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#281290 - 09/05/2006 15:02 I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my WRX
ithoughti
old hand

Registered: 17/07/2001
Posts: 721
Loc: Boston, MA USA
I've had my trunk broken into twice and my custom box, sub and amps stolen once, so I decided to make a box that would be hidden under the floor. I'll just keep a can on fix-a-flat and my AAA card handy for trips around town and throw the donut spare in the trunk for longer trips.

here is the progress so far:

First layer (I did 2 in the trunk and then pulled it out)


2 more layers done


My lovely basement makeshift 'workshop'


Trimmed with the speaker ring in:


The shelf for the amps & power block



Next step is stretching some t-shirt material over the top and epoxying that. I'll keep this updated.

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#281291 - 09/05/2006 17:06 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: ithoughti]
JBjorgen
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/01/2002
Posts: 3582
Loc: Columbus, OH
I'm curious as to your design decision to have the speaker ring stick up above the floor level of the trunk. Was there not enough volume to mount it flush with the floor?

Are you planning on a raised floor to make the whole thing flat?
_________________________
~ John

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#281292 - 09/05/2006 18:35 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: JBjorgen]
ithoughti
old hand

Registered: 17/07/2001
Posts: 721
Loc: Boston, MA USA
It looks higher than it is and the box sits down a little bit in the well. I think it sticks up about 3/4" Unfortunately the depth of the speaker made this a necessity.

Shouldn't be too hard to conceal that under the carpet, no need for a full false floor.
_________________________
---------
//matt

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#281293 - 09/05/2006 23:30 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: ithoughti]
cushman
veteran

Registered: 21/01/2002
Posts: 1380
Loc: Erie, CO
Weird. I'm doing mine right now, but mine is going onto the side of my trunk. Subaru Outback Wagon, though. I'm done with my 6 layers and now have to incorporate it into an MDF part I made up for the outside. What are the chances that we'd both be doing glass at the same time! I don't see a lot of other posts on here about fiberglassing!
_________________________
Mark Cushman

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#281294 - 10/05/2006 10:24 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: cushman]
JBjorgen
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/01/2002
Posts: 3582
Loc: Columbus, OH
You should not have admitted that. Now you must start a thread and post pictures.
_________________________
~ John

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#281295 - 10/05/2006 11:04 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: JBjorgen]
Mach
old hand

Registered: 15/07/2002
Posts: 828
Loc: Texas, USA
Yes, bring us pictures! More install pr0n.

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#281296 - 10/05/2006 13:42 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: Mach]
sein
old hand

Registered: 07/01/2005
Posts: 893
Loc: Sector ZZ9pZa
Quote:
Yes, bring us pictures! More install pr0n.

We all love it. Nice home made custom ICE is great fun to look at.
_________________________
Hussein

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#281297 - 10/05/2006 14:34 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: JBjorgen]
cushman
veteran

Registered: 21/01/2002
Posts: 1380
Loc: Erie, CO
Quote:
You should not have admitted that. Now you must start a thread and post pictures.

Ok, I'll post some in progress pics now, and a full writeup later.
I've taken a bunch of pictures throughout the process, but I'm not quite finished yet.



Attachments
281350-install_start.jpg (1468 downloads)


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#281298 - 10/05/2006 18:20 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: cushman]
eliceo
enthusiast

Registered: 18/02/2002
Posts: 335
I would love to do, or rather buy something like that for my wrx wagon.

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#281299 - 11/05/2006 11:33 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: eliceo]
JBjorgen
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/01/2002
Posts: 3582
Loc: Columbus, OH
Cushman could have bought one of these. Perhaps someone makes one for the wrx wagon.
_________________________
~ John

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#281300 - 11/05/2006 11:57 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: JBjorgen]
cushman
veteran

Registered: 21/01/2002
Posts: 1380
Loc: Erie, CO
Quote:
Cushman could have bought one of these. Perhaps someone makes one for the wrx wagon.

2005 - Up

I have a 2000.
_________________________
Mark Cushman

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#281301 - 11/05/2006 12:56 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: cushman]
JBjorgen
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/01/2002
Posts: 3582
Loc: Columbus, OH
Ah. Nevermind then.
_________________________
~ John

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#281302 - 11/05/2006 13:43 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: JBjorgen]
cushman
veteran

Registered: 21/01/2002
Posts: 1380
Loc: Erie, CO
Quote:
Ah. Nevermind then.

It would have been nice if they had it for my model year! I don't mind making my own, especially since the materials for mine cost about $50 and their box is over $400. I like the experience of making my own, I'm learning a lot.

It helps that one of the VPs of JL Audio drives a 2005 Subaru Wagon. I suspect that he was one of the driving forces for getting that model sub box produced, along with the JL Cleansweep.
_________________________
Mark Cushman

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#281303 - 11/05/2006 14:12 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: cushman]
Mach
old hand

Registered: 15/07/2002
Posts: 828
Loc: Texas, USA
Any tips from those learnings would be most appreciated as I'm going to be doing the same thing later this year.



Attachments
281385-Untitled-1.jpg (1274 downloads)


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#281304 - 11/05/2006 14:58 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: cushman]
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
Quote:
Quote:
Cushman could have bought one of these. Perhaps someone makes one for the wrx wagon.

2005 - Up

I have a 2000.


Have you seen this? I've had it bookmarked for years and it looks like he isn't selling them anymore..
_________________________
Brad B.

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#281305 - 11/05/2006 19:09 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: JBjorgen]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14472
Loc: Canada
Quote:
Cushman could have bought one of these


And what would be the fun in that?

Cheers

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#281306 - 13/05/2006 15:22 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: ithoughti]
ithoughti
old hand

Registered: 17/07/2001
Posts: 721
Loc: Boston, MA USA
couple updates. I screwed it up the other day and had to do the inner frame over. I made it even better, so that the speaker was flush with the top of the box.

Keep in mind that this is going to be carpeted and out of view. This is not a pretty box...



Covered in t-shirt material. Yes I know it's 2 pieces, it had to be that way and I'm not worried about it.




Expoxified:




Its all dry so now I can do a layer of glass mat today and carpet in the afternoon and finish this crap up!
_________________________
---------
//matt

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#281307 - 13/05/2006 18:50 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: ithoughti]
ithoughti
old hand

Registered: 17/07/2001
Posts: 721
Loc: Boston, MA USA
ok, another quick update. I put down a layer of fiberglass mat just now. First I spray adhesived it down and then coated in epoxy. Here is a pic, although it doesn't look a hell of a lot different than the above from yesterday:

_________________________
---------
//matt

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#281308 - 18/05/2006 00:17 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: ithoughti]
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
Quote:
ok, another quick update. I put down a layer of fiberglass mat just now. First I spray adhesived it down and then coated in epoxy. Here is a pic, although it doesn't look a hell of a lot different than the above from yesterday:



It's too bad you can't find a way to create these on a little assembly line. You'd sell a ton to the Impreza owners.


Edited by SE_Sport_Driver (18/05/2006 00:19)
_________________________
Brad B.

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#281309 - 20/05/2006 20:53 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: ithoughti]
ithoughti
old hand

Registered: 17/07/2001
Posts: 721
Loc: Boston, MA USA
DONE!

Here are some pix from just before installing it yesterday. I don't have any pix of it all wired up in the car, but you get the idea.



Here it is after I put another layer of glass down


Fits perfectly!




All carpeted and everything fits great.






In the wheel well, it is secured with the bolt that holds down the spare tire




I accidentally left those pliers in there and had to take the sub out to get them! Oops.





So, I need redo some of the wiring to make it all look pretty, but as of right now, it is installed and the trunk carpet goes right over it. It lays flat and you can't even tell that anything is in the trunk. Phew...it only took a damn month.
_________________________
---------
//matt

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#281310 - 20/05/2006 21:02 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: ithoughti]
sein
old hand

Registered: 07/01/2005
Posts: 893
Loc: Sector ZZ9pZa
That is totally sweet!
_________________________
Hussein

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#281311 - 20/05/2006 23:02 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: ithoughti]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14472
Loc: Canada
Well done, Dude!

In this day, my hat's off to anyone else who makes their own kit from scratch, whatever the endeavor!

Cheers

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#281312 - 24/05/2006 00:46 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: ithoughti]
FireFox31
pooh-bah

Registered: 19/09/2002
Posts: 2494
Loc: East Coast, USA
Wow, that's something else! Stealth mode is the best!

What about the volume (space) of the box? Did you have to "tune" the box to the speaker, using the correct size empty space to make it sound good? That seems like a really difficult task.
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FireFox31
110gig MKIIa (30+80), Eutronix lights, 32 meg stacked RAM, Filener orange gel lens, Greenlights Lit Buttons green set

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#281313 - 24/05/2006 17:34 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: FireFox31]
ithoughti
old hand

Registered: 17/07/2001
Posts: 721
Loc: Boston, MA USA
thanks for the comments guys!

I'll try and take a couple shots of it complete in the trunk.

As far as 'tuning' it, the volume is about the same as the box I had before, 1.3cf, give or take. I was just hoping for the best as far as the shape was concerned and I think it sounds fine. It's a bit boomy but I think I can fix that with some different EQ settings. I haven't really messed with that too much yet.
_________________________
---------
//matt

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#281314 - 24/05/2006 20:18 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: ithoughti]
loren
carpal tunnel

Registered: 23/08/2000
Posts: 3826
Loc: SLC, UT, USA
Awesome. I just had my JL amps replaced yesterday and reinstalled in my WRX after they were stolen a few months ago. I REALLY want to do this in my spare tire well. If I had a garage I'd have done it years ago. Guess I'll have to find someone local who can lend me the space for a bit.

So, what was the total cost of materials?

-loren
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|| loren ||

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#281315 - 24/05/2006 21:41 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: loren]
ithoughti
old hand

Registered: 17/07/2001
Posts: 721
Loc: Boston, MA USA
Quote:
Awesome. I just had my JL amps replaced yesterday and reinstalled in my WRX after they were stolen a few months ago. I REALLY want to do this in my spare tire well. If I had a garage I'd have done it years ago. Guess I'll have to find someone local who can lend me the space for a bit.

So, what was the total cost of materials?

-loren



Hey man...the wagon is a bit easier I think, AND you get to keep your spare in the trunk!

Cost of materials...hmmm...

Fiberglass: 8sf packages @ $5 each * 8 = $40
Epoxy: 1gallon @ $33 each * 3 = $100

GOOD Respirator: $25

Misc supplies:
Tape: $5
Paintbrushes (about 10 really cheap ones): $5
Mixing buckets (10): $10
Latex gloves: $5
MDF: $10
Hot glue gun and glue sticks (el cheapo one) $10
Dowels: $3
Carpeting: $10

Misc supplies = $60 (+or- $5)

TOTAL: $225 give or take (wow, did I add that right? sheesh! )

Other supplies that I needed and had on hand:

Small hand saw
Dremmel muliti tool and cutting disks
Sandpaper
Goggles
Spray-on adhesive
Scissors
Drill and bits
Some felt like material

and probably some other misc stuff I can't remember


Edited by ithoughti (24/05/2006 21:42)
_________________________
---------
//matt

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#281316 - 24/05/2006 22:07 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: ithoughti]
loren
carpal tunnel

Registered: 23/08/2000
Posts: 3826
Loc: SLC, UT, USA
Wow. Epoxy ain't cheap. More than I'd thought. Hrmm... dang I wish someone would just pump them out, I'd pay $200 for it I guess.
_________________________
|| loren ||

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#281317 - 25/05/2006 11:22 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: loren]
ithoughti
old hand

Registered: 17/07/2001
Posts: 721
Loc: Boston, MA USA
yeah, if you're only willing to pay $200 for it, then it's certainly not worth your time, unless you really enjoy the fabrication process. It takes quite a bit of time, especially if you want to make it look all pretty (not like mine!)

I'm sure you could search a bit and find a better deal on epoxy, I just went down to the local auto parts store and picked it up. Maybe some marine supply places would be cheaper.

Then there is the whole, living in an apartment thing. If you don't have your own driveway or garage, doing this at an apartment is not the easiest thing. I'm fortunate at my building that I have parking behind the building and no one goes into the boiler room in the basement, so I was able to to most of the project there. I don't know if you've ever worked with fiberglass/epoxy, but the stuff is really potent smelling. I made the mistake of doing a couple layers in the basement and you could smell it very well in my apartment on the 3rd floor. I did the rest outside.
_________________________
---------
//matt

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#281318 - 27/05/2006 13:48 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: loren]
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
Here is a link for someone doing this on a wagon: http://ydant.com/subwoofer_construction/
_________________________
Brad B.

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#281319 - 29/05/2006 16:44 Re: I've been making a fiberglass sub box for the spare tirewell in my [Re: ithoughti]
tanstaafl.
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/07/1999
Posts: 5539
Loc: Ajijic, Mexico
Here (attached, unless I can figure out how to put the image into the post itself now that the "Instant UBB Code" is broken) is the subwoofer installation that SWMBO has in her Legacy Outback. The industrial look is a necessity -- she hauls around heavy stuff (50-60 pounds) that slides and bangs around back there. This is a working car, not some showpiece.


Edit: image added -wfaulk

tanstaafl.


Attachments
282257-SubaruSubwoofer.jpg (11366 downloads)



Edited by wfaulk (30/05/2006 18:14)

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