Custom amp rack finished
 

I wasn't sure what everyone does for amp installations, so I convinced my friend to help me make an amp rack over Christmas. I decided to build an MDF rack to fit under the strut bar and mount the amp towards the front. That way the amp wouldn't be seen from the rear or the front (given that the divider was in place). I installed some Infinity Perfect 6.1 components for the fronts and ran all the wires to the doors and to the hatch area. Man its nice having the battery behind the driver's seat! I had to leave my parents before I finished the amp rack itself. I didn't have adequate tools, so I was stuck sanding the sides down with a Dremel trying to make it fit. Here at my apartment, I have no powertools and no place to work, so my amp was just sitting in my car unmounted with the amp rack unfinished as well. Finally got it trimmed down and carpetted by a local stereo shop, then got everything mounted on it and installed the rack.

My goal with this install was to keep it as non-permanent as possible. Them most permanent things were the mounting holes in the removable side panels below the strut bar and the small hole in the carpet for the wires. Both are relatively easy to replace, so it turned out pretty decent in that respect. Only thing I need to do now is get the metal L-brackets painted black to match the carpet. They used the black carpet, which doesn't exactly match, but its close enough that it doesn't look to bad. There's room for my sub amp when I get some subs as well. When I took the pics, I had just been pressing on the amp side trying to connect the wires, so it wasn't in place, making the panels I mounted it to not sit flush. Once I moved it back into place they sit perfectly. As far as the carpet not sitting right, it doesn't sit right anywhere in the trunk, so there wasn't much I could do about that....:D

What do you guys think? Any suggestions as to what I should do for a sub box?

Blake

http://www.9kaccessories.com/images/...k/amprack1.jpg

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http://www.9kaccessories.com/images/...k/amprack3.jpg

http://www.9kaccessories.com/images/...k/amprack4.jpg

http://www.9kaccessories.com/images/...k/amprack5.jpg

http://www.9kaccessories.com/images/...k/amprack6.jpg

http://www.9kaccessories.com/images/...k/amprack7.jpg

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Looks good. where is the syb mounted???

Thats the amp for the front speakers. The sub amp isn't there yet, and I still haven't decided on what I'm going to do about a sub...

Blake

Very nice, it keeps that stock look, and actually adds a bit of hidden storage space. Well done.

The piece that the amp is actually mounted to, is that just carpet? I assume it's not, but you made no mention of what it is.

I did mention it...:D

Its MDF, medium density fiberboard...Thats what they make most sub boxes and amp racks out of.

Blake

I c an do that for yours jeff, I need you back here though

that is a sweet setup! i never thought of putting amps right there. i don't know if i would have that much room in my fb though. what are your rear speakers running off of? no amp? mtx makes some good 4 channel amps. also, what kind of rca's are you using? looks like you could use something better. good rca's make a huge difference. good luck with the sub amp amp sub's.

oh yeah, its also best to run your speaker wire a different route then your power cables. sometimes the power next to your speaker/rca wires can cause a little noise.

I've been messing around with car audio for about five years now...:D

The speaker cables are pretty cheap, but over Christmas, when I did this, I didn't have much money. The speaker wires next to the power cable are fine. The battery is right there behind the driver seat in the bin, and the speaker cable hs to follow it for about a foot. The one that goes to the right speaker cuts across under the carpet when it goes out of sight. The rears are some cheap Kenwood three way speakers, and aren't worth putting them on the amp. Although I COULD run them in parallel, and MIGHT do that, but I'll probably wait till I get some more 6.5" components.

Blake

Looks nice... my only concern would be the heat generated and having the amps slightly enclosed like that. Although it's not totally sealed I imagine on hot days you might notice a problem. If not though then cool. Nice setup

So far I've checked a couple of times, and the heat, if any, I think flows out the top pretty well. Decent circulation caused by the heating itself.

Blake

Very cool idea then I may have to steal that from you. I may just add a muffin fan or two to insure air circulation.
-Nic

Yeah, I've been trying to figure out a way to add a fan in there and actually get good circulation. I'll take a pic or two of it now. I put my sub amp on there with a grounding block, etc. Looks pretty nice.

Blake

That series of MTX Thunder amp relies on the mass of the heatsink to provide cooling. Airflow doesn't hurt but the amp was designed assuming no airflow. If the amp has not gone into thermal protection, then I wouldn't worry about a fan.

I had it under the front seat of my S2000, and after about an hour and a half it would go into thermal protection. I haven't been on a long trip since they were in the RX7, so I haven't really gotten to test it.

Blake

looks like ass and the cheap quality amp doesnt help either