Stealth Box Construction and Installation - PICS!

[V8BoatBuilder]

I love my bass. I need my bass. I also need cargo space - that's the main reason I bought the Mountaineer! While the large dual 10" box sounded great with 2 Rockford Fosgates, I was pulling it out weekly, and when it was out the sound system sounded like crap. It was also a theft target.

The original factory subwoofer location was prime wasted space now that the original JBL system was completely removed. I looked at pre-made stealth boxes like the Q-logic, JL, and MTX, but none had enough volume, and all were expensive. Besides, I like to build! Some ideas came from FishMan's thread on his home-made stealth box. http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=73898&highlight=stealth

I settled on a Kenwood eXcelon 10" dual voice coil subwoofer, for a decent price it has awesome sound. The one drawback to this sub is it is 1) deep 2) needs decent volume. The sub was picked before construction and design began.

I drew up intial plans in Autocad for my sealed box made from 5/8" MDF. Target interior volume was 0.70cu ft, made possible by contouring the box to all availible space. The seams were sealed with liquid nails, and 1 1/4" galvanized drywall screws were used.

The box is mostly filled with lightly packed polyfill, and ployfill batting surrounds the outside of the box to reduce vibration. It is bolted through the floor.

Here are the pics:

Mid Assembly #1

Back of Box

Radio Shack Terminal Plate

Finished Install, bolted down

Trim Panel Installed

It sounds great powered by:

Alpine V12 Mono amp mounted in rear jack compartment


GUYS: I'm really sorry, but I do not have plans for the woofer box availible. Just have to design your own - it's fun!

 

[superxplorer]

wow

wow man that looks tight. i wish i was good at building like that. good job looks great

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

Thanks man - It took a lot of time first playing in autocad, then making rough templates using a circular saw, the final product was cut on a table saw. Many of the peices were cut twice to get them perfect.

 

[jimbo74]

yeah, but what does it all look like with the trim back on?!

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

Off the wall awesome. Pic will come tomorrow, I'm just excited and wanted to start the writeup tonight.

 

[superxplorer]

just curiouse how much was the cost of all the mdf to build the box.

 

[97Sportrac]

MDF is cheap...

a 3/4" MDF 4ft * 8ft wide cost $24CAD.

By the way can you give me the exact measurements of that box... that is awesome and it beats paying $800 for some gay ass $800 JL Stealth box.

 

[jimbo74]

$800 jl stealthbox!!!!! damn you were getting ripped!!!!!!

 

[97Sportrac]

LOL!... I would never pay $800 for a stealthbox. I make all my boxes myself and I don't even own any JL products because I can get better sounding stuff for 1/3 the cost from other companies. JL is a total rip on all their products.

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

Stealth Subwoofer Update

I edited the first post to include the final photos of the amp and subwoofer installed, and under the stock trim quater panels.

Trim Panel Installed

To answer some questions:

The project cost:
-4x8x5/8" MDF: $21
-1 yard of gray carpet: $12
-Tube of liquid Nails: $1.50
-Radioshack Terminal Plate: $5.00
-Misc Shop supplies: saw blades, drill bits, galvanized screws, bolts

In Addition:
-New 20ft RCA cable to connect amp to headunit: $20
-Banana jacks, ring terminals: $8
- 12ga OFC speaker cable: $5

Box Size
Overall Length: 29.25"
Overall Height: 14.75"
The Rear panel is 11.75" tall
Overall Depth: 5.5"

The box needed to be stuffed with LOTS of polyfill to sound best. I'm quite happy with it, as the woofer breaks in, it's only getting better. The current setup is clearer and louder, more SQ and SPL than my original setup.*

*according to my ear

 

[EliteConcept]

just curious if you would build another and sell it to me, i'd never be able to build something that nice

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

Elite - that's probubly the best compliment I could get - thanks man!

However, as much as I would like to make woodworking a job, I won't be able to devote that kind of time to building subwoofer boxes in the next few months. I'll be at school, away from the workshop. FYI, actual construction took about a day and a half, design took about a half day. All in all, I'd say I had over 20 man hours into it. Of course, now that it's designed, if I was mass-producing these on my table saw and drill press that time would be cut down......

Maybe this winter, during a vacation I can make a few if there is sufficient interest. We'll see.

EDIT: I just noticed you have a sport - I'm not sure if my box will work for you. At almost 30" long, it goes right to the seatbelt retractor on the C pillar. Do the sports have this much room to work with?

One thing I do need to rig up is a guard or grille. The Kenwood has pretty decent excursion, so nothing tight will work. But I pack that trunck with duffel bags, construction debris, plywood and other junk, so it will need so kind of protection. Any Ideas?

 

[karl_burns]

Can't wait to see it in person!

If this helps, I know JL sells the same box for the Explorer 4 door and 2 door Sport.
Karl

 

[EasyE]

Hey V8BOAT ur from newton? Im in belmont. do you go to any of the shows in the area? By the way sweet box i was thinking of doing something similar but i tend to procrastinate. lol looks good tho.

 

[karl_burns]

shows

There was a show this past weekend up in Plaistow, NH that was pretty darned good. I don't mind the 45 minute dirve, and the prices/service up there are unbeatable. At one specific store.
Karl

 

[EliteConcept]

yeah but his box goes the length of the hatch area almost
hmm i'd have to check that out though

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

Karl - You'll definitley get to see it, and HEAR it when we do the lift.

EasyE - you're not far at all! We need more massholes on this board. What are these shows you guys speak of?

 

[snocross1985]

V8BoatBuilder: I am not a masshole but i work in georgetown, MA and i live right over the Mass border next to Amesbury and Newburyport so I am not too far.

 

[EasyE]

Yeah! ther are all sorts of shows around here. At the end of every month they have import wars but it deff isnt jus for the imports it actually is mostly domestic. my friend and i have gone a few times this summer he has a 93 cavalier with a custom body kit. We should all meet up sometime and go to a show together.

 

[Fish Man]

thats awesome man. glad i could help get the ball rolling looks like it turned out better than mine even! i like how the sub sits outside of the trim, mines completely recessed...like this: hmm, guess i never posted a pic of mine finished. only thing with yours is protecting it like you said...i dunno what you could do. maybe a kicker grill like this?