havent metered it yet
diagnosed and fixed the amp input problem. the side panals of the amp are screwed to the amp, and the side panals have the feet that you mount to whatever surface. when i got this map there were a few of those screws connecting the side panals to the amp, then with some hanious vibrations some other screws fell out. when this happened the weight of the amp and the vibrations put alot opf force on the rca inpout terminals actually causing their lil metal tongs going to the board to snap off.
i simply took a long rca and soldered it directly to the board in the appropriate spot and now it works fine. im not the best at soldering. the pos end soldered to the board nicely, the neg end wouldnt stay. ended up taking the lil metal strip that runs along the board up a bit, then twist and solder the neg rca end directly to that. no ground loop noise or anything, plays just fine now.
also for the sake of the amp i've bought some foam padding to go behgind the amp. the only spots secured on the amp are the 4 corners, and so the "belly" of the amp will tend to vibrate loudly on certain notes. vibrations there will be taken care of, and im sure its better for the amp too. just too to start isolateing other vibrations spots and treat those spots.
as far as the over excursion. seems that the box is a lil too big. ppl here recommended 3 to 3.5 cubs, but it seems 3.5 might be too big. i just have to be careful with the gain. i should be okay. ive destroyed enough speakers before to be a lil more conservative than most. thermally the sub has been doing fine, just gotta keep it within mechanical limits. the thing is it doesnt sound at all in person like its bottoming out. its coming close, but nothing like the loud *** slap ive heard before with bottoming out woofers in the past. i havent heard anything besides noticable distortion when its up to loud, in which time i turn it back down.
id say peaking its above 140, wont know for sure until i eventually get it metered. but for the time being it i'll give it a conservative guestimation of 141.