$800 Cavalier

[birdie2000]

These cars are actually pretty solid all things considered. This is all the deadening I had aside from some on the rear shelf to seal off the holes from where the rear speakers used to be. Had 2 infinite baffle 12's installed and the thing absolutely hammered for what it was. No rattles. If you do get any, it'll probably be from trim panels or the license plate. Honestly, I wouldn't do any deadening mat unless you already had it laying around. Just chase rattles with foam gasketing if/when you have any.

[MP81]

So you don't think I'll get any rattles on the exterior of the car from the trunk lid? That's good to hear.

I did install a new trunk gasket back in 2012, so that should help a bit.

[birdie2000]

I didn't, but YMMV. I'd be surprised if it was from panel flex even if you did. Usually the license plate is the culprit and all you have to do is shove something behind it to cushion it from touching the body metal and maybe preload it a bit if it's really bad. Also something to consider, bracing works better at panel flex than any deadening mat. Might be a cheaper/better option for you if you end up having panel flex.

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[MP81]

Yeah, if the plate rattles, I think a couple pieces of sticky foam on the body should help stop that rattle.

If you didn't have many issues, I'm thinking I shouldn't either. I mean, these subs will punch nice, but they're only 250W RMS, so they're not giant jackhammers or something.

And to be honest, the car doesn't really rattle to much anyway - even at 247k miles. The loudest rattle I have is more of a squeak - and that is from the passenger Camaro seat frame. I'm guessing I just need to tighten something up, or maybe spray some lube in there to quiet it down. It's only when someone isn't sitting in the seat - if I push back on the seat back when I'm driving by myself, the car is damn near quiet (well, aside from the wind noise that comes in through the driver door and the flex pipe exhaust leak ).

Wiring seems like it should be pretty straightforward from what I've seen. Pop the sill trim panels off, and shove the wire under the carpet. I believe there is a grommet near the steering shaft to run the positive wire through?

[birdie2000]

Yes there is, but for some reason I didn't use it. I can't remember if it's because I couldn't get at it easily or just because I'm anal retentive and gave it its own tight grommet so there would be zero chance of water coming in by placing a slit in the factory one. Either way, these pics should help. Also, feel free to browse the whole album if you want ideas or more pics of things disassembled. They're in no particular order. Disclaimer: Very much a budget build and the pillar pods were an experiment and yes, they came out ugly lol. Total budget including materials was like $500 and that's with all of the speakers themselves purchased brand new.

http://s36.photobucket.com/user/fast...alier%20Stereo

[MP81]

All right, once I have at it, I'll have a look and see if I can find the factory one.

Some of those pics remind me of just after purchasing the car, we took the whole interior out, headliner to carpet. That was a blast.

[MP81]

New 2.25" Mandrel Exhaust Systems downpipe. The flex pipe is about toast on the replacement one I installed about three years ago, and it made no sense to buy another one of those, when a larger, much better flowing one was not much more.




For reference, here is what it is replacing (which is next to what it replaced ). Crush-bent. Gross.

[MP81]

So much for this going on over the weekend, the gasket I ordered (since the Walker replacement gasket doesn't fit over the factory-sized pipe (where it necks down from 2.25" to 2" OD) at the exhaust manifold ), which Amazon Prime said would be here Friday, is now not going to be here until Monday. Looks like I'll be getting another month of Prime for free. That's great, but it doesn't help me get the car done over a weekend where it isn't as cold. Guess I'll just do our taxes, and maybe the sub install.

[MP81]

Subs all installed!




Hid the bass boost remote, which I won't use much, in the ash tray, which I don't use at all. Plus, then it's not visible from the outside.

[MP81]

I also took the time, while the interior panels were off, to install a new driver door weatherstrip (which I bought a couple years back).

Some spots were definitely flat from 18 years of use.

[birdie2000]

Looks good. How are the rattles?

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[MP81]

From the brief bit I was able to walk around it while doing the initial setup - only the license plate! You called it.

[birdie2000]

Awesome!

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[MP81]

Yup! I'm quite happy with it. Found out the lower-end (DEH-150MP) Pioneer head unit that I have even has subwoofer slope as an adjustment...that was interesting to find. I think I have a little more tuning to get it where I want it. It'll never be as "tight" as my JLs in the Cobalt, but for the amount I spent, I'm more than happy.

Hell, it actually made me excited to drive the car this morning.

On another note, the new driver weatherstrip seemed to cut down on wind noise quite a bit. It's still present, but a lot less than it was before. I probably have a couple other spots to mess with, but that took a big chunk out of it.

[MP81]

I also found out that the car has a Viper alarm and remote start. Ordered a replacement remote for that, so maybe I'll actually be able to utilize the power locks from outside the vehicle.