4th gen. audio installation

[Steel Priest]

Well here's a nice update for anybody that cares. Here's the amp mounting plate and amp 100% wired and powered. Incidentally there's a great grounding point on the power antenna bracket. When I ran the 4 AWG all the way back there there wasn't even a 0.01 V loss comparing the battery voltage to voltage in the trunk.
Brandon-20140218-02788.jpg

Here's a picture with the spare tire installed. There's plenty of clearance.
Brandon-20140218-02790.jpg

[Steel Priest]

I used riv nuts to fasten the JL Audio Stealhbox to the body. I was wrong in an earlier post. There is in fact special tools regular consumers can buy to install these riv nuts. Check out http://www.avkfasteners.com/tools.handtools.php for some really slick and inexpensive tools. Made in USA and they work great. I used the small hexagonal tools which require 2 wrenches and nothing else -- no pneumatic and electric required.

The 1st photo is where I put the 2 riv nuts. If you do this execution be sure to scrape away the rubbery heat-baked patch. Riv nuts need solid metal, not rubbery stuff to bite into.
Brandon-20140221-02797.jpg

The 2nd photo is the underside of the body. It shows what a riv nut looks like when it is collapsed and fully installed.
Brandon-20140221-02812.jpg

[Steel Priest]

I also wanted total stealth and factory appearance in the engine bay. Routing a 4 AWG cable isn't exactly inconspicuous for most. But if done correctly it looks stock as I did. I used a factory firewall boot underneath the factory ECM. It is best to remove the ECM "tray" and the ECM itself out of the way in order to get access to the firewall boot.
Brandon-20140215-02779.jpg

Here's the 4 AWG cable (red) routed through the OEM firewall boot.
Brandon-20140215-02776.jpg

And the next photo is the 4 AWG with black wire loom and factory routing up near the hood hinges.
Brandon-20140215-02783.jpg

Here's another view of the 4 AWG routing. Were it not for the shiny new plastic loom it might be confused for OEM.
Brandon-20140218-02786.jpg

[Blue04ss]

Good job man!! Looks good!! For some reason I can't open the attachments.

[Steel Priest]

Good job man!! Looks good!! For some reason I can't open the attachments.

Brother, I tried reloading the images in my last post. Have a go at it and hopefully you can see the images now. Thanks for the compliments.

[JoeliusZ28]

It worked this time, post the completed pics of the stealthbox!

[birdie2000]

I used riv nuts to fasten the JL Audio Stealhbox to the body. I was wrong in an earlier post. There is in fact special tools regular consumers can buy to install these riv nuts. Check out http://www.avkfasteners.com/tools.handtools.php for some really slick and inexpensive tools. Made in USA and they work great. I used the small hexagonal tools which require 2 wrenches and nothing else -- no pneumatic and electric required.

Thanks for the info, everything looks good! What did the tools cost and where did you buy them from? I'm not seeing that on their site.

[Blue04ss]

Brother, I tried reloading the images in my last post. Have a go at it and hopefully you can see the images now. Thanks for the compliments.

Looking good now!! Thanks!

[CHEESE]

Looks great!!!!

[meissen]

Looks great Aaron! Glad to see the "War Bird" getting some lovin!

[98blackbeauty]

Does look good Aaron, glad to see your enjoying the bird.

[Steel Priest]

Looks great Aaron! Glad to see the "War Bird" getting some lovin!

I think you and Fear Factory said it best:
You want war
You got war
Much more than you bargained for!

[Steel Priest]

Per the big guy's request here's pics of the completed JL Audio StealthBox. I can't say enough good things about JL Audio. For such a small enclosure (10" subwoofer) this thing slams. The best thing is with the cargo cover flipped shut there's no way of knowing this thing is in there. It is totally concealed from people peeking in the windows. Additionally, T-toppers rejoice -- the T-top holder brackets are still 100% usable.
Brandon-20140221-02820.jpg

Brandon-20140221-02827.jpg

[Steel Priest]

Thanks for the info, everything looks good! What did the tools cost and where did you buy them from? I'm not seeing that on their site.

The tools look like the image below. The gold color is the threaded insert itself. The 2 black color hexes are the tool. You hold the large hex in place with a box-end wrench. Then turn the smaller hex with a wrench or ratchet. It will then collapse the threaded insert and you're good to go! They work friggin' amazing!
0933174-23.jpg
I bought mine for not even $7.50 from here:
http://www.mscdirect.com/product/09331786
Shipping was crazy fast and they have tons of different sizes. DO IT!

[birdie2000]

Sweet! There's an MSC right around the corner from my shop.