metal sub box

[still2hi]

OK i dont post much mostly in the build section or street section. But the story is im redoing my audio and interior this year in the green truck. I am 6' 6" so the regular cab isn't the greatest choice but whatever i like the look of them. I am going with 6 inch Infinity Kappa component spreakers in the doors and 1 ten inch thin sub. I cannot put it behind my bench seat as i do not want my seat to be shoved forward at all. So my idea was to put in on the floor in the passenger side. I want to weld a box right to the floor because with steel i can get away with thinner material. If i use MDF i need half an inch which doesnt sound big but adds up. If i use 1/8" for the sides and top and use the cabfloor as the bottom will it rattle? Or sound crappy. Im going after quality sound this time around not just loud bass. Im over that phase lol. I would sound deaden inside the box obviously. Any comments or suggestions?

[Polecat]

custom center console?

http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/5656/billstruck.jpg

[BigBody90]

I am not an expert, but I would assume if you used a thick enough steel that would not flex then it would be ok. Maybe even put some sound deadener on the inside.

Ok, now for someone to chime in and say it is not a good idea.

[FastBlak]

I heard a box once that was metal. And i thought it sounded like garbage, maybe it was just that one but i wouldnt do it. Have you considered fiberglass?

[supraloud84]

As long as the metal is thick enough to not resonate I think it would be ok. Ive never attempted this though so Im not sure. As said above, I would definitely use sound deadener on the inside of the box

[1Sick1500]

i wouldnt advise it. my truch had three 8" JL audio w0's behind my bench seat and they sounded great. the only issue i ran into, was a location to mount my amps. which ended up under the seats. now i am preping my truck for a blow through into the bed with 2 L7 15's. wood would be the only material i use.

[xxEMOxx]

custom center console?

http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/5656/billstruck.jpg

I second that idea.

A metal sub box is a not great idea. I have heard about 4, even with 1/4in. steel it will still flex, rattle, and vibe even sound deadened. I just don't see any reason to take the time, effort and not removability option of fabing and welding in a metal sub box, when MDF seems cheaper, easier and better sounding. There is always the fiberglass setup as a option which also can look pretty bad-@$$ical is done right.

I am currently working on making a fiberglass box for under the seat of my ext. cab. Which is well a messy process but will look awesome when finished.

[Dyabolical]

Plate steel is a bad idea. The only way i see it working is if you brace it from the inside and that would be a nightmare. In this case it sounds like fiberglass is your friend.

[still2hi]

sorry missed the responses, the center console is out i have that now with a flipout screen and 10" between the seats. But i am switching to a bench now i don't like the look of the center console. I think MDF would work better but it takes up space. The material has to be thicker and i dont have a ton of room under the seat. Aren't SPL vehicles all metal or do they use rediculous thicknesses? I think i could make it fit with MDF tho, just means it will be tighter down there.

[12VoLt ShOcKeR]

It would work out ok if you just used them as tubs then fiberglass a enclosure into the tubs...

Other than that I would go a more traditional route ... Like the consol..

[BOTMAN]

sorry missed the responses, the center console is out i have that now with a flipout screen and 10" between the seats. But i am switching to a bench now i don't like the look of the center console. I think MDF would work better but it takes up space. The material has to be thicker and i dont have a ton of room under the seat. Aren't SPL vehicles all metal or do they use rediculous thicknesses? I think i could make it fit with MDF tho, just means it will be tighter down there.

SPL vehicles boxes are wood and fiberglass

[adamv7010]

i have seen a few guys do a plain install, simple design box of mdf or birch, and wrap the box in plate steel....in those cases it was only the cosmetic effect they wanted.

[still2hi]

well either way its gonna be covered with carpet... i can use MDF just thought it would be simpler to use steel... weld it in and done

[92CHEYENNEon22s]

I think that if you're willing to do some fab work, you may be able to make a box under the dash, directly in front of the passengers feet area. It wouldn't be visible if you do it right. Just a suggestion.

[sniper_101]

I would suggest a fiber/plexi enclosure at the least, metal (all thicknesses) will resonate horribly. You could also consider a free-air sub . . .

[LndscpIllusion]

I think that if you're willing to do some fab work, you may be able to make a box under the dash, directly in front of the passengers feet area. It wouldn't be visible if you do it right. Just a suggestion.

Was going to suggest something like this. For instance... Take out the glove box and mold something in there. I wouldn't suggest metal because it would just resonate and sound like ****. See if you can make a really thin wedge box behind the fully reclined seat and if needed for airspace, go underneath the seat. Those shallow mount 10" subs can get surprisingly small, or you could run 8's as well, I've heard a few that pound extremely well.

[still2hi]

ya i thought about the dash but i dont want to cut up the dash too much right now... its supposed look look stock clean and painted, i dont want to go to crazy on anything right now because i will be building a dash one day then i can figure something like that out but until then i have to figure something out... thanks for all the suggestions.

Any opinions on a quality shallwo mount sub? I was looking at MTX but not sure how there shallow sub would sound?

[BOTMAN]

ya i thought about the dash but i dont want to cut up the dash too much right now... its supposed look look stock clean and painted, i dont want to go to crazy on anything right now because i will be building a dash one day then i can figure something like that out but until then i have to figure something out... thanks for all the suggestions.

Any opinions on a quality shallwo mount sub? I was looking at MTX but not sure how there shallow sub would sound?

What about a 8" in the doors.. :dunno: you are building custom door panels anyways.

[still2hi]

the pods are already done tho lol for 6's and the speakers bought too

[xxEMOxx]

Just go shallow 10's under the seats, or even some good 8's behind the seats, it will add enough low fill. If your truly set on going big, cut a port through, build the box, weld the steel over the box in the bed, to make it interior sealed with the cab.

That would be pretty bad ass. Seen it done on a buddy's C-10 in highschool, it gives you room for your subs, and on top of that protects them from the rain because they are sealed inside the cab, techically.

[still2hi]

i think i decided 10" shallow under the seat, MDF box, the cut through idea is nice but im not going to do that, because the way my bed setup is i dont want anything in there

[Dyabolical]

Just thought i would add...most hard core SPL vehicles use several layers of MDF. And the outlaw SPL types use concrete.

[20"silverado]

dont do a metal sub box, you might be able to use 1/2" mdf, pref use 3/4", but you could do a couple 8's behind your seat and not have to scoot it up. Im 6'3" and I had 2 12's behind my seat with minimal scooting.