18psi

iTrader: (76)

lookin GOOD

Trent

iTrader: (11)

Nice build. Making me not able to wait until this weekend to FINALLY start work on mine again.

scfreshy

iTrader: (2)

That Kenwood deck is the ****!
You're making me damn jealous!

Like stated earlier...the momo's sound great. You really can't go wrong for the price either.

Keep the updates coming!

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

Thanks guys!! I'm stoked for the speakers to get here any day now.

Today I started on the rear deck to prep for the subwoofer install. I plan on using styrofoam to block the larger holes (into the trunk and rollbar holes), then fill the gaps and edges with spray foam. I'm thinkin Kicker CompVR subs will fit the bill. Now I just need to figure out what the difference is between 2-ohm and 4-ohm. As well as if I need two amps to power the subs and components, or if one will work.

I have the 36sqft box of Dynamat extreme on the way and I'm going to hit the rear deck inside and out, behind the seats, finish the doors, and really anywhere else the box gets me. The trunk is already full of Dynamat and has spray rubber on top of that. Hopefully all this work will pay off! (**** the extra weight)

Everything you see below I took out of the miata this morning. Everything was covered except the drivers seat. Now everything is organized by electrical, engine bay, bodywork, interior, cleaning supplies, and stuff I no longer need. Now I wont lose 20 minutes every time I go looking for a part or tool.

Vash-

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

The internet is godly. The Kenwood deck was not playing DVDs seeing I skipped the parking brake wire, thinking **** that. But after some reading on some forums I learned that all I had to do was give a constant ground to the wire to have it play all the time. I remember hearing this before, makes sense. I cant imagine people being told by the installer "sorry, only plays dvds in park" and being cool with that.

So needless to say I was able to check out the screens quality. I give it a 10 out of 10. I didn't know what to expect, but it was waayyy better than I had imagined. I tested it with a Blue planet DVD so I could really see what it had to offer. This unit is awesome, I cant wait to use it daily. Only issue is the user interface is horrid. The video on Crutchfield stated just that in their writeup, but I figured it couldn't be THAT bad. Wow.....you need the user manual to ******* turn it on! I'm sure with time it gets better, but overall it gets a 8/10 from me.

I spent about 2 hours on wires today. Taking out the stock AM/FM antenna, cleaning up the LC-1 wires and routing them under the center console. I also hacked the 15ft wire off the Kenwood for the rear view camera....seeing that's obviously not needed in a car the size of a toy. I'm going to start the mounting of the actual unit itself tomorrow. I have a plan.....but its certainly not going to be a easy job.

I need a poll for the subs......I'm having a super hard time deciding and I was hoping to order them last week. I don't have the time to go out and preview them, and online reviews are up and down for every sub in my price range. Not looking to fork over $200-$300 a sub....no ******* way.

Vash-

Trent

iTrader: (11)

a buddy of mine used to have that same Kenwood deck in his tC. Well, he did until someone else decided they wanted it and broke into his car. :(

Sorry, I'm not much help with audio advice. hell, my car doesn't even have a radio.

KPLAFIN

iTrader: (1)

Get yourself ONE nice JL sub and call it a day. I have ONE 10" JLW3 in my explorer with an alpine amp going to it, i think it's 400 watts or something like that..anyway i can turn the thing up loud enough to shake the entire house when im parked in the garage.

JL has everything from 6.5" subs all the way to 13.5" subs so you'll be able to find something that will fit your plans. Just make sure to get an amp that is matched well, the chat thing on crutchfields website puts you in touch with someone who knows what the hell they are talking about and they can help you pick a good sub/amp combo if you aren't sure about what you are doing.

Good call on using Crutchfield by the way, they are run out of the city I live in and their retail store is ******* awesome.

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

Some NC driver at m.net will buy that... but you'll never be JDM now.

kenzo42

iTrader: (6)

I think Image Dynamics is the ****. However, it really depends on what you're going after? Accurate reproduction of music or house shaking bass? I like ID because they are one of the most, if not the most, musical accurate subs you'll ever hear.

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

I'm hoping that mine wont get jacked. My car sits at our shop from 6am-7/8pm, and there's always something goin on, so there's always people around. I'm just worried about random stops here and there and one day going out of the store and seeing it gone.

I was looking at JL. I have heard alot of positive feedback on them, but mainly on the more expensive models. I am going for 2 subs behind the rear deck, Hakuna sub install. And Crutchfield is great for info, specs, etc......but I only bought the IPOD cable, double din surround, and speaker baffles from them. I got my Kenwood for $800 cheaper than what Crutchfield sells it for!

lol......maybe I'll list it in the classifieds as a JDM rearview camera cable. $20.

No shaking bass here. I am looking for clean, tight hitting bass. "Yo necca" doesn't flow from my mouth, so no rap music here. When I get home from work I'm gonna check out the ID subs your talkin about.

Vash-

jim-NA

Vash, with my double-din headunit I just used a chock of wood covered in black fablon to wedge under the unit, thus raising it up & filling the gap from the bottom.



A bit ghetto I know, but it looks OK for now.... I think I will redo it with a block of black plastic in the coming weeks.

Just an idea anyhow, if you have a better solution then let me know will ya

TurboTalon

iTrader: (2)

do you know if that IC pipe kit is still for sale on ebay? I have the intercooler, but now need pipes for my begi-s. I am also just considering gettting the FM silicone pipes.

kenzo42

iTrader: (6)

Hey Vash, install your headunit w/ the leash. Trust me, I've had my car broken into twice in SF and they couldn't get my headunit out w/ out disassembling part of my dash.

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

I was thinking of cutting some of my old radio cubby plastic and shoving that under the screen. I need to wait until I have a couple hours to really look at it and figure out WTF I'm going to do. Thanks for the tip bro

Its the 2.5" pipe kit that is pretty common to ebay. I think I got it from CXracing, but it was a couple years ago. I know they sell the kits polished aluminum or black. The FM silicone pipes were on my list, but got dropped for bigger and better things.

What do you mean leash? I want to make this super secure, so that even if someone was to try and **** with it.....it would take some work. After all this....I'm 99% sure I will be getting a car alarm now.

I got the speakers in yesterday! But right when I was about to hear what they sounded like......the battery died. My IC TB pipe is having the nipple welded on it today, so hopefully tonight I can start the car up and let the battery get some juice!

Vash-

TurboTalon

iTrader: (2)

any word on the exact couplers and bends used from compressor outlet to throttle body.

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

I have a nice size update for the build.

Yesterday I had the BOV pipe welded.....finally. So today the plan was to get the car started and get the battery charged up again. Well, first off.....**** snap rings. What a time I had getting the snap ring on this time. I fucked with it for 1 hour last night, and about 20 mins today. I finally got it, though I had a helper . I also bought some better snap ring pliers than the ones I was using last night.

So the IC pipes are in and the car is running! Again! Once I started it the noise was god awful and a quick look at my crank pulley indicated a SNC failure. But....thankfully none of my issues to date have been super involved. The alternator belt was just on the wrong side of the pulley, thus making the belt run on a angle and rub. Fixed and the car starts and idles.

Now the problem.

Tonight and tomorrow I plan on dremeling the speaker covers to fit the 6.5's, hole saw the door panels and mount the tweeters. And then I just need to dynamat the passenger side door. I'm thinking of mounting the crossovers inside the door, covered in plastic, above the 6.5's. I don't see many other places to choose from really.

Now.....if only I could decide on a set of 8" subwoofers and a amp I'd be all set.

Vash-

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

Today I started off by tinting the windows on the passenger side. I think I'm gonna do the other side, but for now I want to see what I like more and how it holds up over the next couple days.

Then I started on my wiring nightmare and started on the dynamat. As I go along I am cleaning all the mold, mildew, dirt, etc that's in the door.

I still don't understand whats wrong with the car. Starts and will idle, but I keep hearing a relay clicking and the car stalls. But if I keep on the gas it will struggle with me but I can keep it running.

Vash-

18psi

iTrader: (76)

any idea on how much weight all that sound deadening is adding to your car? looks like a lot

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

lol.....I was waiting to hear something like that. Honestly.....I probably added less weight than having P/S and A/C on the car. I really could give a **** less about the weight, but just for arguments sake. I probably added......30lbs at most. I not only am without P/S or A/C, but I removed all the airbag ****, intake manifold brace, spare tire and tools, washer bottle, you get the idea. I may have added some weight.....but I have removed **** as well.

This is not a track miata, drag miata, drift miata, etc. This is my toy and I want it to have all my creature comforts. I figure, if I'm gonna spend x amount on the stereo, a little more to make it worth doing seems reasonable. The doors close solid, the little rattles and clicks are gone, and the sound quality is perfect. Not to mention all this gave me reason to clean the mildew and mold from inside the doors, as well as repair the half fallen apart door panels.

The difference between a system in a car with zero dynamat and a car with is crazy different. My last whip had the entire interior decked with dynamat.....so it was without question in the miata. And for the record.....I tested the speakers tonight and they sound ******* crazy good. I also did a run through on my ipod with different genre's of music and placed the tweeters everywhere to see what was my best bet for mounting them. I will be mounting them in the side eyeball vents, hopefully tomorrow.

Vash-

Leebo

iTrader: (2)

Vash, man you are kicking *** and taking names. Your car is going to be just one sweet ride. Do yourself a favor and hang on to this car for a loooooong time. As cool as as these cars are from the "feel" point of view, the "hear" is just as important. I've played around w/ my stereo w/ subs, and good doors speakers, etc... My current setup is alright but needs improvement. Once the V8 is in, it will be pretty engine biased but even still, it's a mix between audio systems and the audio the drivetrain chimes back at you. Strike a nice balance and enjoy! Keep up the good work.