williet1342

OK guys, I've picked out some really nice high end stuff for the stereo upgrade and I'm pulling the trigger tomorrow. Nakamichi CD 400, Audison Amp, Focals etc... It should be nice. BUT HERE IS THE QUESTION:

The subwoofer install I am really interested in is the one where you install two (2) eights in the wall behind the rear seat backs (seen only if the rear seats are folded down). I often have a small 3nd passenge (or two) and the little guys need the limited foot room they currently have, so down low won't work for me. I also realize the sound might be effected with rear seats up.
Whats KILLING ME IS MAKING THE FIRST CUT.
HOW BIG is the cavity back there? The lower the cut the bigger the gap due to the slant?

I've seen the thread with the picture but I am leary of cutting through something (wiring etc...) and really screwing the pooch.

Anybody with knowledge about what looms behind the rear wall that I should avoid please respond. If one side is worse than the other I could go with one 10" on one side or the other ????

Ideas???

Cheers gentlemen and regards from the Low Country of South Carolina.

STU

williet1342

Hey Kim, thats Awesome. Any pics with the engine out would be FANTASTIC!!!!

I'm not the luckiest guy, not much of a gambler etc... Thats why I came to you guys. I'm trying not to make an expensive mistake. All help appreciated.

Thanks for responding.

Benton

Why not just remove the panel and see how much depth there is? I do not think that there is any room to mount any type of quality subwoofer in that area because of magnet depth. I took the panel off in like 1 minute just to remove the sound deadening under there and there is not much space at all. The picture I saw of two subwoofers mounted there appeared to be low quality infinity subwoofers (not saying infinity is low quality-much of their stuff is good) that would not have a very deep mounting depth.

Benton

I might add that the wall slants toward the seats just as the panel does. There are random highs and lows in the body panel. I made my own subwoofer box out of fiberglass which houses 1 10" woofer behind the driver's seat.

williet1342

I heard the area was small but when I saw the other thread and pic it was interesting. I may end up doing like you did and mount one sub in the foot well behind the driver. I was trying to preserve foot space for the little passengers I take on the Sunday Drive.

I also heard from a tech guy that he was flying to a trade show over the weekend and they were supposedly profiling some super thin but efficient subwooer by JL Audio or somebody. I'll post the results in case they are interesting to other rennlisters....

Anybody else mounted behind the seats? What is the thinnnest decent subwoofer? Bag it and mount behind the driver seat...I know, I know.....

Cheers

Edward

Hey Kim,

Whatcha doing to the Yellow Zonker. Not fast enough for you?

Edward

FlyYellow

a couple of thoughts....

1) i have small kids. There is enough room in the footwell for their feet. My kid is 3 1/2 years old. and i have the rod birch setup.

2) i modified the speaker enclosures so they snap in and out in about 10 seconds. That way if I want to remove the enclosures with the speakers (i.e. if an adult will be sitting back there or more likely i'm planning to autox or track the car). i put a clip on it similar to the type the airbox uses. So it's a true snap in and out solution.

i highly recommend my configuration. if you are local you are welcome to hear it.

i do NOT recommend the Nak CD400Z deck. I used to have it and was unhappy with it. I much prefer my Alpine 7894.

Cheers,
Boris

David in LA

Boris - any pics? I'm also looking for a subwoofer setup although since I tossed the rear seats, passenger space is not really an issue....just looking for a clean install and having a cab means the back firewall and rear sides are out.

btw, I got your email....again, many thanks!

jda407

touch base with Rod Birch, owner of Car Audio Innovations in Rosedale, Ca. rodb@caraudioinnovations.com or 916-780-9450. He is very familiar with the spacing back there and the various options that you have. He's been building custom stuff and doing custom porsche audio installations for many years. He built me the subs I have in mine and the ones in my neighbors 996. Very nice guy and knowledgable and helpful.
Good Luck

williet1342

Thanks for taking the time to post the pics. They were awesome and really give us all something to think about. Adding the foot wells pics points out some additional structure, wiring, etc...that many will appreciate.

I'm also persuaded to go with the removeable "Birch Style" boxes with a set of quick clips etc... The truth is my wife and five year old are usually my only passengers and thats not every weekend etc...

I also tend to over research things before I pull the trigger. But these cars appparently bring that out of many. I guess in the back of my mind if I ever sell the car (and I don't anticpate that any time soon), I'd want some other Rennlister to look at the mods and other improvement calls I made and agree that I wasn't on crack or something.

THANKS AGAIN GUYS...

Cheers from the Low Country of S.C.

Mark in Hermosa

And 275lbs lighter without the driver.

911Jeff

fyi...

911-TOUR

Boris,

I'd like to see your setup...I've been pondering this for a while now, I'd like to see what solution you came up with for "easy in, easy out" for the Birch setup. You can PM me or email to saspicer@nospam.mac.com, if you like.

sean

Robert Collins - 96 993TT

Williet,

I will second or third using Rod Birch. He is the man and is a 911 specialist. I bought the parts from him but due to the travel distance between him and Nashville, TN, I had a knowledgable friend with installation experience install them for me. We were on the phone with Rod, on a Saturday, for no less than four phone calls totalling two hours and he was always very helpful. I will buy from him again for sure.

Boris,

I already have the two eights in the footwells set-up. What mods did you do to make them a quick in-and-out?? Do you have any pics of them out so I can see the hardware on the floor of the car and on the boxes?? Thanks in advance.

Robert

FlyYellow

Guys, i'll take some pics and post them tomorrow. but meanwhile i'll give a short explanation.

If you are familiar with the rod birch enclosures this should make sense.

at the top of his enclosure he has a T bracket. The bottom of the T is extended under the seat and screwed down with a self tapping screw. I removed this T bracket and replaced it with a snap clamp (i'll take a picture and it should be self evident).

on the bottom of the enclosure he has a 2.5" hinge. I just put in a hinge with a removal pin. That's all.

Cheers,
Boris