Car Stereo install takes alot more time than I ever expected

dgoodhue · Post by **dgoodhue** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 4:01 pm

I don't know how some of you guy do it or make it look so easy. I have to give the self installers credit.

I have been working on a couple of projects.

-On my daily driver stereo install. I put 5 1/4 in the door, had to make custom MDF mounts for them, deadend the doors, ran all the wiring, mount the amps (just under the seat nothing fancy). Custom Fiberglass sub that fits in to the side corner of the trunk (nothing fancy though)

-On my truck I have done a new sub enclosure with some fiberglass to reduce the mounting depth and two new door pods.

I have been work on it a 1 to 1 1/2 approx 3 times week. I have been working on it for 2 1/2 months now

The fiberglass is kicking my butt. I just have to bondo/sand the daily sub enclosure and carpet it and finish my door pods. The door pods probably still need 6 more days of work. I will post my modest picture once I finish everything.

Some of it has been a leaning curve, I had only once worked with fiberglass before and I just bought a Router. Overall almost everything has ended up exactly the way I wanted them to look so atleast that is. I just expect to have this done by the end of May...

Post by **VW337** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 4:32 pm

It is definitely a learning process, keep it up. Good to hear it's near completion.

Post by **Bfowler** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:01 pm

i have been at mine for well over a year (other projects and a couple revisions to my own...but still)

glad to hear its coming up roses.

you will be more satisfied in the end when its all done, and done your way

Post by **bdubs767** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:08 pm

ha mine....I wish I had time.

I have 4- 15s, 2- 12s sitting in my room collecting dust but none in my car

rlockwood · Post by **rlockwood** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:47 pm

I think its safe to say that most folks have more plans for systems than time for systems.

Post by **AVICJR** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:59 pm

rlockwood wrote:I think its safe to say that most folks have more plans for systems than time for systems.

Ditto! I don't know how many changes I've made in planning my system. I'm waiting right now for another amp that I purchased b/c I've changed plans yet again. I'm sitting on almost every Xenon amp made with no home or plans to install anymore.

Post by **mr tibbs** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 6:20 pm

Uggg, all of this talk about installs, I'm not looking forward to doing mine. But at the same time I'm sooooo excited to get it done. Damn, what a delima!!

Post by **fuzzysnuggleduck** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:02 am

I haven't done a drop of fiber glass and I feel the same way.

Until I hurt my poor M100, I had most of my system "setup" but in this totally half assed way. Running too much power wire, no distro blocks, daisy chaining remote and power wires to accessories... the works. Now I'm back to a pretty basic install. However, I'm going to use the time needed to fix my amp to order and install the proper power infrastructure hardware. I already acquired a TiDD10 so it's coming together... but so much time to do it right.

Basically I'm re-doing everything half assed and getting right.

Meh, even without fabrication, this is a time consuming hobby.

brenzbmr@sb · Post by **brenzbmr@sb** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:31 am

shit aint as easy as some think...........

im a true old schooler..

dgoodhue · Post by **dgoodhue** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:55 am

I guess what has surprised me is that its not like this is my first stereo install. I have done 4 other complete pull the interior vehicle install plus a few 'teenager' installs on my first 2 cars (amp/sub) and friends cars.

timisu87 · Post by **timisu87** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 6:54 am

I feel the same way, my 5.25 to 6.5 upgrade is going to take up the whole weekend, the weather has been too hot to work.

Post by **Wakeup** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:34 pm

Ugh ya...I am in no way experienced in car audio installs. Speakers and doing the "Teenager" installs, amp and sub like dave said. A bit of wiring, and such. but man....nothing near what alot of you guys do. I dont have the time and money to learn. I would love to tho. It looks like fun sometimes!

vin78 · Post by **vin78** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:31 pm

I wished I had the the time. I boats loads of stuff waiting to be installed, o time

I got the M50 BTW, thanks!

gentlejax2 · Post by **gentlejax2** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 11:01 am

right there with you....havnt had to do a clean install in almost 2yrs, that is the #1 reason for all the buy and selling of amps and decks with me.....never got around to installing 90% of the amps I have bought...

I worked on it all last weekend and lo and behold I got to re-do most of it this weekend...

thankfully the wife wont be home to walk outside every 30 minutes to ask if I am done then go back in miffed cause I am not doing something she wants me to do...

but yeah....seems pretty simple in head but there is always problems...easiest thing is the head units .....they are simple ...but all the wires and mounting and placing is a big pain..

Right now I am 100% certain my good quality stuff sounds like sheet because of bad install...

thats why round 2 begins tommorrow....

Post by **stipud** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 11:32 am

That's why I've stopped making plans for upgrading my car. I haven't deadened it yet.... no fibreglass, but it all fits together really nicely now. I used to get some pretty grandiose plans and ended up with an impossible pile of equipment. So I sold 90% of my gear off, and now I'm twice as happy with a fully "finished" install.

I may deaden my doors one day but the chances of me modifying the rest of my system now are slim.

It took a few months worth of random work for a friend and I to get happy with one fibreglass dash piece. Last I heard he just finished painting it, so I may have some install pictures when I get back from europe. I have some half way pictures here. Unfortunately he cut the dash further after I moulded it, so it's a bit floppy and has a few gaps to fix.