Look forward to seeing the outcome!!! Sounds awesome.

Showstopper.. how are you going to finish them out?

Sweet

finished the install a few years back, sold the car after hitting 250,000 miles.

There are pics of a few different installs I did over the years for the Z in my albums.

No-Pics update... I trimmed the side and the outside shape looks fantastic.. but I didn't feel good about where I glassed it on the inside blindly.... I ended up doing what I should have done when I added that side - I cut a panel out of the bottom so it wouldn't be blind anymore.

.. It was a bit of a mess in there, so I mixed up 8oz of resin and just poured it in against that edge to ensure it was sealed up completely and the seam is strong. Added a few extra layers to that side to stiffen it up as well. Only found one pin hole large enough to leak so not too bad. Ill glass the panel back in tomorrow and take some pics... will also do the bondo Milkshake and finally start filling and cleaning up the outside for vinyl.

Gave the enclosure a light sanding and skimmed with some filler. There is a lot more filler on the last side as there seems to be a little bit of a dimple in it that needs to be leveled.

I am completely out of filler and resin so I'll test the seal in the box after sanding to see if I need to make another trip to get more resin and filler for the milkshake finish... if its sealed I'll probably just skip that step. Going to test by mounting the sub and gently pressing and holding down the cone and seeing how quickly it rebounds when released.

http://www.the370z.com/members/jayho...ady-filler.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/jayho...ady-filler.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/jayho...ady-filler.jpg

Here it is ready for filler...

http://www.the370z.com/members/jayho...239-filler.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/jayho...238-filler.jpg

The filler job is a little messy as I mixed it too hot and didn't get enough work time so it started to firm up on me... no big deal... I am planning to vinyl so it doesn't need to be flawless.

I will need to go pick out some vinyl.. I was hoping I could use a scrap left from my poker table project but its not quite wide enough... I'll try to find something that fits in with the OEM interior.

You're right about the hassle of working with fiberglass.
Have fun sanding :)

Got it sanded.. took about an hour and a half. 60 grit paper knocks the filler down pretty fast and I was able to get most of it with a block.

http://www.the370z.com/members/jayho...ler-sanded.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/jayho...ler-sanded.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/jayho...ler-sanded.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/jayho...ler-sanded.jpg

Test fitted it after sanding and cleaning... Looking great.

http://www.the370z.com/members/jayho...9260-putty.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/jayho...9259-putty.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/jayho...9258-putty.jpg

Started cleaning up some of the bigger voids with some glazing putty... the dimple wasn't filled completely so I tried filling it with the putty. That part really is a job for another coat of filler but I am out of it and don't feel like going out to get more unless I absolutely need it. Most likely, if it drys through properly I will have to put on one more coat of it to get it completely level.

I also decided to glaze the portion that sits against the "bar" as you will be able to see it through that little void.

Hopefully will be able to sand, glaze, and sand one more time and be ready to cover. I also still need to test the seal.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel!

looking good thus far.

Awesome... just so long as it's not a train.

Very nice! You didn't cancel my order did you? :stirthepot:

Thanks!!
No joke! It felt that way when I was about to test fit it... I've had boxes warp on me as I finished them outside the car and you're all excited its taking shape then find out it doesn't fit anymore.
I did, unfortunately. Still waiting on that 165% restocking fee ;)

Sanded the putty, marked the blemishes, and reapplied.

In the dip the putty was still a little soft so I'll let it dry for about 24 hours and give it another quick sanding after work tomorrow. I love how easily the putty sands.

http://www.the370z.com/members/jayho...hes-marked.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/jayho...ty-round-2.jpg

Where do I send the $1.65? :tiphat:

Looks great, can't wait to see the finished product. I might have missed this, but how do you plan to anchor it?

BoneZ!!!!!!! The tip about the milkshake is going to be key. I installed the sub, sprayed soapy water all over the enclosure, pressed on the cone and BAM! Imperceptibly tiny pin holes like EVERYWHERE. Will definitely be picking up some extra body filler and resin tomorrow. Can't imagine how this might have affected previous enclosures... though previous enclosures included a lot more layers as they were much much larger.
I have no idea. I am going to wrap the sides with some foam and hope it fits in tightly enough to stay put.

If I anchor it to a panel I'll need to mod the trunk mats to ensure I can access the spare tire.

Awesome. In my experience, I had to use less hardener than I expected. I used the liquid from the resin, not the paste from the Bondo. My first shake turned into a bowling ball before I could get it into the enclosure. Need to keep it flowing for a bit to soak into all the crannies.

Thanks! Did you mix 50/50? What consistency did you go for? Runny at all? Or just tilt the box and watch it slowly slide around?

I've also thinned body filler down with acetone in the past and it works GREAT. I could probably get it much thinner than I could with resin but I may go with the resin just for the added stiffness.

I just added Bondo to the resin until it created a thick yet decent flowing consistency. Definitely thin enough to flow around the Box when tilted.

Question from the audio challenged. I know you're fabricating a sealed enclosure but is it critical to seal the pin holes?

For sure!! I have seen cones tear from the resistance of having to push/pull air through the pin holes. Even if it isn't that catastrophic, it's going to distort the sound.

Please anchor the subs in a solid fashion. A friend of mine had a box in his hatch mounted with Velcro. one night someone ran him off the road into a ditch. He would have came off with barely a scratch if it wasn't for the sub box getting him in the back of the head, which in turn put his face into the steering wheel. Split him open like a ripe watermelon, and pushed 4 teeth through his lower lip... Luckily, he wasn't killed by it.
even if its just a strap to hold it down, for gods sake, make it SOLID.

this is the end of our public service announcement.

Any ideas on how I might anchor this one?

At a glance, I'd say I like your idea of using some type of foam or weatherstripping between the box, and plastic trim pieces. Not to hold the sub, but to prevent vibrations between the box and these hard surfaces. As far as mounting, would it be possible to place an L bracket or something similar under the strut bar and into the enclosure? at least there it would not be visible, and if you ever take the box out to "gasp" sell the car, you wouldn't see the screw holes.... of course, I would use a nut and a large fender washer inside the enclosure. I'm thinking a right angle bit to run a self tapper up into bottom of strut bar.

That's a pretty good idea... Maybe with a wingnut so that removal does not require tools in the event I need to get to the spare. I will have to think about how I might best secure it.

No worries about ever selling the car... I've got way too much money/blood/sweat/tears into it to ever let it go.

Not sure if my mounting method would help.

I mounted an infinity all inone subamp , by making long u shaped brackets that went under/around one edge and kind of pinched the mats and honey comb plastic support. I then screwed the sub into top of the alluminum u bracket.

If I need to get underneath, I pull up and tilt the mats and slide the sub with brackets off.

This sounds interesting but I am having a difficult time visualizing it... Would you be willing to take a couple of pictures?

Put a screw right to the bottom of the box into the middle of the car. :eek:

:eek:

You might be on to something though - I was actually thinking about the stud/bolt ends sticking up from the floor under that foam plug... Could couple a threaded rod to one of those to come up and mount the enclosure to if its placed well enough.

That could work.

Ill get some pics and post, but think of a pair of large money clips that slide on to rear mats, and you then mount the sub to from the top.

I welded two bolts on one if my installs and used a metal strap to anchor it down. Siliconed the strap afterwards.

I have no welding skills... but....pics? =)

Here are a pair of snapshots. Because of where you are mounting , you would need smaller brackets, on two sides maybe.

From the side you can see the shape
http://www.the370z.com/members/oldgr...ng-bracket.jpg

How the lower part of bracket slides under the carpet, like a money clip :rofl2:
http://www.the370z.com/members/oldgr...der-carpet.jpg

Thanks! Not sure its for me, but that is a pretty slick idea!

I coated the inside with the milkshake concoction that I am choosing to call the "Milk BoneZ".

I went with a 2:1 ratio of resin to filler and it seemed thick enough to coat but runny enough to move around the inside. If I did it again I might make it just a bit thicker.

http://www.the370z.com/members/jayho...milk-shake.jpg

I'll find out tomorrow if it made the difference!

Found out early... everything was cured up. I installed the sub and its perfectly sealed! Milk BoneZ is legit. Tomorrow I'll pick up some vinyl.

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/...0._SL300__.png

Well I stopped by the fabric store and they didn't have anything that I liked.. I called up a local upholstery supply shop and they recommended Allsport 4-way stretch vinyl for this project...but also informed me they didn't stock it and suggested I buy it online. Found some on eBay for $10/ft so I grabbed a couple of feet - should be plenty.... but won't come in for a week or so.

Ah well.. it will give me time to clean up the garage (so I can park in there!) and install my amp.

Back when I was in high school, I worked at a commercial upholstery shop (seats for tractors and semi interiors). We would sell scraps to locals for cheap - sometimes free if they didn't mind doing a little dumpster-diving. There may be a similar business in your area.

This is probably the best advice in context.. but I went ahead and ordered the vinyl and, to tell you the truth, I have been neglecting some other things to spend time working on this project so taking a break from it is probably not the worst thing in the world. =)

little update.. I figured since I bought more body filler for the Milk BoneZ I might as well use it.. So I just cleaned up a couple of the low spots..

http://www.the370z.com/members/jayho...ore-filler.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/jayho...ore-filler.jpg

After blocking it down I was finally happy with it. I decided to fill a couple of the little pin holes and bubbles even though I doubt any of it would show under the vinyl... but what the heck.

http://www.the370z.com/members/jayho...zing-putty.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/jayho...zing-putty.jpg

Just need to sand those spots down (<5 min) but I am pretty much ready for vinyl! The stretchy vinyl comes in Tuesday so sometime next week I'll cover it.

How do you guys seal your speaker cable going into the box? I usually add a terminal cup but I decided this time I'd rather have a pigtail and connector.

My first impulse is to use a ball of epoxy putty. I'll probably put a knot in the cable inside to keep strain off of the seal between the cable and putty.