How did you do your aftermarket amp installation?

S

SwedishMark

Well-Known LVC Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2011
Messages
409
Reaction score
15
Location
Sweden
Hello.
I'm soon going to install my audio in the Mark and my big question is, how the heck do I get through the firewall? It's near impossible to even find a place where a zip tie can get through.
Googled abit and some guy ran the cable around the radiator and on the right side of the car but I don't have enough wire for that.
So what do you guys recommend? The cable is 0 gauge.

I've seen there's alot of stereo install threads but none where someone actually shows where he pulled the wire through the firewall. So I've got to ask you guys in desperation :D
 
20120508_090515.jpg


I poked a hole thru my steering boot with a screw driver, near the edge of the hole. There's plenty of room to not interfere with the steering column
 
That's magnificent!
I would've never thought of that!

Thanks alot guys! :D I didn't like my idea of drilling a hole in the firewall (never know if there's wires behind or something).

Is it a tight fit or does it just poke through like nothing at all?
 
For a change I did a different route. I put the power wire in loom, routed it under the car all the way down through the trunk and came up through one of the air lines.
 
Depends on the size of the hole you make, I poked thru with a large screw driver because I ran 2 wires. Taped a short piece of coat hanger to the wire, pushed coat hanger thru, walked around door and pulled it thru, easy, and very snug. I get no air blowing thru there (because I'm sure that's where your question was heading)
 
I see you did it with your engine out, I bet the answer is quite obvious but I have to ask anyways, is it difficult with the motor in? It's not that difficult is it?
I really liked that solution.

GMAN: Yeah, I've been thinking of the exact same thing but the thing is I'm 600 miles away from my garage and so on. I barely have any tools at the moment so I'll be having to do the simple way. But I do like running the wire under the car because it's in my opinion the very best way to do it.
Might redo it later and run it underneath the car. But for now, the steering column boot looked great! :)
 
Motor was in when I did it, its easy. Unless you have massive muscles or t-rex arms
 
I also loomed mine and went under the car. Unless you have your engine out and have hands the size of dog paws, it's hell getting down in that area. I used 2 gauge wire all the way to the trunk and then used a JL Audio distribution block that accepts one 0-4 gauge and has two 4-8 gauge output connections. I used 4 gauge to each amp. I bought the wire loom off ebay and got about 50 ft. of it on the cheap. It's completely loomed all the way from the fuse block to the distribution block. Been going over two years like this and not a problem. Heavy duty zip ties were used every 6 to 8 inches on the underside.

W3Z2003.jpg


DSC02726.jpg
 
And theres 2 sides to the rubber grommet iirc, make sure you poke through both. I'd also rec wrapping the wire in loom from the battery till it gets into the car.
 
If you have a large zip tie, the ones that are 1/4" wide and 3' long; they work good too, cut the locking end off and the othe end at an angle to a point. It will push right through, you can tape whatever you want to pull through or for small wires if you drill two small holes inline on the zip tie you just weave in one.. out the other and fold over.
 
Sapperfire said:
Motor was in when I did it, its easy. Unless you have massive muscles or t-rex arms
Click to expand...

I have skinny spaghetti arms so then there shouldn't be a problem then.

NoLimit95: That looks nice. Where did your wire go back into the coupe/boot?
 
A piece of copper tubing works also. 7 or 8 inches long cut to a point large enough to get your wire through. Poke it through.. feed the wire.. slide it back out over the length of the wire.
 
My hands are large enough to palm a basketball...
"Dog paws" -scoff-
 
SwedishMark said:
I have skinny spaghetti arms so then there shouldn't be a problem then.

NoLimit95: That looks nice. Where did your wire go back into the coupe/boot?
Click to expand...

Mine goes in through the side top part of the trunk tub and is sealed off on both sides. Normally I would not do this with my power wire but I just couldn't get my arms down in there far enough to do anything different. Either way, it's been working for me just fine but that's not saying that I like it that way. I would prefer it to be inside...
 
a little late to the party.... but i also went through the steering boot.
so like, x4.
 
I'll be doing the wiring this weekend or the next maybe.
Picked up my new bass today atleast.
JL 12w7. Felt like my pure SQ bass isn't really my thing. Tried it out in my friends car and I'm amazed how quick it is to my music taste (slipknot etc) with only a DLS A6 powering it with some tiny like 650 watts.
 
i went under the car by where the left foot sits drilled a hole for 0 gauge ran it under the carpet with a grommet around it and tape around it at the hole cant see it runs under the plastic and is protected .been over 2 years works great
 
The sub is extreme.
I have never experienced alot when it comes to subs but this is just insanity. How does your car still survive? Can't be healthy for the car with such sound pressure :D
Next problem, I think my extremely ugly box is abit (alot) too big for the trunk. Need to figure that out somehow.
I'll probably build a sealed box for it later on.
But for now, a pic of the monster powered by my 300w RMS amp which is for my 10" crap-sub :D It's a crap amp too but it's loud even with that. Very loud.

412362_10150841799666236_528446235_9427203_2055952551_o.jpg
 
I think theres a hair over 15" of hieght beneath the rear deck in the trunk. You could always mount it on it's back too ya know.
 
Yeah, I'm just gonna put it where it fits for now.
But later this summer I'll build a new box for it because this box (got it when I bought it) isn't very well built, it's ugly, ported and way too big.
Everything that could be wrong with it is wrong :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 76 (members: 1, guests: 75)
Back
Top