Full system install, with Auto Climate Control = 50+ hours work

Well just like the title says, this thread will show in detail my complete system install in an 05 LGT with Auto climate control. I will start with the hardest part. Mounting an aftermarket deck, without removing the stock radio. It will be mounted where the center cubby is. First and formest, I know AVO makes a kit to do this, but Id rather spend about 1/4 of that and do it myself. Plus I am more pleased with the results from this than I would be with the kit based on the pics Ive seen of it.

 

You can see the beginning materials (center cubby assembly and scrap ABS plastic), the initial triming and assembly (making supports out of the abs, and bracing with them and lots of hot glue). Also the pieces of the dash that must be removed to fit a deck behing the cubby.

Looks good so far!

Looks like a fun project. Not sure if you have seen this: http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113589

 

They have figured out how to make the JDM DD kit work in our cars now.

These pics show the first coats of bondo, initial test fitting of the deck and info center, first coat of primer, spot putty, final primer, and paint. Duplicolor Acrylic laquer flat black was used and it's nearly a perfect match. Once it dries it looses almost all of it's gloss. These first two posts represent 19.5 hours of work.

Here is the box for the subs. It is approx 2.2 cubes sealed, built for two Kicker Solo-baric S10L7 subs. I wanted a lower maintenance finish than carpeting, so I used truck bed coating. A full quart can on the roll on stuff with a cheap walmart paint roller, then a can of the spray on to get a more even finish. The box is built to retain maximum use-able trunk space since I love to travel, and the spare tire compartment can still be easily accessed. And that's not a handle, its to keep the wire runs organized. It would need a much stronger handle that then, especially when everything is in/on the box. Approx 6.5 hours of work.

that is pretty nice, I gotta say...

I like it but.. isnt it going to look silly to have 2 radios?

This is the car torn apart. Lol . The spacer rings for the doors, the tweeters mounted in the factory locations, and the crossovers on the door panels. The front doors have Kicker RS 65.2 components, and the back doors have Kicker KS 6.5 coax's. You can also see the custom harness for the deck, as well as the RCA's, and remote wire. I didnt get a picture of the adapter wire for subaru's antenna plug in, but it's in there. You can also see the last fitting of the deck into the custom dash mount just before install.

And lastly, The power wire from underhood, the wiring connections on the box for the power for both amplifiers (KX 1200.1 and ZX 150.2) and the speaker connections for the subs. Also the final pics of the deck installed. The only thing I have left to do is sound deaden the doors, and possibly the rear deck lid. I simply ran out of motivation on the two days of the actual install; I just wanted to get it working...lol. Also I didnt get a pic of the pioneer IP bus to RCA input adapter, but I highly recommend it to anyone looking to eliminate the FM transmitter connection of a Sirius Satellite Radio. It works wonders.

very nice write up, i just pulled my touch screen nav out of my cubby. It drove me nuts knowing half my dash was inoperable! but thats just me, looks sharp!

I don't get the 2 stereos, or the massive weight added to the trunk, but the custom single din is very nice.

Yes there are "two" radios, but with the auto climate control there are limited options for the audiophile. I dont really mind having another deck above the factory radio. Sure it may look a bit odd, but having been around car stereo competition long enough I've seen much weirder.. As for the weight, yeah, it does suck a bit, but it just gives me more reason to spring for some performance parts and a tune. I just can't stand having a car with a stock stereo. I got so used to having a car that sounds great (not just loud, but CLEAR and loud) that I needed more than the stock setup had to offer. Plus, I really like making custom parts, playing with bondo, and actually taking some time to make it just the way I want it. So far, having everything in for about a week, I couldnt be more happy with the results. It will never sound as perfect as my last car, with a dedicated center-channel on the dash, but it's a good compromise.

FrozenNorthLGT, nice install!

There was this if you wanted to make things easier, but more expensive.

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113589

 

Also, this, if you really have too much time on your hands.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l177/ean611/IMAG0013.jpg

First of all good work. Especially on the faceplate!

 

Do you have your subs facing the back seat? How much clearance do you have in between the back seat and the subs?

Is there any reason why you chose to expose the wiring in the backseat armrest like that?

Thanks for the compliments. ean611, I did see the Dual Din thread, but I chose to do it this way for a few reasons. 1. I already had this deck 2. Not having to buy a new deck, or the AVO kit, or the dual din jdm piece saved me a lot of money (I probably only have $60 into the din unit) 3. I like doing things custom for myself, especially when it involves lots of bondo, tedious sanding, and such...lol

 

If that pic is your car thats awesome, BTW. Very sharp looking.

 

JURZ, the subs face down. There is about 3 inches of clearance between the back of the seat and the box itself. I would have made it fit right against it but I wanted the box wider, so it rests against rear seat frame. The subs have grills on them (search G10L7 if you need to see what the grills look like, or go here http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=134853076&albumId=833253 )and the grills are almost right on the floor of the trunk. The wiring was exposed purely for simplicity or hook up.

Makes sense FrozenNorth. $300 is a bit of cash. Although, not sure why Single DIN was the issue, single DIN cubbies that fill the space are cheap . The Dual HVAC kit on the other hand....

 

The pic? It is my car

 

By the way, what have you done for sound deadening? I found the door sound maddening in the reverberation and deflection effects, and had to fix that. Also, the trunk isn't much better either, had to deaden that.

Havent done any yet. I do have a box of Second Skin that my GF got for my birthday that I need to put in though... I did ask for it after all...lol. I just ran out of time during the initial install. Im going to start with the rear doors since those will be the easiest, then the fronts. I will probably also do the rear deck, and if Im really motivated the trunk well, and lid.

Start with the rear doors? I think you have it backward, the front doors are the most important. Also, the doors are exactly the same as far as taking them apart, rears are not easier in any respect. Also, remember, second skin, which is a butyl layer, is only half the stuff you need, as a foam layer is recommended.

 

See

http://raamaudio.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=63

For a good walk through (non subaru specific) on how to do your doors.

 

The biggest thing you need the foam for ius the region above your speaker in your door. There is an air gap there that has nasty reverberating properties, and the oly way I have found to fix it is to fill it with foam.

I think you forget the midrange, tweeter, and crossover in the front doors. VS. just one speaker in the rears, hence the rears being easier to take apart and reassemble. Plus Im not particularly concerned with the reverberation issues. More-so the hollow sound when shutting the doors, some lower vibrations on the outside with the stereo up, and road noise. I went all out with the stereo install in my last car; this one im not looking to stress out on. Some Second Skin and expanding foam and I think I'll be satisfied. If not, I'll deal with myself then...lol...

Your custom fabrication skills are obvious, but the aesthetics of that head unit placement leave a little to be desired, to me anyways. There's more room to be had in the stock cubby location, depth wise. Double din nav head units have been installed in that same location and were recessed well behind the OEM vent faces. While SQ is important to me, so is an OEM appearance. Regardless of my opinions, I bet it sounds damn good.

Your custom fabrication skills are obvious, but the aesthetics of that head unit placement leave a little to be desired, to me anyways. There's more room to be had in the stock cubby location, depth wise. Double din nav head units have been installed in that same location and were recessed well behind the OEM vent faces. While SQ is important to me, so is an OEM appearance. Regardless of my opinions, I bet it sounds damn good.

 

 

well said. I agree.

Once again, thanks for the compliments. I considered recessing the deck more, but ended up the way it was for a few reasons. First, Ive seen how decks mount with the AVO kit, and I dont care for the look. To me it makes the deck look like its "falling into the dash" so to speak. Second I like the ease or reaching the deck the way it is. Lastly, I felt getting a smooth transition around the edges of the deck, with it so tightly tucked into the cubby frame, would be difficult to make look good. Plus I feel the deck is supported much better, "suspended," midway through the frame itself then trying to fasten it to the back and get it positioned correctly and securly.

where can i buy this?