custom sub enclosure?

[killerbassist]

I was wondering if anyone knew where I could get instructions on how to make my own custom sub enclosure for a 98 GA/GT trunk?

[matts]

what kind of instructions are you talking about? to build the box? what kind of material to use? how custom do you want it? do you want it to be one of a kind or just a regular box that fits in your trunk?

[killerbassist]

I want it to be like a one of a kind type deal, but I need instuctions on what to use and how to build it.

[nineteen88ga]

If your going to build it, chances are that there won't be another exactly like it(technically). But anyway...MDF Medium Density Fiberboard) is the choice material for most sub boxes, also wen using MDF don't rely on screws or nails to hold it together. Use wood glue on all of your seams then air nail(if you can) the peices together. The wood glue is actually going to do more holding then nails or screws. Fiberglass is often used for a nicer rounded/more custom look, but isn't something a rookie sould expect to conquer right off the bat.

If your looking for ideas, go to Sounddomain.com and look at some installs, ceck out some Car Audio Magazines and stuff or even stop by a local shop and see if they have any pics of installs they've done.

[LordZeal]

I have a custom ported box I built myself, but it sounds like you want the whole custom looking trunk and not just a box slid in the back. Most ppl build a box from MDF like was said, and then frame in around the box with ply wood covered in vinyl/fabric/painted, or make a wood frame and cover it with fiberglass for that really custom curved look. That can get kinda complex, depending on the tools you have available and how good you are at making things. Sounddomain is a good site to search for some custom stuff so you can decide how much you want to do etc. But I think fiberglass is involved in most custom trunk designs.

If all you want is how to build a custom sub box, well theres not set design cuz its custom and you need to build your sub box based on your sub and amp that is powering it. PPL here can help you design the box though if you let us know what sub you are using and how much power its getting. Personally I have a 3 cuft ported box in my trunk, but I cut out my back seat back part and made a new back to my seat so I can put my speaker box in through the back seat and not the trunk hatch since my box is so big. Give us some more feed back on what you are looking to do.

[killerbassist]

Thanks for the ideas on what types of materials to use. I don't want to just make a box, I want something that will fit snuggly in my trunk, something that looks like it was molded into my trunk on the assembly line. I am looking to put in either 2 10'' Solo Barics or 1 12" Solo Baric and a 1500 watt Rockford Fosgate amp. If anyone has ideas on design that would be helpful.

[matts]

I don't know if you've ever done any stereo installing before, but i'd be careful using that much power on 2-10s or 1-12. the odds of you blowing them are pretty good unless you wire them right. im using a bd1500 wired at 4 ohms putting a little over 700 watts to 1 18" and it makes the sub strain sometimes.

but as far as your box design goes. before i build one i ask myself if im going to add anything else in the near future(crossover, capacitor, another amp, etc.) before i start. if not you may only leave yourself enough room to mount one amp and need the space to mount another amp and a capacitor two months down the road. i don't use wood glue either, i use F26. (if the stuff is good enough to use on house construction it'll surely hold a sub box together.) if it were me i'd make put a speaker on each side of the trunk and have my amp rack in the center. i would make the amp rack have a slope to it and the subs kind of pointing in at an angle. that's the design i had in an old car of mine and loved the looks of it. i was using to square 15s and the same bd1500 i have now with a 1 farad capacitor, crossover, distribution block, and a punch 250 for my mids and highs and it was covered in a dark gray vinyl.

[LordZeal]

That's why I asked the rms rating on his sub matts, so we could figure out how much power he should put to it. My 12" has an rms rating of 1600 watts so the 1400 I'm putting to it won't hurt it at all. What you said about being careful not to fry a sub is deffinetly true, but theres a lot of high powered woofers out today so I was asking to see if he was going to use a model that could take that kinda power. The kicker solobarics can take a decent amout, not sure on the exact ratings, so it might be a good idea to double check them and make sure they can take that amp if he hasn't already.

As far as what you are looking for with desiging the sub enclosure for your trunk, its just like what I thought you were asking for. You can still go either way I mentioned, either cut out a plywood frame that your sub box fits into and then cover that frame to make it look stock and nice, or use fiberglass and mold it to what ever crazy design you want, then just paint it up.

[matts]

i know there a bunch of high powered subs on the market. and i know the solobarics will handle quit a bit. but they wont handle that much. the 12" L5 solobarics are rated at 300 watts rms on each voice coil and the L7 are rated 350-450 rms each voice coil, im not sure which. both will handle more, but not that much. most insane custom boxes in the trunk of a car are not practical. the average person uses their trunk and a person who spends the kind of time, money, and effort it takes to build a custom stereo doesn't want to carry bread, milk, and a bag of oreos in the back

[zero53121]

just so u know the solobarics L5 or L7 are pretty crappy imo. i heard both models and dont get me wrong they were loud but u couldnt tell one bass note from another bcuz they were so distorted. and that wasnt just one car that was from all the cars i heard them in. imo get a round sub they may not be as loud but they sound way better. thats just my opinion

[matts]

i do have a round sub in my girlfriends car. i've only heard a couple of installs where a square sounded like crap. and that was because of the crappy box they were using.......not the crappy sub.

[LordZeal]

Yes its pretty much excepted that the L7's sound like crap unless you put them in a big box. Some ppl have made them sound decent which just points out the real secret in car audio, the install is the most important part, not the equipment.

[matts]

thank you for agreeing with me. and yes most of them were in BIG boxes, but the one in my truck is built basically to kickers specs (i had to play with the dimensions a little to get it to fit) and it sounds good, although it's not the loudest i've ever owned