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lithium

Buick Century - active 3way + sub w/ nexus 7

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This is pretty much a reinstall of my previous build with a few changes. Namely the nexus 7 tablet install. 

 

A parts list is probably the best place to start. 

 

Speakers

  • dayton nd20 (A pillars, probably)
  • tang band w4 1337 (kick panels)
  • peerless sls 8" (IB doors, might build enclosures if rattles can not be controlled)
  • mach 5 mj18 8ohm (IB ski pass)

Amps

  • tweeter amp - kicker 100.2
  • mid amp - us acoustics usx 2080
  • midbass amp - 2x kicker 250.2
  • sub amp - cadence zrs2002

processing 

  • 2x minidps 2x4 

Tablet and related hardware

  • nexus 7 (1st gen)
  • otg cable (usb and charge)
  • 4 port usb hub
  • joycon exr steering wheel interface

Sound deadening

  • everything is from SDS. I'll list materials as I use them and give an approximate list here. 
  • 50 tiles
  • ~30 sq ft of ccf
  • ~18 sq ft of mlv
  • 1 roll butyl rope

Stuff I might have to buy

  • dac
  • line driver

I'll skip the unimportant bits like wiring. I use the cheap stuff anyways. 

 

 

 

Here is my plan for installing everything. 

  1. sound deaden trunk/rear deck
  2. build baffle (IB) for sub
  3. build amp rack
  4. run all the wiring
  5. sound deaden everything else
  6. install midbass
  7. test aiming for the mid and tweeters
  8. fg A pillars
  9. fg kick panels
  10. install nexus 7
  11. tune 
  12. tune
  13. tune

 

I think thats pretty much it. Constructive criticism is welcome. 

 

warning: All pictures will be taken with a potato. I'll grab a decent camera for final pics. 

Edited by lithium

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Pic of the car. white walls sure are sexy, right? haha

photobucket-26839-1391200489299_zps27894

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Trunk deadening pics. I went a little overboard because i had some extra tiles. 

 

IMG_20140509_143744_090_zps9348ce49.jpg

 

IMG_20140509_143738_341_zpse3db2181.jpg

 

I was going to remove the factory deadening (started to remove some) but decided to leave it. Deadening the trunk is not super important for a IB install. 
IMG_20140509_143732_472_zpsb0de2a85.jpg

 

i wasted some tiles by placing them over non-flat sections of metal. 
IMG_20140509_143650_724_zps67b4b3b8.jpg

 

IMG_20140509_143645_725_zps9503e080.jpg
 

IMG_20140509_143643_074_zpsf3138537.jpg

 

 

 

So for the rear deck I wanted to try sealing some of the small holes with duct seal. Ended up using about 6 pounds of the stuff. You will also see some spray foam used in a few places. 

 

I also used some mdf to seal the rear speaker holes. Dont worry I found some shorter screws, only stabbed myself a few times. Butyl rope was used between the mdf and metal to create a good seal. 

IMG_20140509_143700_841_zps18064205.jpg
IMG_20140509_143704_880_zps047ed376.jpg

 

I have mlv from my previous car which I tried to repurpose in various places. For example, I needed to seal a hole in the rear deck but couldn't use a 3/4" thick piece of mdf. mlv and amazing goop did the job just fine. 

IMG_20140509_143718_801_zpsb03d6ca7.jpg

 

 

To complete the rear deck I used mlv and ccf to create a barrier. A layer of 1/4" ccf was laid down to decouple the mlv from the rear deck. MLV was laid down on top and all seams were sealed with contact cement and mlv. I used a bunch of scrap mlv to seal the seam in the middle. 

 

IMG_20140510_125323_401_zps262909a5.jpg

IMG_20140510_125328_445_zps5401e0e1.jpg

 

The rest of the mlv that I order was suppose to be used to deaden the front doors. So I used the old scraps from my previous install here to finish the barrier. Looks like shit but functions just fine. In retrospect, I should've ordered enough to get the job done. Piecing together scraps was a pain in the ass. 

 

IMG_20140510_191909_414_zps58a1375b.jpg

IMG_20140510_191935_315_zpsfc0b8c53.jpg

IMG_20140510_191905_208_zps7c28ff91.jpg

IMG_20140510_191918_238_zpseba9d317.jpg

 

I used more duct seal around any holes in the barrier. 

IMG_20140510_191932_407_zpsda05fabd.jpg

Edited by lithium

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I started on the subwoofer baffle but didn't take any pictures yet. I have some CAD drawing and picture of my previous install so i'll post those for now. 

 

My previous car was an olds intrigue and both cars are gm w bodies so the trunk is essentially identical. However, i decided to change my previous amp rack and subwoofer baffle design completely.

 

3 of the amps and the processors were installed under the false floor and two more are mounted under the rear deck.
0221101730a-1.jpg

 

This time around I want everything under the false floor. The design on the left is my current plan. The design on the right is similar to my previous build. 

MLfFTFm.png

The left design should give me ~6 extra inches in length for the amp rack. The difficulty i'm having is sealing the baffle to the rear deck/ski pass. FG and spray foam might be nessary. 

 

its worth noting that i'm retaining access to the spare.

Edited by lithium

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Looks pretty cool.

Looking forward to seeing more.

J

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^^^Me too ... Can't ship it though

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Dick in a box[/quote

Now the cats out the bag

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lol thanks guys. 

quick update. 

built the baffle for the mj 18. It might look a bit strange but the design makes more sense when you see it installed. 

 

I was going to wait until after I upholstered before posting so you wouldn't see bad cuts. :(

 

IMG_20140519_181912_701_zpsab4375ca.jpg

 

I decided to get fancy with some rivnut to secure the baffle.. what a giant pain. 

 

I'll post the pictures of the baffle upholstered and installed tomorrow. 

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The carpet I ordered from partsexpress is a tad dark. anyone have experience dyeing carpet? I'm thinking about trying it if the process is relatively painless. 

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Looking good, wish I could hear it when it's all finished.

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nice job so far!

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more bad camera work. 
 

test fit

IMG_20140522_194958_208_zps77a0edc3.jpg

 

IMG_20140522_195011_519_zpsaf0c50f9.jpg

 

Went ahead and installed it after upholstering with carpet. Not too happy that the carpet is darker than factory. oh well its a freakin buick.

 

IMG_20140522_224627_360_zpsc794ecdd.jpg

 

The gray sticking out along the bottom is foam weather stripping. Probably should have used black. I think I'm going to regret my stapling job sad.png.

Edited by lithium

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Im a little turned on right now..

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small update before the amp/false floor build starts tomorrow. some solid photography here :/

sub installed, not happy with my carpet choice :(, I'm also considering some kind of grill for the sub. I leave the rear seats down so I may need to find a way to hide the sub. 
IMG_20140524_190321_350_zps166f27ba.jpg

 

from behind. yes the top bolt is not installed correctly. It's just plugging the hole.

IMG_20140524_164445_705_zps57b71b8d.jpg

IMG_20140524_164431_135_zpsf3e0c38a.jpg

 

This 2x4 is will anchor the false floor and be used as the hinge point for the amp rack. rivnut and machine screws secure it to the floor at 6 points. 

IMG_20140524_203044_138_zpsc9c9bbe5.jpg

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Looking good!

 

Miss that company.

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too many amps. should be finished with wiring and installed tomorrow. I'll have to get more mdf/plywood to finish the false floor. 

IMG_20140525_161437_554_zps5e752268.jpg

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let me know when they invent wireless amps. 

 

IMG_20140526_225204_304_zps8109505e.jpg

 

the amp rack will be attached via hinges the 2x4 secured to the trunk floor. This way i'll retain access to the spare. A carpeted floor and false wall will hide the amps and subwoofer. 

 

IMG_20140526_211852_536_zps6430f294.jpg

 

minidsp, minidc, relay, some switches, and distro blocks. 

IMG_20140526_211814_575_zps674119a4.jpg

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Looks like too much going on that amp rack for me, props to you. :fing34:

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I'm trying not to spend a fortune just reinstalling this system so i skipped out on color coding the wire and all that jazz. All i can say is, it looks more tidy in person. 

 

I'm surprised I got this in the trunk on my own. 
IMG_20140528_190619_121_zpsae33f7eb.jpg
 

retained access to the spare tire 

IMG_20140528_190659_311_zpsa0d44915.jpg

 

deadening the roof tomorrow. 

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nice! hide the wires ... lol 

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nice! hide the wires ... lol 

ya a false floor will be covering the amps. a false wall will hide the sub. 

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Nice collection of amps!

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