Power's budget audio build

[Power247]

After removing the first panel I found that it was easier to pop up the window controls and unplug the harnesses before attempting to remove the door panel.


With the harnesses unplugged the panel lifts right off the door. To my surprise there was a second plastic panel with all kinds of stuff screwed to it.


Not feeling that adventurous I decide to deaden as much of the door as possible without removing the inner panel. As you can see in the pic above there is an access door on the latch side of the door for accessing the window track. Removing the speaker allows access to the opposite side of the door. Looking inside you will find one measly little patch of sound deadening.


Access is tight but I was determined to make it work. I cut the deadening into strips and started applying to all the bare metal of the door, reaching in as far as I could.



I feel like I got it covered pretty well. I would have liked to put a coat or 2 of elastomeric roof coating like I did on the back wall but there is no way that is going to happen without removing the inner panel. I doubt I will ever do it unless I have to remove the panel. for some other reason.

I can't say that it made the 'premium alpine' speakers sound noticeably better but it did help quite the cab a little more. I thought I was imagining it but it is enough for the wife to notice and actually comment so it must have worked.

This is all for now. I still plan to do the firewall and the front floor pans at some point this summer. And possibly get some non-asphalt based deadener mat to cover the inner door panel if I get a wild hair.

 

[southernspeed]

Still waiting for you to wanna do my sub boxes

 

[Power247]

Still waiting for you to wanna do my sub boxes

We'll get them done... just need to clean the shop first. Can't hardly walk in there right now let alone build anything. Nothing a few hours can't fix.

 

[dengland]

After removing the first panel I found that it was easier to pop up the window controls and unplug the harnesses before attempting to remove the door panel.
This is all for now.

Thanks for posting the PICs on the doors. I am starting to think I can do the sub enclosure(s)....

 

[Power247]

Thanks for posting the PICs on the doors. I am starting to think I can do the sub enclosure(s)....

No problem! I am hoping to do the firewall and front floorboard this weekend if I can get the time.

You can definitely do the enclosures. It is time consuming (and smelly) but really not that hard if you have the tools for the woodwork.

 

[Power247]

Upgrading the front door speakers

I finally decided to do something about the door speakers. I went with some Infinity Reference 9632cf's from Amazon. The speakers and Metra harnesses came out to about $75. I figured that they were cheap enough that if they made no noticeable improvement I wouldn't be the end of the world.

Installation was a breeze with the Metra harnesses. Probably 30mins start to finish and that was only because I needed to find longer screws. There were a set of plastic spacers included which I needed for the magnet and basket to clear the window mount... hence the need for longer screws.



Some of you are asking... was it worth it??? Honestly... yes. Even with the odd crossover config being applied by the factory amp... they blend very well with the 3032's in the dash. They add just enough to help fill the gap that developed when I upgraded the dash speakers and sub.

By the pic you can see they are a noticeable improvement of the 'premium alpine' speakers supplied by the factory.


These speakers are just what I needed to keep me from gutting the whole system... hopefully

 

[BradKnob]

Nice dude, infinity makeas some nice speakers. I had a pair in my last vehicle at first then i took them out and put them in my tailgate boombox. They still get plenty loud and are super crisp and ive been beating on them for about 3 years now. Ive had plenty of people offer to buy them on the spot after hearing them while we were out tailgating.

 

[PX8]

Very nice. I'm sort of glad to see that I'm not the only one that has oxidation on the bare aluminum braket.

 

[Power247]

Very nice. I'm sort of glad to see that I'm not the only one that has oxidation on the bare aluminum braket.

Thanks!! Yeah, and she's only 2 years old. Can't imagine what it will be like in 10 more

 

[kris319]

Nice! I have the same speakers in my 4 doors and the same dash speakers. They definitely improved the sound quality over the crappy alpine speakers. I was considering doing some sound dampening in the future.

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[Power247]

Nice! I have the same speakers in my 4 doors and the same dash speakers. They definitely improved the sound quality over the crappy alpine speakers. I was considering doing some sound dampening in the future.

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They are a great speaker for the price. Did you use the supplied spacers or make your own?

 

[kris319]

They are a great speaker for the price. Did you use the supplied spacers or make your own?

Yea in my opinion they're the best option aside from completely gutting the system.

I used some spacers that I had bought on eBay.

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[Big Boi]

Nice!

What head unit are you using?

 

[Power247]

Nice!

What head unit are you using?

I am still using the factory head unit and alpine amp.

 

[RAM FF]

Nice build! I was going to build a complete MDF enclosure for a sub/subs and I was racking my brain trying to figure out how to make/conform to the bottom wells with MDF. Ive never fiberglassed before, but have seen plenty of people do it online. I think that route would be much easier than cutting a bunch of pieces of MDF with angles and gluing them together and would provide much more airspace. So, what kind of FG matt did you use? The big stuff? US Composites resin?
Ive always used car audio deadner but I think I will go the roofing products route to save money. I still have some mass-loaded vinyl and foam to provide a barrier for when I deaden my doors. Speaking of doors... every time I have covered up those window track access holes it has improved the sound a ton. I look at the doors as an enclosure for my mids.

Excellent work. You have provided me with some ideas and put me in the right direction with taking this thing apart.

 

[Power247]

Thanks for the complements! I really enjoyed the audio transformation so far. My doors need some more deadening too. As well as the front floor pans and firewall. It is just so hard for me to disassemble my truck for a whole weekend but will be soon enough.

Don't let the fiberglass part deter you from building your own boxes. This is a great project to start out with. I used resin and chop mat from US Composites that I bought from another forum member. Its really good stuff.

 

[BlkRamRt]

Nice work I cant believed I missed this build...LOL...It came out great

 

[Power247]

Thanks BlkRamRt!!

That's what happens when you don't so anything to your truck for 2 months... Your thread gets shuffled to page 2 to never be seen again. LOL!!!!

 

[jabrams00]

This May be a rookie question but why didn't you put the sound mat over the whole back seat area instead of just a few spots??


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[BlkRamRt]

This May be a rookie question but why didn't you put the sound mat over the whole back seat area instead of just a few spots??


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Most of the time 25% coverage makes a good amount of difference. 100% coverage is almost like over kill. Sound deadening makes a huge diffence on flat surfaces and the back wall is not flat.. see pic below on how its not completely flat but it still makes a difference from road noise. exhaust ect.