Awesome write up. Luckily my amp has built in speaker line inputs so I didn't have to use the RCA adapter. I'm still trying to figure out how my mount my sub box.
Thanks. I'm still havn't mounted mine permantely yet. It is currently resting upside down up on the incline so I still have a usable trunk. If I get on it too hard, it does shift on me a bit though.
_____________________________
07 Black GT - Manual 35% Tint, GT500 rear spoiler, 3dCarbon Front Lip Corsa Crew Member
Posts: 601
Joined: 3/22/2006 From: Detroit Status: offline
Problem with my box is it's only around 9 inches deep so it can topple over pretty easily. Here are some pics of what I have finished so far.
I plan on building a box for the passenger side also. I did it this way because I still want to be able to utilize the fold down rear seats.
_____________________________
2005 GT Auto SLP Crew Member GT500 Splash Gaurds & Front Lip JCT II CAI & Xcal 2 with Brenspeed tunes - IF YOU OWN A STANG YOU MUST DO THIS MOD!!!!!!!!!
Awesome writeup Aziraphale, thanks! I am planning on transferring the system from my old car to the stang, and your write up will take out a lot of the guess work for me! I have the Ford dealer repair manual DVD that I was initially planning on using, but that DVD is really annoying to use, and I like all the pictures you provided!
I was only going to suggest one minor alteration to your method: Insted of cutting the "nipple" on the grommet, I normally just drill/poke a hole in it, and then push the wire through. That way, it's pretty much air/water tight without even having to use tape or other method of sealant. Either way works, I suppose.
Bmr4life, does that upside down amp mount work well for you?
In all the amp manuals I've ever read, it is always suggested not to mount the amp upside down because it can't adequately cool itself (you know, the whole hot air rising thing).
Can you run 2 gauge power wire thru the grommet in the firewall?
Yup, shouldn't be a problem. The gromet is pretty flexible rubber so you should be able to cram a 2 gauge power through there.
quote:
ORIGINAL: 8URGTO
kick bu** artical man!!!! I am getting ready to do the same ..... thanks!!!!
Thanks, it is worth it if it helps someone else!
quote:
ORIGINAL: nkx1
Awesome writeup Aziraphale, thanks! I am planning on transferring the system from my old car to the stang, and your write up will take out a lot of the guess work for me! I have the Ford dealer repair manual DVD that I was initially planning on using, but that DVD is really annoying to use, and I like all the pictures you provided!
I was only going to suggest one minor alteration to your method: Insted of cutting the "nipple" on the grommet, I normally just drill/poke a hole in it, and then push the wire through. That way, it's pretty much air/water tight without even having to use tape or other method of sealant. Either way works, I suppose.
That's a good idea. Usually I do that too but the nipple was just there and looked like the correct size so I just sliced it off. If I were doing it again, I'd probably poke it through.
quote:
ORIGINAL: nkx1
Bmr4life, does that upside down amp mount work well for you?
In all the amp manuals I've ever read, it is always suggested not to mount the amp upside down because it can't adequately cool itself (you know, the whole hot air rising thing).
I gotta agree with the amp manuals here and say that it isn't good to mount them upside down like that. The heat will just radiate back up into the amp rather than disappating like it is supposed to. While the amp may work fine for now, it may have a shortened life span or something.
_____________________________
07 Black GT - Manual 35% Tint, GT500 rear spoiler, 3dCarbon Front Lip Corsa Crew Member
Nevermind. I just didn't look close enough to see that it still goes thru the fender. So the wire should be ran thru the grommet then into the fender then thru another grommet to the engine battery right?
< Message edited by luckydawg003 -- 10/5/2007 10:14:40 AM >
_____________________________
07 Black GT manual 3.55 gears C&L intake Evo tune MGW short shifter 14' shorty antenna 5% Limo Tinted windows, front turn signals, rear side markers
I took my grommet loose to run a power wire up to my battery for my alarm main power wire. My grommet goes right into the engine bay instead of the side fender. Maybe they changed it for the 07's.
Weird ... I got nothing.
And mine's an 07 so I don't think it's that. You sure you're talking about the same gromet?
_____________________________
07 Black GT - Manual 35% Tint, GT500 rear spoiler, 3dCarbon Front Lip Corsa Crew Member
Posts: 68
Joined: 5/28/2007 From: long island, NY Status: offline
as an update to my post on the first page, there is a grommet near the steering colum, i was able to snake a 4awg wire through there without too much difficulty, this way avoiding shorts, and fires by doing the wheel well method. it was very hard to see where it came into the engine bay as there was that metal "hump" there coviering it, but after i stuffed enough wire through it, i saw it, and was able to slip a flathead screwdriver in it, pull a loop out, and i pulled out the rest, avoiding the fenderwell.
all i did was poke a hole using a jewlers screwdriver and scissors, and forced the wire through, which made the hole bigger to fit the wire. for the hell of it, i also coated the wire in silicone when the last little bit of it went through, so its a nice water-tight seal.
thought it might be of use.
< Message edited by lundis -- 2/8/2008 9:25:49 PM >
At the end of your write up you mentioned you haven't found a way to get around the remote wire, here's an easy way to do it: cut a piece of 18g wire about 3" long. Strip both ends and connect one side to your remote terminal and the other to your 12v power terminal. Only problem I see with this is 12v may be too much and the amp is always on. I never do it like this as I've always had aftermarket head units with remote wires, but I've seen it done and it works. Don't know how it affects battery life if at all.
BTW great write up and clean install. I like the RCA's you used they look like they are high quality. Good RCA's are one of the most important and overlooked things when installing an amp, if you don't have a good signal, your junk won't sound good no matter how expensive it is. ALWAYS use RCA's that are TWISTED.
At the end of your write up you mentioned you haven't found a way to get around the remote wire, here's an easy way to do it: cut a piece of 18g wire about 3" long. Strip both ends and connect one side to your remote terminal and the other to your 12v power terminal. Only problem I see with this is 12v may be too much and the amp is always on. I never do it like this as I've always had aftermarket head units with remote wires, but I've seen it done and it works. Don't know how it affects battery life if at all.
BTW great write up and clean install. I like the RCA's you used they look like they are high quality. Good RCA's are one of the most important and overlooked things when installing an amp, if you don't have a good signal, your junk won't sound good no matter how expensive it is. ALWAYS use RCA's that are TWISTED.
Wouldn't that have the amp always on though? It's basically just attaching it directly to the battery if I'm understanding you correctly.
The way I have it, it at least goes off when the car is turned off as it is a switched power.
_____________________________
07 Black GT - Manual 35% Tint, GT500 rear spoiler, 3dCarbon Front Lip Corsa Crew Member
yeah Az thats exactly what will happen, but its just a workaround for people that don't want to run the remote wire or don't want to find the wire to tap into. Like I said I never do it cause I don't want the amp on all the time but I have seen buddies of mine do it. I always run the remote wire with the RCA's. Actually the ones I'm using now have the remote wire inside the insulation of the RCA's.
Edit: to avoid confusion when I said connect the remote wire to the 12v terminal I meant the terminal on the amp. Just stick the wire in with your power wire and the other end into the remote terminal.