Ok, so I'm about done with my stereo install, I got it bumping and all that other jazz. And before I get destroyed for even thinking about starting a new post, I did a few searches, but I suck at that game.

I've seen the post about how to make your own fiberglass floor in the trunk, but that's not what I'm looking for. I have my amp in the lowered part of the trunk (will post pictures soon) and I'm not planning on taking it to shows or anything crazy. I just want to put something over it so I can still throw things in the trunk without them resting right on top of the amplifier. I was thinking a 1/4" piece of wood with carpeting over the top of it but that doesn't seem all that professional, and I don't really know much about cars in general but I think the smaller the wood the better for looks, but worse for stability. There's plenty of room in the lowered part of the trunk to attach to say 2x4's to whatever I lay on top for support, but that whole concept just seems bulky and again, unprofessional.

Also how would I secure it down? From what I've found, there is only like a charcoal line or something (I know that's wrong) running near that area, but well in the back of the trunk. I will probably end up just using self tapping screws. Again, the goal is to just cover it up, I don't need to add neons to make my amp blink to the beat because I don't really show it off all that much.

Any ideas, comments, or suggestions as to what you've done without having to take it to the pros would be awesome. Thanks.

 

How about the Mazda "organizer box with lid"? I also have the cargo tray but you can install the organizer without the tray. It works great as far as being sturdy and staying in place.

You can buy it at rosenthal's site for about $60.

 

That's DEFINITLY a possibility. I'd lose the classiness of the carpet and have to rewire evertyhing, but that looks sweet. How hard is it to but in the 4080 boxes after installing that. I have a hard enough time putting them in as is.

 

Here's what my trunk is looking like now

 

If you don't get the cargo tray, the carpet will match. I had to trim my cargo tray to get the 4080 box in.

 

Yeah, I just went to the site and looked at it. I think my amp may be too big. I might just swing by rosenthal (15 minutes from my house) to take a look at it. Unless I can get it without the center piece, that would be perfect. Thanks for the idea.

 

Cooling, cooling, cooling!

The carpet and wood will be great insulation, the heat will build up and fry the amp as soon as you crank it.

That area gets real warm from below anyway, and an 800 watt amp puts out a lot of heat, itself. They are covered in fins for a reason!

S

 

Point well made, so suggestion being then? Just leave it open and have a no space trunk?

 

Just a thought...have you you thought about using plexiglass and maybe drill a couple holes to let the heat escape? Or maybe, have it slightly leveled higher than trunk floor. I would think about that idea. Heck if you do that, you can get a little creative and just mount the amp to the plexiglass so its not covering any of the amps vents. Don't know how much plexiglass is; never priced it.

 

"have it slightly leveled higher than trunk floor." What do you mean on that one? Yes I have considered using plexiglass, like I said earlier, I'm a total noob when it comes to anything car. Right now unless you ask me how to change your volume **** or fuel door, I'd be about clueless. I'll look more into the plexiglass though.

 

i was thinking to use a couple brackets (L shaped) to bolt them onto the sides of the false floor and have it a little higher than the trunk floor just slightly to allow air in and out. not a huge noticeable amount, but just enough. I'm not a veteran on installs, but i figured that could be an idea.

 

I would still use that deprssion, it's too good to miss, ideal for an amp, cap and some extras, but I would add a couple of computer fans.

They are cheap if you hack up some old power supplies, or if you use plexy, get some $10 blue LED transparent fans and show them off!

I would use more than one, for the size of the amp, and in case something in the trunk slides onto one intake you still have a backup.

S

 

yes agree mount amp from underneath to still be able to use flushed trunk space and fans are a pretty good idea would even add some inexpensive pizzaz to it with led fans.

 

You could do somethign like i did. I noticed my amps were overheating because the bottom of the trunk gets really warm. So i made a 3/8" plywood base and mounted my amps to that. I am going to cover it in carpet and all the wires come up thru the base for a really clean looking install. I actually used bolts thru the plywood to give a gap between the bottom of the trunk and the plywood allowing room for wiring and an air gap. The plywood was easy to make, just make a cardboard template and transfer to the plywood.

 

BTW the secret to get the 4080 boxes in is to get the front part all the way in on an angle then slide the rear section into place. The first time i did it i couldn't figure out how to get them in place, now it's a snap.

 

adrian-1 how slippery is the RX-8 trunk mat?

It looks like it would be non-conducive to having items stay put, like a carpeted sub box.

 

Oh, for cooling, the best air cooling is achieved by having an intake fan and an exhaust fan. Both the same size and if possible have them on either end of the amp following the lines of the heatsink. Better flow.

 

I'd highly recommend you do a false floor and mount your amp(s) to a rack in the depression of your trunk. The false floor really isn't that hard to build as long as you use cardboard to make templates and TAKE YOUR TIME. I would forget the hardwood idea and use a material that i had just happened to have laying around my house from another project(Pic 1). It is a half inch thick board made of what looks to be recycled matter. It is very light, surprisingly rigid, easy to cut and very cheap. I made my false floor and amp rack from this material and it is wonderful. I then used 1/8" thick "Temp Hardboard"(also very cheap, Pic 2) to make the frame for the plexiglass.

I would definately incorporate some fans into the setup to keep things cool and as far as your concern for mounting the false floor, my answer is if you make it snug enough you shouldn't have to bolt it down at all. But I'm not going to hijack your thread and turn it into a DIY, what I'm getting at is you will be much more satisfied with a false floor than a cargo organizer and you really won't have that rough of a time building it. I just turned 17 and I have had no other experience with anything of this sort and I really had no problem doing it, not to mention I doubt it cost me more than $50 to do. Check it out.......BTW it is not complete in this pic: No plexi installed yet and the plexi holder is not centered or finished being painted and the wiring is not complete yet.

Oh and no flaming for this crappy audio equipment, it pushes my stuff and it sounds pretty good.

 

So as an update, I've had to go the cheap route and just layed a piece of Plexiglass across the indention in the trunk and it seems to be holding up fine. The amp does feel pretty hot after a long drive which concerns me. Should this be something I should worry about or not? btw - the plexiglass that is laying across has a one ich gap roughly at the top for air. Actually it's there because the plexiglass was free and that's what size it was.

 

pics of my system... wood false floor plexi in the middle and the glowing blue things are my fans to keep the amp cool, i have one on each side

 

here is mine!
I guess I didn't use the opening, but there is still a false floor
I like the neon look, Might add some light to mine as well!

 

make sure to run to homedepot and get some insulation for the heat under the amps that exhaust is no joke in the heta department oh yeah fans are a must.

 

LilBen and Kel - any idea how much a custom shop would charge to do something like that? I just need a quality looking false floor and it's looking to painful to do it on my own. I'm going to take it to a shop after I get paid next month and see what they tell me. I don't have fans or a capicator and would like to add them, but getting the floor finished is my priority

 

Does anyone have the dimensions of the cargo depression area of the trunk? Just planning ahead. Peace!!

 

supposively the shop charged me less than 50 for the false floor but i got jipped and its a pos, basically carpeted piece of wood poorly cut out for plexi laid over the amp and wood sitting under the amp.. i have to redo that myself in the future when i have time.. right now it is flimsy as hell