shoot summ
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2010
- Messages
- 2,960
Saw 54Fordpanel's fiberglass console build and thought I would share the custom sub enclosure I made for my Wife's car over Christmas break.
I really didn't want to do the complete sound system install on her car, I was going to take the easy way out and have someone do it, after I got the estimate I decided I could do a better job for a whole lot less.
The car is a 2005 BMW Z4, it was a nice sized trunk, I didn't want to consume it all with a normal MDF subwoofer enclosure so I did some web research and found a number of sites that gave great details on how to custom form one.
The first step after deciding where to put the box is to tape off the area in preparation of making a fiberglass plug. I spent a couple of hours taping off the area I intend to use, I also paid close attention to filling areas that may keep the box from sliding out. I filled in the floor of the compartment as I couldn't reconcile how I would tilt the box out. I also padded around the taillight cover as there is a pretty good bump in on the outside of it. I laid down a couple of layers of tape, was being really careful as all of the sites warn about getting resin on the carpet, then it dawned on me I don't care as the enclosure will cover it, kept taping anyway. There is a nice amount of space in the side pocket.
All taped up:
I got in a hurry and started glassing before I used any type of mold release, wasn't a big deal but I would use something next time, glassing:
So this morning I rushed out to the garage to pull out the plug, the epoxy resin set up nicely, I tugged on that mother for 45 minutes before it finally decided to turn loose, brought most of the blue tape with it. Spent a fair amount of time building up the glass inside the enclosure, and trimming it.
I removed a good portion of the tape although there is some that will be there permanently. I trimmed up the plug and set about making the mounting rings, Routing MDF is just plain nasty, got the rings made, and mounted:
Test fitting and trimming:
Fleeced, an old stretchy work out shirt was stretched and stapled over the enclosure then I used resin on it. Once it cured I filled in the backside with more glass and resin:
More fitting:
After some additional smoothing and glassing I covered the box in carpet, and mounted the sub:
Finished sub box:
Then I installed the enclosure in the car, 10" sub makes the little car thump:
I really didn't want to do the complete sound system install on her car, I was going to take the easy way out and have someone do it, after I got the estimate I decided I could do a better job for a whole lot less.
The car is a 2005 BMW Z4, it was a nice sized trunk, I didn't want to consume it all with a normal MDF subwoofer enclosure so I did some web research and found a number of sites that gave great details on how to custom form one.
The first step after deciding where to put the box is to tape off the area in preparation of making a fiberglass plug. I spent a couple of hours taping off the area I intend to use, I also paid close attention to filling areas that may keep the box from sliding out. I filled in the floor of the compartment as I couldn't reconcile how I would tilt the box out. I also padded around the taillight cover as there is a pretty good bump in on the outside of it. I laid down a couple of layers of tape, was being really careful as all of the sites warn about getting resin on the carpet, then it dawned on me I don't care as the enclosure will cover it, kept taping anyway. There is a nice amount of space in the side pocket.
All taped up:
I got in a hurry and started glassing before I used any type of mold release, wasn't a big deal but I would use something next time, glassing:
So this morning I rushed out to the garage to pull out the plug, the epoxy resin set up nicely, I tugged on that mother for 45 minutes before it finally decided to turn loose, brought most of the blue tape with it. Spent a fair amount of time building up the glass inside the enclosure, and trimming it.
I removed a good portion of the tape although there is some that will be there permanently. I trimmed up the plug and set about making the mounting rings, Routing MDF is just plain nasty, got the rings made, and mounted:
Test fitting and trimming:
Fleeced, an old stretchy work out shirt was stretched and stapled over the enclosure then I used resin on it. Once it cured I filled in the backside with more glass and resin:
More fitting:
After some additional smoothing and glassing I covered the box in carpet, and mounted the sub:
Finished sub box:
Then I installed the enclosure in the car, 10" sub makes the little car thump:
Last edited:
