I'm doing a modest audio upgrade and was just wondering if I can safely mount my amps on the underside of the storage compartment lids on an '86 GXL? I think they would need some ventilation but other than that they'd be hidden and "locked". The amps are Alpines and are only a few inches tall so I could still use the compartments for non-flammables. Anybody else do anything like this?

 

I would pull the carpet out of the compartmet. if you dont, i would not use them, the amps need air to cool.

 

depending on how much room you have with the box, the ultimate trick action would be to mod the hinge on the door so you can open to all the way, flat on the floor, and keep the amps up when in use, close the lid when you park

 

Thanks for the response and the ideas. I'll probably "float" the amps on aluminum rails so that they get air under them and add a couple of quiet muffin fans for air circulation. The 180* flip lid is a great idea and I will probably do that too(great for any maintenance or fine tuning). I doubt that it will be worth pics, but I'll post results. THANKS!!!

 

please do let us know.. i was also thinking about putting my two amps behind the seats.. you know.. like not mounted ON the back of the seats, but on the wall.

 

Thats what I did. I fabbed up brakets to the bend back there. Then mounted the amps. Its a great spot. The wiring is convenient, and they are out of the way of prying eyes.

 

Hey Sir Rupert, a quick look at your pics and I realized that the shock towers are in the way of the 180* fold down trick. Hmmmmm, there still might be a way to do it with some creative hinge work. I'll continue to work it out and let you know.
Sunshine, your post came in right before mine. Got pics?

 

damn, you're right about the shock towers..

pics would be GREAT sunshine.

 

why not just put the amps upright in the bins? Fab up some mounting brackets, remove the carpet, and have then inside.....that way you could put the cooling fans into the lids. You obviously aren't planning to use the bins for storage anyway while the amps are in them cuz of the heat.....and this way you could still keep them out of sight.

I have the satellite radio installed in my FC and I used the space behind the pass. seat(the wall there) to mount the receiver for it. It is a great place for it--fits right in easily, and no one can see it in there, but an amp would have other troubles there--amps are taller than the receiver(only about 1" tall), and they need more air circulation. I can have the seat reclined to touching with no problems. But an amp will burn out if it can't get cooling air. Keep this in mind. I am going to seal up my bins and use them for sub enclosures like someone else on here did recently, and I am still looking at where to put the amp....possibly I will do up something custom near the power antenna....in that side space behind the shock tower. I can fab up a fiberglass piece that will allow me to hide the amp in there, carpet it to match, and build in a cooling fan. It is on the very long list of things I wanna do to my car haha

 

I have an FD, but I put my 4-ch amp and XM receiver in the bin behind the drivers seat. I had to remove the bins from the car, and cut the "bucket" portion of the bin out. Then I put the bins back in and mounted the hardware directly to cars chassis. I guess technically there is no bin behind the driver, but the lid still closes so it looks stock. Check out pictures at http://photos.yahoo.com/roboto7

 

so i got the amps mounted behind the seats... i have a 4-ch. and a mono.... BOTH behind the drivers seat. they were small enough to fit together.. but not too close. and believe me when i tell you. NOBODY WOULD EVEN SUSPECT IT'S THERE.

i will post pics by early-mid december.

 

In my 1g we are going to mount the amps on platforms under the bin covers. Custom Plexi covers will be made, with holes cut out for ventilation. The amps will be lit with neon, and placed on top of white formica.

theres an idea for you guys

 

I mounted my amps inside the boxes, I never get any problem out of them, There seems to be enough room for them to breath well. Only thing i wouldn't advise is to put anything on top of the amps... may start a fire :P