False floor/ Amp rack in my 04 Explorer

[JarvisB]

Just thought I'd share.

First of all, many thanks to kbkid for his idea(he did this in his explorer a while back), and many thanks to HCCA as he helped me out in explaining everything I need to do. Seriously I asked him ****load of questions lol.

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My goal is to hide my amp and make it look neat. I like it simple and clean.
I really wish I could do the same with my sub and box but I love it so it's staying there.

It is not 100% done obviously. I expect to be done with it in a few days. I am waiting on the carpet, which is supposed to get here tomorrow.

This is sort of a mock up but the cutting is not complete as I need to cut out a vent hole. Also I have not installed hinges yet because I want to wait until my carpet arrives tomorrow so I can apply it to them and then get everything screwed up.

I think I am going to add a beauty trim to the hole and black metal mesh behind so it would look good.

Like I said this is just a mock up, I have a 4 channel amp which is not pictured(and it is for sale tho) and I am not 100% sure where to mount the fans yet. I got a few ideas, I just gotta decide which one would work best. More likely I will move the amp up close to the vent so it will get a better ventilation area. Keep in mind, my amp is ZX2500.1 and it gets pretty got as it is non fan-cooled amp even when my voltage mostly floats in mid 14s range.

Finally here's the pics (my bad with the babbling lol)

I only have like 1/4 to 1/2 inch of space between top of amp and bottom of the floor, I think that is sufficent space for airflow to pass through tho. It got a bit crowded as I used 5/8 board.

 

[JarvisB]

Guys, I cant even decide on this one so hope some of your input would help my decision.

I got 2 fans and I am not sure which one would be ideal for cooling of my amps. keep my mind kicker zx series amps are non fancooled, but they work like an horse when hot tho. Just want to have the most efficient cooling possible to get the most out of my investment on the fans.

The picture was taken this morning before I made the vent cutout on the board up behind the rear seat.

From what it seems, I will have to only have the capability to blow the hot air out by using both of my fans but I am not sure where am I supposed to get some fresh air in. I thought about making cutout above the fans and put in a mesh but I realized that the board is 5/8 inch so it wont work.

I am thinking about finding some computer fans locally and add them to the backboard on both sides to suck the fresh air in.

concept #1

concept #2

So which way should I mount it in for the best efficiency? Just looking for some opinions. I think I will have everything installed and hooked up by tomorrow as I got the grommets to clean up the look as well

Also I decided to go ahead and get the carpeting over with. It was my very first attempt at carpeting anything lol, I think I am pleased with how I did. But I could do a bit better with the back board because I could not get the carpeting on the edge of the cutout in the middle 100% right.

Amp rack- yes the weights are on it lol. I left it in my bro's barn and it was damn cold so it got slightly bent so I am just trying to flatten it up before Installing it tmw.

backboard and the "legs"

 

[JarvisB]

UPDATE:

I am done with carpeting and I pretty much have everything together right now. Really, I did not have much time into it today but still managed to get everything going.

I got a mock up here but not everything is being screwed in cuz I want to make holes for the wires first before i start putting them all together.

Figured that I would need some kind of ventilation for fresh air to come in. I went to my local store asking for a circle vent and they have it! most stores wouldnt have this big ( 3"), most of the time they say I can only order one. My local Home depot has them in 2 inches only while my local store had 3" so I went ahead and bought 4 vents( I ended up using 3). I figured I would place them above where my fans would be. I think it is a perfect air flow for my type of fans since it is curved at the bottom to blow the air into the amp and then the air would exit into my rearseats--I will add a grille on the hole so it would look more classy. Also the vents were white so I grabbed some all purpose black paint to cover it up with black color to flow with my set up better.

Just a mock-up

the 3" vents, I have one left in case I need to add another vent somewhere.

used 3" hole saw to cut the vent holes

floor carpeted and vents installed. I want to do something nice on the underside(not pictured as it is not done, my friend has a router so I will borrow it someday soon.. My roommate is a graffiti artist so I am going to ask him to spray something related to my car/personality, OR I will just spray a big ford emblem on the backside to give it some style hah.

 

[JarvisB]

I finished the floor but I did not hook it all up as I gave up on it like 30 mins ago.

Lesson learned- get Knu Flex or Kicker Hyperflex period. My KLMX would NOT cooperate at all. It is about 20 degrees here right now and KLMX cable would not move for me which got me pissed off. And it was dark so my frustration added up.

I decided to stop and continue tomorrow morning. I am thinking about borrowing my mom's hair dryer to blow at the cable to make it f-ing bend.

here are some pics if you guys curious about the progress:

Instead of putting sub and box back in, there are some tools lying really wanted to finish it today ha. oh well

 

[JarvisB]

I am finished!!

I am impressed with how those fans work, they really do their job! They blow hard and all the way to the exit hole, I can feel air blowing into my hands. seems to be very efficient but I will monitor the temperatures under the floor as time goes.

I was unable to have the wires connect to my amp thru the holes I drilled because Knukonceptz KLMX cable would not bend for me especially when it is in upper 10 degrees here. I am considering about buying some kicker hyperflex this spring and swap the wires with the hyperflex. Take my word on this, if your place gets cold like here during winters, you would want a Knu Fleks or Hyperflex for their flexibility.

I wanted to hook up my 4 channel amp but I did not realize I dont have a long enough 4 channel rca interconnects so I am going to order longer one soon when I come up with extra cash. and would need to buy some speaker wire as well. I think I should be able to get components and 4 ch installed this spring. Much easier to work around when the weather is warm.

 

[mpinto19k]

Wow that's very nice man I wish my 03 had a little dig in like that in the trunk that I could do something like that to.

 

[JarvisB]

FYI your cargo area is almost exactly same with mine. so you definitely could do something like this

 

[mpinto19k]

I'll have to look again but I'm pretty sure its not, I really hope so though lol but my trunk area has no space like yours.

 

[BrianDye]

Wow man props to you! Thats great work! I would love todo something like that, but I dont have any space LOL

 

[617ricky]

I don't kno all that much about subs, but your setup looks interesting.. That's just a single sub right - how big? And what type of advantage do you get with such a large box and opening, that is open right?

 

[JarvisB]

I'll have to look again but I'm pretty sure its not, I really hope so though lol but my trunk area has no space like yours.

dude how much do u have in ur bank account? i am willing to bet with you for the amount you got that we do have the same space! lol

our expos are 3rd generation so they are all generally the same.

Wow man props to you! Thats great work! I would love todo something like that, but I dont have any space LOL

thanks

I don't kno all that much about subs, but your setup looks interesting.. That's just a single sub right - how big? And what type of advantage do you get with such a large box and opening, that is open right?

yeah one 15" in a 3.5 cubes compression box tuned at 32hz. You cant see but in that large port there are aero ports. I can post a pic later. i got one big 2500 watts rms amp pushing my one 15"

 

[Equnoxe]

make sure you get lots of airflow in that cavity, id hate to see those amps cook themselves alive

looks sick BTW

 

[JarvisB]

yeah i m positive they r going to be ok.

I am a very conservative listener I d say. I have my sub/amp on a switch so I can turn them off anytime I want and use the speakers only. But I know what I am doing and those amps are workhorses (the zx2500.1s)

 

[mpinto19k]

dude how much do u have in ur bank account? i am willing to bet with you for the amount you got that we do have the same space! lol

Lol well pay day is not until midnight so I'll take that bet!

Mine is a sport edition as well so could be the difference maker I've matted my whole floor and don't recall having that big of a dig in lol but again I'm gonna have to check

 

[JarvisB]

Lol well pay day is not until midnight so I'll take that bet!

Mine is a sport edition as well so could be the difference maker I've matted my whole floor and don't recall having that big of a dig in lol but again I'm gonna have to check

ohhh you got a sport edition! lol I assumed you had the 4 door 03, but did not realize you had a sport.

Bet is off lol