My latest project

Thought some of the members might enjoy my latest project..
The system is a work in progress but should be done within the next 2 months. It’s a 1996 Vw Kombi bus that’s being build as a demo van for a clients company. They actually specialize in V8 conversions and needed something that would draw a crowd at shows.

Anyway as I am a Kicker dealer in Bloem we decided to go big.

System :
Sony XAV 701bt head unit
Kicker ZX2500.1 mono x 1
Kicker ZX 650.4 4 channel x 1
Kicker RS 6.5 split x 1
Kicker KS 6x9 x 2
Kicker Comp VR 10" subs x 6
Dual battery system
Probe 120amp/hour deep cycle x 4


And some progress pics.

 

@a3aan
really looks great. can't wait to see more pics

 

My other passion..........

 

Hehe.... Thanks @llewellynkearney I will update as i go.

 

you are really really good with your hands. i think i must come and check it out some time

 

Gonna sound nice. U going to run all 6 subs off the monoblock?

 

@llewellynkearney any time. Maybe over the weekend?

@ATV jip all 6 of the mono. ZX2500.1 is 2500watt RMS not peak and the Comp subs 400watt RMS each. So the match is perfect.

 

Very very nice job , now I have a contact haha

 

Well done! Awesome work

 

perfect - so with an inverter you can run your fish tanks for days without eskom power.

 

Very good point.....

I'm glad I'm not the only one always making fish keeping connections to everything.... (Even car audio)

 

What tools do you use to form the wood?

 

You will probably laugh but I'm quite handy with a grinder and a jigsaw.... Most of the shaping is done with a grinder. It takes a wile to get handy with it especially if you must duplicate shaped edges. And lots of fibre glass and filler. But for the most part I can build most with a table router my trusty jigsaw and plunge saw. And allot of elbow grease. And of course my grinder. Haha

 

I also do awesome work with my grinder due to my limited welding skills

Do you use a sanding disk on the grinder?

 

Let's not talk about welding skills..... I have 0 of that.... Give me wood any day that I know...

And yes with mainly 40grid sanding discs.

 

Looks awesome ! Is it feasible to build boxes for subs to go under the seats of a VW Caddy panelvan ? There is nice space under there and was thinking of doing something like that in mine, dont want boxes taking up space in the back, want the sound but dont want to see it if you know what I mean ? Would you reccomend a split system that can fit into the existing speaker positions in the dash ?

 

- so if you talking the "new shape" older than 2005 I think then that space is the lowest in your van , if you have a spill of liquid in the back etc - that is where I would go looking for water build-up, so not a place that I would want to put subs in. I have other thought that a sub in the roof storage could work, but the Caddy is really a BIG echo tin unless you have paneled yours. BTW add a carpet to the back makes for a better sound absorption and less echo.

Later Ferdie

 

Hi Ferdie, its a 2007 model, so new shape. The space under the seats is for storage etc, should be quite easy to put a drain into each side in case of liquid getting in there, though I have never had any to date. I hear you about it being a big echo tin though surprisingly the stock standard sound in front is quite good considering, better than stock sound in a lot of other normal cars I've heard. There are no seats in the back. I'm just not into putting big sub boxes in the back and using up space. I am in the audio industry and have done a few 'custom installs' into houses. Emphasis is on discrete, ie full 7.1 home theatre where all you 'see' is the video screen, in wall/in ceiling speakers blend in and are unobtrusive yet sound awesome. Dont know if the space is big enough under the seats in a caddy ? Though it should be for 8" or 10" subs. 2 8" subs properly driven and eq'ed under the seats should kick arse....excuse the pun...

 

he he ... agree more than enough space for 10", yeap that sound from the Radio (since that is all mine has) is really not bad considering the rest of the vehicle a Diesel. I think the speakers in the working caddy is two door and two dash speakers. I am not sure of the quality of thump you will get from under the seat since a lot of it will be lost playing into the foam of the seat base.

Then again these guys have a sub in that space ... but look at rest to absorb sound.

Caddy Sportline - Page 2 - VW T4 Forum - VW T5 Forum

 

Morning.... Sorry looks like I have missed this late night discussion...

Ok so first things first. I own the exact same van even year model and have done a few of them like this in my time. The space is perfect for a 8" vented per seat compartment (about 18l). Sub firing upwards and vent to the back as there is a additional space for the vent to get nice loading. I have done this with just one and 2 subs and I can report 2 does sound allot better but your planning needs to be good as you have to consider amp placement also. (Like you said you would like the sound but in a stealthy way.)

Also I agree that they sound as standard allot better than allot of up market cars but if you would like to replace the front with a split system everything does fit in the standard positions. (Doors can take up to 8" mid and tweeter in dash space) Just to warn you spend some extra money for sound deadening in the doors and make sure they do a proper wooden spacer for the new mid otherwise you will end up with a worse sounding front stage than standard.

As for the vans being echo boxes I totally agree. And like Ferdie said a carpet in the back goes a long way. Over the years we have owned 3 of witch one was sound proofed in the back by just covering all the existing panels with proper carpet and stuffing all the space behind it with cheap speaker box carpet and it worked like magic. No more echo or resonance when you drive.

If you like to build your own systems let me know about the box designs and also some sub recommendations.