SQL install, 03 G35 Coupe, for a fellow Diyer :)

[simplicityinsound]

aight guys...just got done with a SQL install in a 2003 infiniti G35 Coupe for a fellow member of our little forum.

This is acutally the first true SQL install i have done in the G coupe actually...featuring two relatively heavy hitting subs

the goals:

1. good sound quality (you socal guys may see it at a few meets/comps)
2. ample amount of bottom end output
3. a clean and simple look to the trunk, that retains as much space as possible, but still with a little bit of flash (a little lighting was part of the design)

lets get started.

the signal starts with a kenwood Excelon 8120 dvd/nav/cd headunit. Having done a handful of these units now, i feel that for a double din nav all in one, it is one of the cleaner signal sources out there for sure.

it is installed in the stock location via the JDM double din finisher:



the system features zapco DC amps, and a laptop can be hooke dup to a USB extension cable coming from the armrest storage area. what is not seen is the USB and ipod cables also reside in the armrest:



front stage is Seas Lotus Reference 6.5" two way set. the tweeter, as usual, are molded into the A pillars, off axis firing across:









here are three quick build up pics of the pillar:

first the ring is aimed and attached, mold cloth resined and then strengthend from the inside via duraglass:



then it sanded smooth and blended in:



and finally, vinyled in black, mtaching the dash/door:

[simplicityinsound]

the midbass resides in the stock lower door location. first, the entire door was dampened via foam and mass loader, new speaker wire ran into the doors through the factor molex:



then, a treated baffle was attachd and the midbass secured to that:



and then, the door card was heavily sound proofed to prevent as much buzzing and rattling as possible, a symptom that Gs and Zs are known for:



same for the passenger door:







moving towards the back, the rear deck on the G35s are rattle traps...through trial and error, i hhave round that the best way to kill it is by putting foam on both the rear deck metal:



and the rear deck card piece:



as majority of the rattles are generated from the card bouncing up and down on the metal and retainers...it wont stop it completely whe nthe bass is pushed real high, but it helps a lot.

[simplicityinsound]

moving to the trunk. as mentioned before, the idea is to have it stealthy and keep as much usable space as possible. so normally, this is waht it looks like:



two fiberglass side boxes are on either side of hte trunk, and the factory carpet, after trimming, fits the same way as stock in the middle. two heavy duty grilles protects the subs.

remove the carpet, and here is hwat you see, a center section of hte floor is a flushed trim piece done in graphite CF vinyl. it also features a cutout in the middle for the amps:

[simplicityinsound]

remove the grilles and cover, and here is what you see. two zapco DC reference amps are below the cutout in the floor, with a ring of routed plexi. a DC 650.6 powers the front stage, 180 watts for the midbass 100 for each tweeter. a DC1100.1 sends 1100 watts to the two IDMAX10s.

i chose to do a rounded square baffle this time, to match the rounded square opening of hte trunk, and just beucsae i have done way too many round baffle side boxes in the G hehe.

having a square baffle also frees me up to do a matching CF trim around the subs to add a little flair.







here you can see the trim around the subs closely:





and a close up of the amp area:



flick a switch, and the rounted edge lit plexi lights up, the color, as specd by the customer, is cool white, basically its almost like the color of HID headlights...a bluish tint to the white:

[simplicityinsound]

now lets see the effect at night, there are 60 leds in the mix so they throw out quite a lot light the bluish hue to the lightiung is more evident in the dark:







and finally, some build up pics:

a bit thanks goes out to Nick Johnson, who fabricates the famous 4080 enclosures for the G35, for providing me with the back mold of his boxes. from there, i attached my square baffle, and molded it, then i cut hte back of the box off, and applied 7-8 layers of mat to the inside of hte box. then the two sides are jointed again, and sealed with three layers of cloth on both the inside and outisde.

here are the boxes done to that step:





and then, they were capreted, and the CF trim panel attached:



here is a shot of the grilles for the sub, as i get questions on them a lot. so you can see, its a piece of MDF with a center cutout, mesh attached, and a border spacer made from low heat plastic. and the entire thing wrapped wtih breathable black carpet:



and finally, the shot of hte wiring below the floor. the two zapco amps have received hte double internal fan mod, and two external fans force a little bit more air into the inlets on the side of the amp:



car overall should sound excellent, similar to the other SQ G35 i did a while ago, but with more bass. i have the bass gain turned way low right now...the two idmaxes can certainly rumble.

taking her down to socal on friday...should be a fun drive.

cheers,

Bing

[Inferno333]

Fantastic!


How do you get the tweeters to line up right?

[simplicityinsound]

a bout an hour total time eye balling, using a digital level and taking it out, putting it back in a dozen times

[strong*I*bumpin]

Nice work as usual, got scared at first when I saw the square baffle but I know u dont rock kicker(squares)

[simplicityinsound]

pssh...you know i'd rock the hifonics squares

[12v Electronics]

I love your skills. How much airspace do those IDmax's have?

[simplicityinsound]

the 4080, as they make it, is .8 cubfeet, the way i make it, with the round baffle spaed out for the idmax, is about .9, this one, i suspect is a smidge bigger with the square baffle...right under 1 cubfeet.

[trunks9_us]

Nice looking keep it up

[syd-monster]

Notch up another one... these sort are becoming you "signature" now.

[simplicityinsound]

whcih part? the zapco dc /seas combo? i wonder if the owner has managed to stay away from this thread so he can see it in person on sat

[kevin k.]

Very nice job...

Always a pleasure seeing your work, Bing...

[syd-monster]

Originally Posted by simplicityinsound

whcih part? the zapco dc /seas combo?

Well not so much the components, but you have almost developed "that look" into your own!
Try this social experiment. Next time you do a car, post up photos and let us DIY'rs determine who did the build. I bet regulars here pick it out as being one of your installs. (start up a secondary login so we know its not you ).

[unpredictableacts]

Ok I am curious....which DIYer is afraid of touching thier own car?

[12v Electronics]

Originally Posted by unpredictableacts

Ok I am curious....which DIYer is afraid of touching thier own car?

I am.

I really don't trust myself at all.

In fact I usually have to look behind my shoulder to see what I did so that I can double check it.

[unpredictableacts]

So if bing is a DIYer for others that that make him a dedicated desinated DIYer?

"Just hand over the Keys buddy, I am not allowing you to drive yourself home with a stock system."

[unpredictableacts]

Originally Posted by 12v Electronics

I am.

I really don't trust myself at all.

In fact I usually have to look behind my shoulder to see what I did so that I can double check it.

So this is your G35?

[shinjohn]

Bing,
Nice job yet again!
I'd recognize your work anywhere!
IMO, lots of great signature fabrication details!
- a-pillar build and molding technique
- sound deadener type, placement and installation (always neat and geometric)
- tasteful use of vinyl accents (carbon fiber seems to be popular these days )
- some bling with the LED strips to edge light plexi

Great stuff! I especially like the square sub baffle aesthetic; totally agree it works well with the shape of the trunk opening!

[12v Electronics]

Originally Posted by unpredictableacts

"Just hand over the Keys buddy, I am not allowing you to drive yourself home with a stock system."

I like that. I think I will have to quote that in my sig.

[mSaLL150]

Awesome install Bing, looks killer.

[glidn]

another great tidy install. Will be interested to see what the 1000hp BMW you are getting is going turn out like?

[donpisto]

I'm gonna take a wild guess and say it's NismoV35's. Awesome work Bing, and if it is his, can't wait to hear it! I'm probably the only with a G in so cal on this board that doesn't have a setup