Fiberglassing Project for RE 6.5's

[cobra65427289 0]

I've decided to finally install my RE 6.5's after having them for about a year. I have been waiting to take some time off of work, but I haven't since last June so I took two whole weeks off .

I tried two different methods for laying the molds. I first tried using painters tape to tape off the whole area for the drivers kick, when removing the mold taking off the tape seemed to be a pain and took forever to get off, not to mention the fact that all the tack on the tape came off on my hands and is still there 4 hours later. For the passenger kick I did the Foil method where I just taped off the edges, this went much faster than laying down 30 strips of tape. Also when the molding was removed the foil came right off in one motion. From now on all fiberglass molds will be done with foil.

Anyways both driver and passenger molds are done, tomorrow I will be completing the enclosures (more glassing, baffles, fleece, bondo hair, and regular boddy filling, we'll see if I have time to primer/paint).

Check back tomorrow, should have some pics up by 10:00 am central.

Edited June 22, 2006 by cobra65427289

[///M5 2,833]

Next time cover that foil in vaseline, it will be even easier. Of course, you could use something weird like Vicks Vapo Rub too, but just beware what else you substitute VapoRub for Vaseline for.

[JimJ 11]

but just beware what else you substitute VapoRub for Vaseline for.

*cringes*

[///M5 2,833]

but just beware what else you substitute VapoRub for Vaseline for.

*cringes*

It won't hurt you....

[cobra65427289 0]

but just beware what else you substitute VapoRub for Vaseline for.

*cringes*

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It won't hurt you....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Neither will Bengay

Anyways here are the molds

Traced out

Test Fitting

Thats it for now, I'm going back to the garage.

[cobra65427289 0]

baffles and molds cut/trimmed

baffles mounted, ready for fleece

I'm getting there!

[cobra65427289 0]

baffles fleeced and resined.

Almost ready for another coat of resin. YAY!

Oh, that dry looking fleece is just excess hanging around the edges, I figured it would be easier to trim when everything was all dry, then i could just whack it with the scissors and get all the close chit with my dremel.

This is also my first fiberglass experience. woohoo!

Edited June 21, 2006 by cobra65427289

[cobra65427289 0]

Dried, Trimmed, and time for a test fit.

Tomorrow I start body filling, I hope I have time to primer and paint.

[Acidburn 10]

looks very nice for your first time

keep up the good work and keep those pics coming

[///M5 2,833]

Looks great, especially for your first. If you haven't, make sure you reinforce the fleece a bit those RE's will make it flex otherwise.

[cobra65427289 0]

Thanks for the compliments guys.

I deffinitely plan on glassing the inner walls and bottom of the kicks some more, I've gone through almost a gallon of resin on these things. They should be strong as hell.

So far I haven't even motivated myself to get in the shower this morning. For some reason I'm just not productive if I don't shower. Oh well, maybe after I get burned out on the net. probably in the next 15 minutes.

Keep and eye out for more pics, bondo hair, and body filler today. I hope to get some painting done too.

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

looks great, keep the pix coming they are always fun

[///M5 2,833]

To make it easier on yourself and use a bit less resin, try mopping the resin onto the mat on a piece of cardboard and then transferring it to the kicks. Push it down with a wet brush and do the next piece. It is the mat that is strong not the resin, the resin is just heavy. Those are going to be sweet!

[cobra65427289 0]

Its hard not to use alot of resin when you use alot of glass, Just the bottom is about 3 layers of fiberglass cloth. And the fleece soaked up a ton of resin.

anyways more pics

body filler applied to this one

bondo hair applied to a wrinkle I just could not get streched out.

More to come.

Edited June 22, 2006 by cobra65427289

[///M5 2,833]

Sand the bondo before it gets too hard, believe me otherwise you really won't like doing it.

[cobra65427289 0]

I just whacked it with the dremel, to get really close I did it by hand, wasn't all that bad. I've worked with bondo many times so this step was rellatively easy.

more pics

This is the first kick sanded down

First kick primed

Bondo hair on second kick sanded

Second kick with body filler

There are a few small imperfections one the first kick that are a little noticeable since it is semi-glossy from the primer, however, I am not worried about them as the kicks are to be painted flat black to match some of the interior trim of the car, who knows, I might have to go pick up some automotive carpet somewhere and wrap em.

Edited June 22, 2006 by cobra65427289

[cobra65427289 0]

things are moving along

more pics

second kick is ready to be primed

both kicks primed

both kicks painted

thats it for now, I'm not really that happy with the little imperfections that showed up. Oh well, I think they look ok atleast, and they are functional. There is always carpet as an option. Hopefully I will have them in the car wangin tomorrow.

[cobra65427289 0]

Finally they are installed, and they sound awesome. Before even with the crossover set on my alpine I couldn't go past 18 without the bass distorting my speakers. I removed the rear speakers, and disconnected the fronts. I would have removed the fronts as well but the grill was glued to the door panel, and the door panel was glued to the door. Woot for chevy malibus which are so easy to work with

Anyways more pics.

Stuff going in.

Blown rear speaker, somehow (geeee, I dunno) the voice coil severed completely about 3/4 through it. It sounded like it was slapping the stuck piece of coil that had been severed.

Passenger kickpanel

Driver kickpanel

The kicks really do sound great. Clean and crisp midbass, the tweeters aren't the best I've heard but are far from the worst. I'm happy with the soundstage, It sounds pretty cool. I can only expect better results when I fiddle around with time correction a little.

[CBFryman 2]

RE tweets are harsh..

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

nice work