While we're talking about consoles

[98TJ]

I'm making a console extension for a Toyota Tacoma X-Runner Access Cab. This is part of a full audio install I'm doing for one of the local guys.

It'll be going here.
https://scontent-a-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1497751_3877377670204_987083016_n.jpg

Gutted it. It's now a Toyota Tacoma Total Access Cab.
https://scontent-b-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1533771_3901419671239_1927967017_n.jpg

Put down a layer of fiberglass on the console.
https://scontent-a-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1016404_3910946309399_166333269_n.jpg

Here's the general idea of what's going in it. A JL 10W7.
https://scontent-a-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1601272_3916206000888_1391180413_n.jpg


The plan is to make it look like a factory piece.

 

[superspec]

If its like the rest of your stuff no one will even notice it.

 

[garboui]

What a sub for that cabin. I had one in my mazda 3 for a period and even being woefully under amped it would get the rear wiper dancing off the glass. Ive had some good seat time with that sun in the past and all I can say is that this is already looking like a badass build.

 

[98TJ]

If its like the rest of your stuff no one will even notice it.

That's the intent.

https://scontent-b-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1/1525026_3928932319038_264295576_n.jpg

What a sub for that cabin. I had one in my mazda 3 for a period and even being woefully under amped it would get the rear wiper dancing off the glass. Ive had some good seat time with that sun in the past and all I can say is that this is already looking like a badass build.

Thanks, man. This is only part of it. There's an Audio Control LCQ-1 in this glovebox. Goes along with what superspec was saying about people not noticing my work. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

https://scontent-a-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1/1499540_3898546159403_880809847_n.jpg

 

[Kevin54]

I'll be watching this one!!!

 

[superspec]

does that truck really have a carpeted dash or is that the floor mat that happens to have a hole cut for the a/c duct?

 

[Kevin54]

does that truck really have a carpeted dash or is that the floor mat that happens to have a hole cut for the a/c duct?

I think it's a custom made dash pad (you can buy them) for protecting the dash from the sun beating down on it.

 

[98TJ]

does that truck really have a carpeted dash or is that the floor mat that happens to have a hole cut for the a/c duct?

I think it's a custom made dash pad (you can buy them) for protecting the dash from the sun beating down on it.

Yeah, dash pad. Sun is a mean one here.

 

[98TJ]

Put the table saw to work making more kerf cuts. Couldn't make this enclosure without it.
https://scontent-a-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1/1509187_3930949649470_1345087437_n.jpg

Dry fit. I need more bar clamps to get everything clamped together. Still need to apply some filler in the kerf cuts then I can start assembly. The inside of the enclosure will get coated in fiberglass resin.

https://scontent-b-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1531643_3930993290561_1676318341_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1/1528639_3931250857000_796094892_n.jpg

 

[98TJ]

New foam arrived Friday. Owner wanted to come by and check out how the re-foam is done. He actually did part of it and I finished it up. He showed up at 9:30pm we re-foamed and BSed until he left at 3:30am.
https://scontent-a-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/995283_3932337164157_347588307_n.jpg

 

[98TJ]

Rounded all the rear corners and got the back built up and ready for the back wall and port to go in.
https://scontent-a-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1554396_3938223271306_56362734_n.jpg

Now it's time to make it look like a factory piece and attach/blend in the forward fiberglass section.
https://scontent-a-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1526730_3938431196504_913501445_n.jpg

 

[rburke65]

Looking real nice. I'll be watching this post...

 

[98TJ]

Thanks.

Here's the intent. I had to pull the factory cup holder from the floor between the rear seats to get this in. I'm using one of the rubber liners from inside the cup holder on the top. It won't really serve a purpose other than maybe hold a cell phone or something, but it'll be a factory piece that will help make the sub enclosure look factory. I'm also going to replicate the factory console lid/arm rest with fiberglass, pad it, cover it, and put that on the enclosure.

Now I need to contour the top so it's not perfectly flat and get the arm rest glassed.
https://scontent-a-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1512790_3938721243755_1590223078_n.jpg

 

[jmlcolorado]

Subscribed!

 

[98TJ]

Here's a horrible shot from earlier tonight.

I was going to do this yesterday but the owner was going to pick it up last night and take it to have the Wet Okole seat covers he ordered installed. I cleaned it up, stuck seats, stock console, and floor mats in, and had it ready for him to pick up.

Then he called and said he couldn't pick it up until this morning. When he brought it back I gutted it again and did the work that I planned on doing yesterday - glassing the two halves together.

Covered the interior in plastic and got to work glassing the outer portion of the seam on the sides. Let it cure and pulled it out. Also made a new arm rest from fiberglass. Another key thing, I marked on the fiberglass where the driver's seat was in relation to the center console. This will be my guide for where to cut the sides so the "seam" is hidden by the seat. Did a little work sanding/filling the fiberglass arm rest.

Now it's time to glass the inside portion of the seams, coat the interior of the enclosure with resin, and do a bit of shaping on the top of the console.

Stuck it back in to get a pic for the owner. My daughter jumped in and tried out the arm rest. She's the owner's height. This thing will look factory and be making noise by the weekend.

 

[AP_photo]

Looks good!

 

[Kevin54]

With the console being what I assume is a textured plastic, what are you going to cover the new console with that will match the factory look?

I'm liking the looks of the console though. Now the pad that your daughter has her arm resting on, will it be hinged and have storage underneath although there is a speaker in the enclosure?

BTW.....very nice looking daughter. Much to be proud of right there!!!!

 

[superspec]

Jason where did you get the bendy wood?

 

[Jpeezy]

bendy wood at any wood supply co. can usually get it for you, woodworkers supply of new mexico, select products, or mobile solutions

 

[Jpeezy]

Nice console, been a car audio installer/fabricator for 25+ years. Nice work!

 

[98TJ]

With the console being what I assume is a textured plastic, what are you going to cover the new console with that will match the factory look?

I'm liking the looks of the console though. Now the pad that your daughter has her arm resting on, will it be hinged and have storage underneath although there is a speaker in the enclosure?

BTW.....very nice looking daughter. Much to be proud of right there!!!!

I went to Keyston and picked up some vinyl.
https://scontent-b-sjc.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1508625_3877340749281_1175092928_n.jpg

No storage in the console - it would cut into enclosure volume. The arm rest is just a piece to make the subwoofer enclosure look like a factory item. I started to make a fake lever that looked like the factory piece but figured that would end up with someone trying to open it and break it.

And the daughter...luckily she got her looks from mom and not me.

Jason where did you get the bendy wood?

Made it. It's 3/4" MDF. The kerf cuts on the table saw make it bendy.

bendy wood at any wood supply co. can usually get it for you, woodworkers supply of new mexico, select products, or mobile solutions

Or make your own.

Nice console, been a car audio installer/fabricator for 25+ years. Nice work!

Thanks, man.

 

[98TJ]

A little progress.

Threw down more layers of fiberglass inside the arm rest and cut a 3/4" MDF mounting plate to press fit inside it. Used some structural adhesive to bond the two together then sanded/filled/smoothed the thing.

Covered it with some 1/8" foam I picked up at Keyston. This piece is done for now and will get covered when I cover the main console. Still have some final shaping to do on that piece and I'd rather tackle all of the vinyl at once.
https://scontent-b-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1622731_3952683192795_253916439_n.jpg

 

[98TJ]

Spent some time today dealing with more fiberglass.

Got the sub enclosure glassed on the inside where the forward fiberglass console wrap and MDF meet. After it cured I mounted the sub and decided to see where, exactly, the enclosure was tuned. The owner wanted a ported enclosure if at all possible but was worried that it would be too large. If it was going to take up too much space he said he'd settle for a sealed enclosure.

I decided to see what I could do to give him a ported enclosure that would perform well. Decided to build at arm rest height and no taller. With 11" overall between the rear seats I knew I'd come up slightly short on volume, but it shouldn't be an issue I couldn't work around.

After measuring, drawing up the enclosure, doing math, and so on, I had calculated 1.3 cu ft of volume from the beginning - less than JL's recommended 1.5 cu ft. The trick is that JL recommends a port tuned to 35Hz. I decided to go with 38Hz instead. Since I knew I would be a little low on enclosure volume I'll add insulation to the enclosure to increase the effective volume. This will also drop the port tuning frequency. The insulation should put me right around and effective 1.5 cu ft and 35Hz.

Anyway, here's the impedance curve from tonight. Just wanted to verify my math and design. Always good to see the master plan go according to the master plan.
https://scontent-a-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1/1505431_3958850506974_998924446_n.jpg

 

[98TJ]

Impedance measurements after adding insulation to allow the speaker to "see" more enclosure volume. It's at 35Hz now.
https://scontent-a-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1/1546464_3961758899682_549206159_n.jpg

 

[98TJ]

Between good/bad times with the migraine I've been doing a bunch of fitting, modifying, and re-fitting. When I was 100% happy with the fit I started vinyl.

There's a 1/4" riser where the arm rest will mount. I did this to mimic the stock console.

It's dark and these are crappy cell phone pictures. I'll get better shots tomorrow.

This Toyota plastic is weird. Almost black in one shot, then it's a graphite in another.
https://scontent-a-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1/1795567_3974973030027_1306720110_n.jpg

The enclosure is a tight fit around the stock console. Shadow makes it look like there's a larger gap than there actually is. Factory rubber pad from the stock rear cup holder/storage bin was re-used.
https://scontent-a-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1/1782091_3974973230032_1347379956_n.jpg

 

[Kevin54]

That is just jaw dropping fantastic!!!!! The way that you have it fitting around the factory console really ties the two together as one.

 

[98TJ]

Thanks, Kevin. Fit was a fundamental part of what I wanted here. To pull off the factory look it has to fit like a factory piece.

Covered the padded arm rest and attached it to the console.

https://scontent-b-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1623644_3976818436161_248185886_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1620593_3976818676167_1264320602_n.jpg

 

[-Brent-]

Wow. Serious talent.

 

[jtyson]

Looks fantastic. Very impressive. Curious though what you are going to do to keep it from rattling where the new piece wraps around the console? Granted much of the cab will rattle, but those pieces specifically look as though they would be problematic.

 

[Krokodil]

Looks awesome!

 

[98TJ]

Thanks, guys.

jtyson, I made the part that wraps around the console sides fit tight and squeeze the console. Did that by laying only one layer of glass around the back/sides of the console initially. After that cured and I pulled it, laid all of the additional layers for the rear and corners to give it strength. After that cured and wouldn't deform, I cut a piece of wood that was about 1/2" shorter than the width of the factory console. The sides were pulled in, attached to the piece of wood, and two additional layers of fiberglass were added on the sides. When the two additional layers cured, I cut the piece of wood out of the middle. The two sides were then a tight squeeze fit around the factory console and made from three layers of 1.5oz chopped strand mat. The sides will never relax, they'll always hug/pinch the console.

This one left today. Not a fan of the LCQ-1. Spoke with the owner and we've decided an Audison bit Ten will replace the LCQ-1 when he gives me the word to place the order.

https://scontent-b-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1555569_3980685132826_1588862403_n.jpg

https://scontent-a-lax.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1551641_3980684812818_1229600396_n.jpg

 

[aczr2k]

Nice work, how do you get the vinyl to form so nice?

 

[98TJ]

Heat it, stretch it, and place a washcloth soaked in cold water on it to help "set" the vinyl in place.

 

[jtyson]

As nice as it looks, how does it sound? Where did you end up putting the amp?

 

[98TJ]

New foam on it so it'll need to get some hours on it to loosen up but it sounds great. The sub is down-firing so it's playing into the cabin and the port is hidden at the back, also down-firing, a few inches above the seat belt latch anchor points.

Sub amp is under the driver's seat and the amp for the fronts is under the passenger's seat - right where the owner wanted them.

 

[dankicksass]

Good work, man.