Trunk Install Idea...Opinions?

[pdtran 10+ year member]

the size of my amps and trunk make it hard for me to make an install that looks clean so here is what I have in mind...what u guys think?

the amp rack would be right up against the trunk and the box would be as far back as possible. i want to still use my trunk so yea.

on top of that amp rack, i am going to put a thin layer of MDF, thinking 1/4 on top and use little blocks between the two layers of MDF to keep it up. the top layer woudl be the only carpeted part.

i would then cut the small boxes in the mdidle of the amp labeled "plexiglass" because i am planning on putting plexiglass over it so you can see this section of the amp, and so it will be a little easier to make adjustments after i install.

this is the section I would like to show and be accessible.

so my questions are it should be ok to use thinner than 3/4" MDF for this right? like 1/4? also...where can you get plexiglass? does anywhere sell them precut in nice little squares like that? how do you guys keep the plexiglass on? do I just screw the plexiglass onto the board? what kind of tools can cut plexiglass cleanly because I would want to cut a few lines across to let the amps breathe a little bit.

in the end i am hoping it to look someting like this:

with this behind the plexiglass:

Click to read more...

 

[pdtran 10+ year member]

come on i kno some of u have done a proj like this !

 

[seth350 10+ year member]

I was actually going to do this in my ext. cab truck when I had my back seat out.

amps and stuff under plexi in front of the sub, but then turned away from it due to i didnt have a back seat and really didnt want to lose the functionality of my truck so im now doing an install under my back seat. really hard to come up with a cool design with such a limited space to work with

only thing I think you should have to incorporate with the design is air getting to your amps to cool them. its very simple to do and all you have to have is an intake fan and an exhaust fan. just to keep the air circulating, but if you dont want to spend much on fans you could do 2 exhaust fans, one for each amp pulling the hot air out which would work but having an intake and exhaust for each amp would be better.

and i would say go with the 3/4 inch MDF, since you said you still want to use your trunk it will prolly be safe to use so it wont break or bend over time and use of course you said you was going to use blocks to support it but if it were me i would go with the 3/4

you can get plexiglass at lowes and they can cut any size piece for you as long as its straight lines, they cant do rounded edges.

how to mount the plexi, its really up to you.....i like it when the plexi is flush and you cant see any screws, just looks cleaner to me, although if you ever wanted to make any adjustments to your amp it would make it more tedious of having to take off the top piece to get to your amps. so for your system it would be wise to go ahead and screw the plexi down so it will adjusting everything easier. just be sure to predrill your holes for the screws in the plexi otherwise if you try to just screw it down it will crack and break.

i like the idea you have, i am a big fan of false floors and i think it will turn out very nicely //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[pdtran 10+ year member]

only thing you have to incorporate with the design is air getting to your amps to cool them. its very simple to do and all you have to have is an intake fan and an exhaust fan. just to keep the air circulating, but if you dont want to spend much on fans you could do 2 exhaust fans, one for each amp pulling the hot air out which would work but having an intake and exhaust for each amp would be better

i was hoping that i wouldnt need to incorporate fans since I would be cutting a few slits horizontally in the plexiglass (if i figured out how) to act as vents and also so i can stick a lil screwdriver to mess with gains while they are installed.

also i was hoping that since it wouldn't really be a closed box, but only two layers of MDF on top of and on the bottom of the amps, it would be getting a decent amount of breathing space.

to help with heat, i am also not carpeting anything but the top visible layer, and spray painting everything else black.

but i mean i guess connecting a couple computer fans wouldn't be that difficult at all?

 

[seth350 10+ year member]

i was hoping that i wouldnt need to incorporate fans since I would be cutting a few slits horizontally in the plexiglass (if i figured out how) to act as vents and also so i can stick a lil screwdriver to mess with gains while they are installed.
also i was hoping that since it wouldn't really be a closed box, but only two layers of MDF on top of and on the bottom of the amps, it would be getting a decent amount of breathing space.

to help with heat, i am also not carpeting anything but the top visible layer, and spray painting everything else black.

but i mean i guess connecting a couple computer fans wouldn't be that difficult at all?

A dremel tool could easily cut slots out in the plexi, idk about them being straight and nice tho. i know i wouldnt be able to make a straight perfect line with one //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

a razor blade can cut plexi but its tedious, but will prolly yield straighter cuts.

and i think it would be a good idea in the long run to install a couple of fans. all you need is a 12V power source and a ground. just run a wire from a key on power source that way they only run when the car is running.

but its your install and its entirely up to you //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[pdtran 10+ year member]

A dremel tool could easily cut slots out in the plexi, idk about them being straight and nice tho. i know i wouldnt be able to make a straight perfect line with one //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif
a razor blade can cut plexi but its tedious, but will prolly yield straighter cuts.

and i think it would be a good idea in the long run to install a couple of fans. all you need is a 12V power source and a ground. just run a wire from a key on power source that way they only run when the car is running.

but its your install and its entirely up to you //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

word... hopefully home depot does these cuts too because i don't have a lowes in my area. now to figure out how i can make the plexiglass look clean when i put it on... home depot tomorrow to start this project.......... !

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

Could drill a pattern of holes in the plexi for ventilation....

 

[JohnBlayz142 10+ year member]

Check out this build from a member here...I'm going to be starting something similar today myself. It shows the process of the build, and even though it turned out awesome, I think it would be pretty easy to make.

Good luck.

http://www.streeteffectz.com/jordantl

 

[pdtran 10+ year member]

Check out this build from a member here...I'm going to be starting something similar today myself. It shows the process of the build, and even though it turned out awesome, I think it would be pretty easy to make.
Good luck.

http://www.streeteffectz.com/jordantl

wow...that is sick. i really like the ported wall that closes the rest of the trunk off, but i am wondering if it will keep away some of the bass from getting into the cabin.

my box is also a simple ported design and it would look kidn of funny with a wall like

( ) []....if u get what i'm saying, but maybe i'll make a fake port on the other side to balance it, lol.

 

[JohnBlayz142 10+ year member]

wow...that is sick. i really like the ported wall that closes the rest of the trunk off, but i am wondering if it will keep away some of the bass from getting into the cabin.
my box is also a simple ported design and it would look kidn of funny with a wall like

( ) []....if u get what i'm saying, but maybe i'll make a fake port on the other side to balance it, lol.

Yeah, I asked him if he felt he was losing any airflow, and he said it is adequately vented and he doesn't feel he is losing output. That car also has the rear dash 9" sub removed, so that helps as well.

I know what you mean about the single port, I thought of doing something along the lines of a fake port also to balance the look of the wall and still have more airflow. Wouldn't be too hard.

 

[pdtran 10+ year member]

Check out this build from a member here...I'm going to be starting something similar today myself. It shows the process of the build, and even though it turned out awesome, I think it would be pretty easy to make.
Good luck.

http://www.streeteffectz.com/jordantl

did you ever ask him what he used on the outermost layer (the red). it looks thin and easy to work with instead of using 1/2 in MDF which i would think would reduce the amount of bass getting into the cabin, and would be a lot heavier.

 

[JohnBlayz142 10+ year member]

did you ever ask him what he used on the outermost layer (the red). it looks thin and easy to work with instead of using 1/2 in MDF which i would think would reduce the amount of bass getting into the cabin, and would be a lot heavier.

Nope...his member name is LIGHTBEING if you want to PM him...I don't know if he used that red stuff...I think that's a template. If you look at the port, it appears he just added trim panels on the left and right of the box. Notice how the port is recessed...