Building a new trunk floor (with sub). Advice?

[PieEyedPiper]

I'm looking to build a new floor for my trunk that will be raised a considerable amount so that I can mount my amps underneath it as well as have room for a sealed sub enclosure.

Something along the lines of these:

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And like this one only with ONE sub in the middle (though closer to the front of the vehicle).


I purchased a large sheet of some nice plywood today and I need to begin making a template to start with. Any ideas on how to get a good fit? I can't trace the stock floor since the shape and size will change dramatically since I will being raising the floor up. Also I'm not sure what I should use for support either. I imagine the sub enclosure would work well for support but I'll need more than just that.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[RWKustoms]

I just replaced my trunk floorboard with plywood as well a couple of days ago. I thought I would use the carpeting that came stock as a template but I ran into the same problem also. I wanted to do a quick install so I just measured and "eyeballed" some of the curves. I used a circular saw and jigsaw, after I was done it was not how I wanted it but it was far better that the POS that came with the car though. Now I just need to cover it with speaker carpet or something. If you wanted to make the enclosure I would definitely find a way to get the template perfect so that everything can fit perfectly.

Here's some pics for reference from some guy selling it on ebay if you really decide on doing the enclosure:

 

[GreddyGst]

hmm just looking at those trunks it almost makes me want to buy a sub and amp Just one sub though cus I really don't want to add weight to the car

 

[twack]

Those look sweet i wish he made those in a 1g.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

Thanks for the reply's guys. Sometimes those things are in high demand!

Anyways, while I'd love a professional job like that ebay setup. I'm gonna stick to my guns and still make my own.
I just had an idea about how to get a proper contuor to make a stencil out of. Then use the stencil to cut/shape the plywood.

Here is a PDOB (poorly drawn offensive bitmap...long story) of my idea. I would get a sheet of cardboard or bristle board or something and then cut/slice into the edges like shown. I would then be left with long, flexible finger-like projections all along the edges that could easily be bent or trimmed to make my stencil.

Thoughts?

 

[VanIsleDSM]

I've seen a writeup on how to do this, I thought it was on this site, but it's not, I'll keep looking, it had a good technique to get the outline for the floor as you are trying to figure out, I think it was for making a fiberglass box but the same technique I'm sure could be applied.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

I've seen a writeup on how to do this, I thought it was on this site, but it's not, I'll keep looking, it had a good technique to get the outline for the floor as you are trying to figure out, I think it was for making a fiberglass box but the same technique I'm sure could be applied.

Is this what you were thinking of?
http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?TID=74519

I don't think it would take much to modify that idea to work for my purposes. My idea looks simpler and faster but using strips of the papaer/bristle board may make for a better fit. Only problem I see is shaping the strips/finger projections for a good fit - no matter which method I choose.

EDIT:
More good links:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=67086&page=2

 

[Zeppelin]

Here's a pic of what I did with my car:

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It saves more space than what is posted above, and you can still use the trunk and not worry about laying stuff on the speakers/amp.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

Here's a pic of what I did with my car:

It saves more space than what is posted above, and you can still use the trunk and not worry about laying stuff on the speakers/amp.

While it looks great, I don't think that solution will work for me. I don't want to use a ported or IB type enclosure. SQ > SPL.
I don't think there is nearly enough cu.ft. in that little area for sufficient airspace.
I do appreciate your input though and your design did turn out quite clean.

 

[edenTSI]

that looks awesome. very clean. i plan on doing this to my 1g next weekend. i'm putting in a 15" and two 8" JL Audio's, with a PPI 5-channel amp. it's chrome so i want to someone show it off. i plan on takin pictures and making a tech article for 1g cars too. again nice job, i hope mine comes out as clean

 

[EclipseTrbo420A]

If you sat low enough you can use the stock carpet just trace it on plywood like I did. You saw the thread. If you want to go higher I saw a method on the interned where a guy secured a screw driver perpendicular to a sharpie and just put the edge of the screw driver up against the trunk wall and trace out the shape on paper. Ill make a MS for you

Heres the pics....that make sense, then if you use the bottom method, just compensate for the length of the screw driver on all the straight parts of the stencil and there you have it your prefect outline.

 

[VanIsleDSM]

That's the thing in the article I read that I mentioned earlier, nice job eclipsetrbo, I coudln't remember what it was..

 

[EclipseTrbo420A]

SO did you try that method yet ? I'm interested to know if it actually works

 

[trackTSIawd]

heres what I would do... measure the widest part of the trunk.. cut a piece of plywood or mdf to that width, do the same with the height. cut that piece exactly in half. set one of the halves in the trunk and put it square with the sides of the trunk touching the narrowest wall... get a scribe, and set it to the widest width left between the wood and the side of the trunk... then you use the scribe.. if you dont kn ow how all you have to do is keep it set at the widest part and run it along the side of the trunk... all of the places it touches obviously are the lines you cut on.. That would be the best way to get accurate curves.

 

[VanIsleDSM]

no offense man, but I have no idea what you're talking about, sometimes when you're talking about something you got it your head it seams so clear to yourself, but ends up not making any sense to anybody else, I know I've done it before.

 

[xveganxcowboyx]

I made a new floor/sub box for mine, but I left my spare tire and it's cover in. The box just wraps around the tire and plastics. What worked for me was using sheets of newspaper to fit into the areas, then cut to the right shape. I then traced the newspaper onto the particle board.

 

[trackTSIawd]

Hmm I thought I explained that pretty well... O well. If I post pics when I do mine maybe it'll make more sense.

 

[95GSXT]

i have been thinking of cutting the trunk out. where the spare tire is at and make it complete flat. and moving the battery to there and even maybe put in a fuel cell. this is my street/show car that i have been working on please give me some input and idea and suggestion please thanks

 

[talon_frost]

I have also been thinking the same thing in my 1g, what i was going to do is cut the wheel knob on the top off, then make a cut out of the trunk in semi thin plywood.. then carpet it ....

 

[Defiant]

It's trouble on a 1G. There's gas tank under that bump:
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/new...ng-hump-back-my-1g-merged-10-6-gas-trunk.html