Help w/ Thunderform and factory Amp

[Easter]

Since I'm strapped for cash at the moment I just got a thunderform w/o the amp to replace my blown factory sub.. I got the rear panel off, and the old sub enclosure and panel that holds the amp and the other thing (no idea what it is).

Anyways, it looks like if I get the right torx bit and fiddle with things I can get those off and I can mount the amp close to where it was located attached to the old enclosure.. but the thunderform leaves no room really for the other smaller thing (unless that is the amp? I have no idea..) where can I put it and how can I attach it?

I've already hooked up the new sub to test it and I am reasonably happy with how it sounds compared to having NO bass, so getting a new amp or whatever right now is not really an issue... I just want to figure out how/where to fit everything and get my X put back together.

Here's a pic to show how much room I have to work with...

and close up..

 

[Easter]

Well I figured "something" up for now.. the radio and amp are jammed under the back seat.. I'd still like to hear a better solution, mine really sort of sucks

 

[donaldbc]

Yes that "small thing" with the grates on it is the factory amp. You don't need it unless you are still using the factory head unit. If you are, and you are running the thunderform off of that, then you need to be careful not to burn up the factory amp. Then you just buy an amp with speaker level inputs and hook it up that way. Or if you have an aftermarket radio, you should get an amp. Running that sub off of just a radio is not recommended because you could burn it up.

 

[udmsvt]

are you going to be selling the factory sub? i know you said its blown, but i am thinking of just mounting a new sub in the enclosure. what size sub was it?

 

[IAmTodd]

If i'm understanding rite, he's using the old amp that powered the original sub to power the new thunderform? Am i correct? I think the old sub is a 6.5"?

 

[Garth]

What size is the new thunderform? It looks like about 12".

 

[mohog]

i think it's a 10 from what i've heard thats the only size that will fit in those types of enclosures could be wrong tho

 

[Easter]

FYI, I am a she, not a he, but you had no way of knowing that.. anyways..

The old sub was completely trashed, it didn't make noise other than a very annoying rattle.. I tossed it last week. I still have the enclosure for it, if that's what you mean... it's out of a '96 4 door eddie bauer.

Yes I still have the factory HU, and the factory amp, and yes, at the moment it's connected to the Thunderform, which is the 95-01 non-powered model, and it's a 10" sub. I'm not so much worried about blowing out the facotory amp since I'm not (nor will I be) running the bass at full power, but if it happens, it happens, my problem at the moment is where am I supposed to put those things? There has to be a better solution than what I did, but there's really no obvious way to get them to go back where they were, nor do I see any other place other than where I crammed them where they will go..

If I end up blowing it the factory amp, I actually just remembered that hidden away in the garage somewhere is a "possibly working" amp.. not sure of the size or other specs, but it was used in my husbands camaro.. we thought he had blown it when it was about 9 months old, but after we replaced the amp it turned out to be the speakers that were blown, but we never tested the old amp to make sure... little point since there was a brand new one sitting in his car.

I'd ask my husband for help with all of this but his attitude when it comes to doing anything that he doesn't want to do is "you fix it"... so.. argh.

 

[udmsvt]

if i wasnt across the country, i'd help you. my girlfriend doesnt do s#$t to help with the cars, and most of the time i am working on hers. all she does is sit ther and go "is it done yet, is it done yet.....". i heard some else say the factory sub is 6.5ish. i know the thunderforms for the x come in 8" or 10" but basically, i just want an enclosure. q customs makes one but if you have the old one laying around i might take it off you hands (if i can mount an 8 or a 10 in it). i already have an amp and a 12 and a setup fopr dual amps but since i now have to carry my spare in the cargo area, i want to put a sub in the side panel. let me knwo if you are interested in getting rid of it, what size, and how much. udmsvt@yahoo.com

 

[Garth]

How about the back of the seat behind the panel thing that folds down. Or you could mount it under the rear seat on a piece of board. Then you can run the wires for the speaker all the way under the panel to the Sub.

 

[Garth]

Sorry about the suggestion since I just read that you already ruled out the back seat.

 

[mohog]

you could always try to find some room around the windshield washer fluid and carjack area.

 

[mohog]

rear window washer fluid to specify

 

[udmsvt]

yeah, there should be plenty of space in there. all you would need to do is run the wires under the carpet in the cargo area.

 

[Easter]

That's a thought, but I already know there's not a ton of room around the fluid resevoir.. there may be enough if I fiddle with it and move some junk that I seem to have inherited with my X

I was thinking of mounting them on that flap that goes behind the seat, but there's a concern about clearance there with flipping the seats up and down (which is why it doesn' really fit all that well under the seats, nevermind I have no way to secure it there w/o pulling the rear seat out) as well as just what to attach them with... suppose I can scout home depot on Saturday, as I may re-arrange anyways this weekend, just make a project out of it... I spent about 4 hours today fiddling with it today, and I'm not really in a huge hurry to do anything tomorrow. Plus I'd need to get wire and connectors, and yadda, yadda.. and I just don't feel like it at the moment

udmsvt, I'll e-mail you about the factory enclusure, it may not be what you are looking for, but I'll take pics so you can see it.

 

[udmsvt]

is yours a 2-dr or 4-dr?

on our 91 eb 4-dr, i have a 6-disc changer mounted under the rear seats and have no problems with folding them down. you'd never even know it was there if you didnt look for it.

 

[Easter]

Mine is a 4-door.. the problem with the amp and the other thing under the seats is not the fact that they are under there, it's just that I'll have to take the seat out to mount them so they won't be flopping around

It's hot in Texas.. and I spent way too much time outside this afternoon already (I put in new door speakers which added about an hour total to my time fiddling with the thunderform and the amp, so it's not something I wanted to commit myself to doing until I knew all of the other options. If they end up staying under the seat, I am pulling up the carpet and mounting them under there... that way they wouldn't show at all

 

[udmsvt]

i never actually pulled the seat out, i was able to get my hand and a screwdriver between the cushions with the seat half folded down. i never actually looked at the mounts for the seats on the 4-door but it only took me 45 min to stripthe interior on my 2-dr (front seats, rear seats, carpet. the only thing i left was the console. anyways, good luck.