New A-pillar construction, step by step.

[Kale]

So, I decided to finally put the MD102s in the a-pillar. I found this position has the least glass reflections, and images ok, though stage width leaves a little to be desired. Step the first: Plan out and angle your ring. Used dowels, hot glue, and a toilet paper roll for shape: And then: Place a thin cloth around the pillar, to give it shape. Because I had such sharp angles, I had to do this in small increments, a combination of hotglue and crazy glue. I covered the whole thing, to repair a hole I cut in the bottom, as well as to make leveling easier. Then, a coat of fiberglass resin. At this point, I decided to NOT lay actual fiberglass, because of the shape and low strength needs. I sanded between coats, and did a second layer of resin, providing adequate strength. Next came bondo filler. Never used it before. Wishing I never had to again. Put that in, and started with 80 grit, up to 120 grit on the finish, to level it all out: Once that was done, I shot it in black primer. Not sure yet if I'm going to texture and paint, or use vinyl. In car: Questions, comments?

[fej]

Looks cool man, certainly better and more functional than the last version, especially from an imaging standpoint. They look about 20* off axis to the driver and I am guessing cross fired to the middle?

Fej

[Kale]

Originally Posted by fej

Looks cool man, certainly better and more functional than the last version, especially from an imaging standpoint. They look about 20* off axis to the driver and I am guessing cross fired to the middle?

Fej

Just about. I tried to keep them around an (eyeballed) 30' off axis, as that is the smoothest response available from the Md102.



I do get some weirdness from the steering wheel, but not too bad. I have to reduce 5k about 2db and they are golden.

I might build some L-Pads to drop them another couple DB, just because I like the tweeters to be more "polite."

I originally built these:

But it was just too huge.

[jarda]

Very clean

[NVTHIS]

Looks Awesome, Kale!

[Kale]

sadly, though PERFECTLY even, they look completely uneven in the car, because of the dash level relative to the tweeter level. Oh well.

[DPG]

Looks great Kale. Nice job bro

[scott_fx]

that really does look top notch kale.

[Kale]

Thanks... Right now I'm on the hunt for SEM Texture paint, and "gm neutral" in a spray can.

[bogus]

that looks really nice!

[0TheRadioFlyer97]

My vote goes for a vinyl coat.

Kale eventually i'm going to want to listen to your car. You've put more time into your sound system as i have my entire car modding adventure.

[Kale]

Originally Posted by TheRadioFlyer

My vote goes for a vinyl coat.

Kale eventually i'm going to want to listen to your car. You've put more time into your sound system as i have my entire car modding adventure.

In fact, I jsut bought some Dynaudio 8" midbasses. Didnt get an more midbass... but they can run 50 hz @ 6db with no issues.


Sadly, I hate the way the car sounds. :/

[0TheRadioFlyer97]

Originally Posted by Kale

Sadly, I hate the way the car sounds. :/

why?

[Kale]

Originally Posted by TheRadioFlyer

why?

In order of hate:

1) ROAD AND WIND NOISE MAKES ME ANGRY.
2) Tweeters are still a touch bright.
3) Door resonance, which I'm working on.
4) I started this install December of 2006, and I've been working on it ever since.

Solutions:

1) Rubberized undercoating on EVERYTHING. More Foam. FOam foam foam foam foam. More Foam.
2) L-Pad? Further attenuation.
3) Raamat BXT to replace the crappy edead that's falling off
4) Well... IT might be another year or two

[Kale]

apparently my dumb ass didnt put enough hardner in the bondo on the second pillar, and its still damp 12 hours later. Oh well, maybe the garage heat will "cook" it today.

I'm bad with that stuff... always too much, or too little.

[bogus]

Originally Posted by Kale

In order of hate:

1) ROAD AND WIND NOISE MAKES ME ANGRY.
2) Tweeters are still a touch bright.
3) Door resonance, which I'm working on.
4) I started this install December of 2006, and I've been working on it ever since.

Solutions:

1) Rubberized undercoating on EVERYTHING. More Foam. FOam foam foam foam foam. More Foam.
2) L-Pad? Further attenuation.
3) Raamat BXT to replace the crappy edead that's falling off
4) Well... IT might be another year or two

Have you considered somethign like Rhino-Lining? That stuff is dense... and should do wonders to kill road rumble and resonance.

[Kale]

Originally Posted by bogus

Have you considered somethign like Rhino-Lining? That stuff is dense... and should do wonders to kill road rumble and resonance.

Yep, I'm VERY tempted to have that sprayed on the bottom of my car.

I might use the kit from Walmart, since it will provide the same effect, but I don't need the durability since it will never be touched.

[VinceC5]

Originally Posted by Kale

Just about. I tried to keep them around an (eyeballed) 30' off axis, as that is the smoothest response available from the Md102.



I do get some weirdness from the steering wheel, but not too bad. I have to reduce 5k about 2db and they are golden.

I might build some L-Pads to drop them another couple DB, just because I like the tweeters to be more "polite."

I originally built these:

But it was just too huge.

the only thing I like here is that "hp" badge!!



Nice work on the a-pillar!

[M396 #00-011]

Looks good.

Good luck with the texture and dye. That was one of the hardest things to perfect when we did the monitor in the dash.
We ended up sprat texturing from a distance to get larger globs and then lightly sanding it down to knock the tops off. Looks real damn close.

[Spkrboy]

Very nice.

Any chance you have some RTA plots from before and after?