my 02 explorer install

[ElBeau]

these are pictures of my install on my 02 explorer.

my head unit, a Kenwood KDC-MPV5025

my amp, a Alpine MRVT 420 which is installed under the drivers side rear seat:

and how I ran my 4 awg. Directly under where the fuse holder is, there is a hole in the sheet metal inner fender that leads between that and the plastic inner fender. Wire loom the heck out of it so it dont rub thru though. Fire is cool but not in my truck.

The blue you see is 6 foot peice of plastic conduit I picked up at Lowes for $3.50. I need to get an elbow to clean it up a bit but the gromet it goes into is right aginst the plastic storage in the back and directly under the backseat. I didn't have to do much except pop a hole in the gromet once the carpet was pulled back. Doing it that way there's only 4 inches of power wire inside my truck.

Any constructive criticism or questions are appreciated. This was the cleanest way I could figure out how to do it.

 

[davidmmm69]

very nice especially since it is a twin to my 2002...

Nice looking lol

 

[DOZIER]

how about some speakers now?

 

[MONMIX]

This is a fine example of a clean, well done job.

 

[JasonF]

What about the RCAs, how did you run those? THe 4th pic.. what angle is that looking from? Do you have the 3rd row seat? I can't seem to get my bearing on that pic. Where is the seat cushion for your back seat? Is that looking from the ceiling down at your drivers side back seat with it folded forward? Sorry for all the questions I am just hoping to get some ideas for a future install on my 04.

Jason

 

[ElBeau]

The RCAs were ran under the carpet down the passanger side (never run them with your 12v feed, will cause engine whine), just pull up the door sills and you can tuck it under the carpet. The RCAs are the blue plugs on the left of the amp. I can't realy hide the speaker wire unless I run it thru the pannels. I was debating on puting a speaker wire jack in the side pannel and runing wire to that so all you see is the wire coming from the jack to the box but that may be a bit of over kill. As for how the pic was taken, it was taken from right above on the drivers side. Thats under the 1/3 section of the backseat. As for a 3rd row, skip that, they're too much of a pain in the ass. When I bought the truck I made sure it didnt come with it.

I knew I forgot something, pics of the speaker. All I'm runing right now is a single 10" JL audio. Nothing to write home about and nothing that screams steal me. I live in an apartment so I dont need anything too crazy. The next task is neons.

 

[JasonF]

I wish I could skip the 3rd row but my ex was used and it came with it.. so I didn't really have a choice. So I take it you only have one amp for the sub, you are just powering the door speakers off the HU?

I am still trying to figure out how crazy I want to go, new HU, new speakers, component fronts??? amp, sub, sub amp... etc


Jason

 

[davidmmm69]

i personally like the 3rd seat.. one of the reasons i wanted a 2002 and not another 2nd generation.

 

[ElBeau]

Right now times are tight (like anyone else aint feelin the crunch) but when I get some more loot I'm gonna do new components in the front doors and some nice mids in the back doors, probaly polk audio and 4 channel alpine amp. Thats why I put the sub amp under the smaller of the seats, run a nice big 4 channel under my passanger side. I've seen a few installs of a sub in the side pannel. May do one on each side if I ever find the ambition, already have 3 10" JLs but the time to do it all is hard to come by. That and running 2, I would have to bump up to a bigger amp. What cha gonna do. . . right?

 

[TTG]

Times are always tight unless you're rich I've found. But Crutchfield is running some nice deals on speakers right now. $99 Alpine Type R 6x8s and whatnot. And some amazing deals on subs. MB Quart top quality subs for around $100 bucks.

As far as the subwoofer side panel box, I should be building mine this weekend, I'll let ya know how it turns out and can try to use my experience to help you if you decide to try it sometimes soon. It seems like it'll be pretty simple.

 

[ElBeau]

I'm concerned about depth and if I can get propper air space. I'll end up building a box in there but I just hope you dont hear a "knock" because of the sib being aginst the out side of the truck like my 96 ranger had. I pulled out the jump seat on the drivers side, build a box in the space for 1 10" but I could not get it to stop "knocking". Dynamat, blankets, foam pading. It was always there.

 

[TTG]

It all depends on how deep the sub is. From what I've seen a cu ft of around .7 isnt that hard to get, and accomodating subs around the 7" top mount depth rane isnt too hard. That knock might have actually been the sub hitting the back of the box too. I'm gonna(somewhat loosely) follow V8's guide* on how to do it since his is around the same depth as mine will be.

What I'm most concerned with still is the amp, I'd like to mount it in the opposite panel(or in the same panel if possible) but I'm not sure of the space. Not only that, but I'm not sure how he cools his amp, or how I could cool mine. THinking a fan with some small breather holes in the panel in inconspicuous places.



* http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86333&highlight=stealth+pics

 

[ElBeau]

use a small "squirell cage" fan, put a few fresh air breather holes right behind it and it should feel fresh air to the amp no problem. I've found from experience, pie fans are nice but they're noisey and tend to spread the air out where as the squirell cage fans you can direct the cool air right onto the heat sinks and you're set.

 

[TTG]

I actually had been thinking of getting a fan off a power supply for a computer or some kinda other electronic thing. I could get my hands on one of those for free probably.

 

[ElBeau]

yeah, if where you work has a computer department ask a few of the guys. As far as I know the comp pie fans will run off a 12v feed. if ya get em for free and fry a few, no harm.