4 (Will be, at some point, replaced by Team Megaloud VX-1200.4)

Sub Stage:

- Sundown Audio X-18 D2

- MB Quart ONX 1.1000D (Will be, at some point, replaced by Team Megaloud VX-1600.1)

Electrical:

- Mechman 270a Alternator

- Sky High Car Audio Cable - 2 Runs of 1/0 power, and 2 Runs of 1/0 ground

- DEKA Battery

Deadening:

- Second Skin Damplifier

- Stock Deadening with Fiberglass Insulation and Spray Foam

Stay tuned for progress!

Click to read more...

 

[Skooter 10+ year member]

Things started arriving at my door yesterday!

My Pioneer DEH-80PRS

Tang Band W3's, Wire Grommets, Gauge Adapters, G4 HID's for mine that burned out, Fuses, RCA's, Relay, and Heat Shrink. Waiting on 100 feet of Sky High 1/0 and my Mechman 270A Alternator.

So I popped in the PRS.

And decided to take a picture of the Alpine MRV-F505 Expert Series 4 Channel I'm using.

AMP GUTS P0RN!

MORE TO COME!

 

[Skooter 10+ year member]

Things keep getting more exciting! Just waiting on my Mechman Alternator and Second Skin Deadener.

THINGS ARE ABOUT TO GET NUTTY

 

[Skooter 10+ year member]

Got alot of stuff done, but plenty more to go.

PRS in and new RCA's ran. Left all the old wires for now since I still want to have music during this time, since this is my daily driver.

All wires are zip tied about every 8-14 inches.

No more running through the weather stripping for me. Doing it the right way. Drilled a hole and siliconed the gap. This is for the NeoPro V2 in the door.

I love this picture because it shows the difference between the old and new wire.

There's the tweeter, just chilling there. The two wires are for the mid and tweeter.

Garage sale bass to get me through the days of waiting on the sub.

Replaced my burnt out HID ballasts.

Put in some LED dome lights. Not as bright as stock, shockingly, but at least they match my headlights.

Got some plexi glass over the Alpine Amp. Beautiful guts!

Stay tuned! The Sundown X-18 should be here within 2 weeks, as well as the Mechman Alternator

 

[vibe]

smexy as s fn amp. how much you pay for it if you dont mind me asking?

 

[Skooter 10+ year member]

smexy as s fn amp. how much you pay for it if you dont mind me asking?

Free! Haha. I did an install for the son of my dad's friend and that's how he paid me.

 

[vibe]

Free! Haha. I did an install for the son of my dad's friend and that's how he paid me.

damnnnnnnn. i like!!!!!! if you ever wana sell let me know

 

[Skooter 10+ year member]

damnnnnnnn. i like!!!!!! if you ever wana sell let me know

Will do, sir, but I have a feeling this one is gonna be around a while //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

 

[Skooter 10+ year member]

Plans have changed, and a little update too.

Change in plans: My second 4 channel amp, which will be running my NeoPro V2's will no longer be the PPI BK800.4 or MegaLoud VX 1600.4, it will now be a matching Alpine MRV-F505, which I purchased off of Keep_Hope_Alive. Thank you!

Alternator will be here next week. Sub is being built. Starting the box within the week.

Wires ran through my grommets. Thankfully, even though I'm lowered, no wheel rub on the plastic insert.

 

[Skooter 10+ year member]

More progress!

Picked up some great stuff and got nutty on the gaps in the hatch and roof, along with some of my second skin. Trimmed up the great stuff nice, but didn't take a picture with it and with the second skin. Used small tiles about 3 inches apart.

Sealed up my baffles on my mids with a bunch of second skin and put weather stripping around to seal it to the plastic. I also second skinned the plastic the same way as the roof and hatch, but don't have pictures.

Mechman alternator came. Going in tomorrow.

Soldered and heat shrinked all my terminals for the alternator and the power and ground runs.

Started the amp rack and put in the bottom piece of the box. I'm going to build the box in the car. The two pieces down first are to make sure the wires aren't pinched. I still have to cut the hole in the middle that the MB Quart amp with be in. They'll all be plexiglass windows, with the two that are already cut, having the two Alpine MRV-F505's showing amp guts. I'm really excited to see how this turns out! Ecstatic with the progress. I've done builds for other people, but have never had the money to do a big build for my own, so I'm thrilled to have had this opportunity to work with my car.

So all in all, I've still got to do the following:

- Build the box, which will be 7.5 cubes at 30Hz with two 6" aeroports, and will consist of bracing on the outside and inside, a recessed double baffle with stained top and black vinyl front which will extend the width of the trunk space.

- Wrap the amp rack and mount the amps.

- Rip out the old wiring.

- Second skin the doors, underneath the front headliner, and floor.

- Improve upon the NeoPro V2's baffle.

- Receive the X-18 from Sundown Audio and pop it in.

- Put in all plastic panels.

- Tune, which will be loads of fun trying to tweak, select crossovers, and time align for a 3-way front stage.

- Do touchup paint and minimal body work.

- Enjoy!

I've got a competition on Sunday, July 27th that I will be attending in Erie, PA, which is as close as it comes for me in Buffalo, NY. I hope to have everything show ready, but if the X-18 doesn't come in time, I'll be using my friend's Alpine Type-R in my box. I know, way too frickin' big of a box, but I'm just going to compete in sound quality and maybe Show and Shine.

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

looking good!

 

[Skooter 10+ year member]

looking good!

Thank you!

 

[Skooter 10+ year member]

Fuse block is in but will be changed up a tad bit. Alternator is also in, and resting at 14.5. More updates coming soon, again.

 

[fatboytyler]

Looks very nice! Incredibly clean install! Will be tuned in.

 

[sherrod833 10+ year member]

Looking good so far. I didn't see it but where did you run the power and ground back in the cab?