View Full Version : sub in spare wheel well
trying to save some boot space anyone done it on here?
what sould like and any tips and pics thanks:thumb:
TBF, even though my hearing isn't up to much, making a round sub to fit in a wheel well is an excellent idea, unless you have a puncture.... i'll be watching this one.
maddogdaz666
14-03-11, 06:15 PM
im also wantin to know about this as i use my boot often but i like my Bass, and keep wanting to do the same. and for future retro projects where i'd like the sound system hidden so it looks origional inside. :)
Cant see it sounding too good tbf, as the sub uses the air inside its enclosure to produce better/louder bass notes, and you will have little or no air in the wheel well to allow for a decent sound at all, would be tinny and pap i reckon!
Depends on how much volume the sub needs. You'd need to plug the water drain bungs in the bottom of the wheel well, and ideally line it with something. And of course fit some form of guard over the top of the sub to protect it
It's a long hard job trust me.
You will have to get acquainted with fibreglass.
What exactly do you want.
Sub in the well and then a false floor so you still have boot space?
As said earlier what about your spare wheel. I'll try to dig out pictures.
It is possible If you have time and patience. The fibreglass will provide you with a sufficient enclosure if built right.
As said earlier what about your spare wheel
I've not run a spare wheel in any of my cars for about 10 years now. If I blow a tyre... tyre weld :d If I shred a tyre, RAC lol
I've not run a spare wheel in any of my cars for about 10 years now. If I blow a tyre... tyre weld :d If I shred a tyre, RAC lol
My future mother in laws brand new meriva came with a can of tyre weld and no spare so if its good enough for vauxhall...
id never get to my spare wheel with out takeing the parcel shelf serports out i have a very big box that hold 3 12" subs. im fed up of putting pram behind me my seat.http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n441/Gibbo21087/DSC00461.jpg
was thinking of like some dynamat for the floor. some wood like 1x1 for a frame around the boot and some mdf to go across the floor and for the sub.
The_General_Chancer
14-03-11, 11:09 PM
I seriously doubt it will sound very good, and most certainly not worth all of the bother:p
in my old car i fitted my amp in to the wheel well and i brought a stealth box to sit on the drivers side of the boot, the box is moulded on the back to sit around the read inner arch. I doubt they make them any more, they were designed to be a space saving thing. I still have it somewhere.
once my system was all fitted i practically had the whole boot space left over. was perfect.
fastcar1cars
16-03-11, 07:54 PM
id never get to my spare wheel with out takeing the parcel shelf serports out i have a very big box that hold 3 12" subs. im fed up of putting pram behind me my seat.http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n441/Gibbo21087/DSC00461.jpg
was thinking of like some dynamat for the floor. some wood like 1x1 for a frame around the boot and some mdf to go across the floor and for the sub.
OMG! Lol! What do you want that many subs in a nova for? I have a single 10" and thats loud! Bet that rattles like fook! Lol!
Mcgowan
16-03-11, 08:55 PM
I think that this is an awesome idea and that the general chancewaar is a bellend!!hahaha lol lol
in my old car i fitted my amp in to the wheel well and i brought a stealth box to sit on the drivers side of the boot, the box is moulded on the back to sit around the read inner arch. I doubt they make them any more, they were designed to be a space saving thing. I still have it somewhere.
once my system was all fitted i practically had the whole boot space left over. was perfect.
i was gonna suggest those stealth boxes for subs, they looked quite neat
I did it sounded good tbh had a 12" 12W0-4 JL audio sub and a alpine digital amp powering it. made a mdf frame, fibreglassed the middle (hardly cost anything to make) and made a 19mm mdf lid. Worked well, will try and dig some pics out, cant remember if there is any in my project thread if so check that! Oh yeah sub and amp for sale too :)
Southie
16-03-11, 09:24 PM
Alloy wheel subwoofers are the future lol
joff-turbo-nova
29-03-11, 11:49 PM
Hi
I had a go with this back in 2007 - Top tip use lots of fibreglass matting to strengthen and seal the wheel well. I used a JL 12W6 sub and it makes the windows rattle without problems. I used a bit of acoustic wadding in the wheel well to make the sub react as though its in a bigger space ....
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y15/joff-turbo-nova/ice3a.jpg
More info on my WIP ....
http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43066&page=80
Joff
novalew
07-04-11, 08:20 PM
sorry to hijack but with a sub is there any sort of lid that could be put on top to stop it from been damaged but still allow it to operate??
Pistol Pete
07-04-11, 08:29 PM
sorry to hijack but with a sub is there any sort of lid that could be put on top to stop it from been damaged but still allow it to operate??
Ebay. Subwoofer grill....
novalew
07-04-11, 08:45 PM
cheers mate
Imo its very easy to do, aquires some fibreglass resin and matting, fully masking tape the spare wheel well, then build up the layers, cut a baffle (Mdf Ring) bond together, fit sub, should be rocking for mid afternoon, there are plenty of small capacity subs available, most capacity requirements can be found on reputable suppliers websites like Cad and Cas
novalew
07-04-11, 09:15 PM
Imo its very easy to do, aquires some fibreglass resin and matting, fully masking tape the spare wheel well, then build up the layers, cut a baffle (Mdf Ring) bond together, fit sub, should be rocking for mid afternoon, there are plenty of small capacity subs available, most capacity requirements can be found on reputable suppliers websites like Cad and Cas
any reccomendations on the best?
also do i dynamat the whole boot floor and tailgate?
Supplier wise I've used the two I mentioned and was more than happy with their service, equipment wise I'd buy the best I could afford, personally I'd sound deaden the whole boot and tailgate, for a more 'solid' sound but its added weight and its not cheap
nova_niek
02-11-11, 09:31 PM
A bit late, but here's how I did mine back in the day - whilst retaining a spare tyre. Bonus! Admitted, the spare tyre is a space saver from a Seat but it fits nicely underneath the sub tub. Enjoy!
To make sure the sub (Phase Linear Aliante 10) would "see" enough volume (22 litres) I raised the contours of the sub box a bit (if that makes sense) and used the space created next to the sub to house the amp (Phoenix Gold Titanium 4 channel jobbie). This cost me approx 8cm in boot height but I can live with that. The pics will speak for themselves. Hopefully.
space saver partially covered in aluminium tape and mold release wax
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/01-subtubbegin.jpg
ditto
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/02-subtubbegin.jpg
first part of the woodwork, this is to adhere (right word?) the fiberglass tub to the bottom of the box
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/03-subtubmetrand.jpg
ditto
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/04-subtubmetrand.jpg
cheap labour ;)
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/05-eerstelaagpolyester.jpg
more cheap labour
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/06-eerstelaagpolyester.jpg
removing the aluminium tape using a paint stripper (note inverted tub underneath space saver)
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/07-aluminiumplakbandverwijderd.jpg
ditto
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/08-aluminiumplakbandverwijderd.jpg
fitting the speaker mounting panel (with nicely routered recessed groove)
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/09-speakerpaneelinboxmonteren.jpg
ditto
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/10-speakerpaneelinboxmonteren.jpg
added some seam sealer to prevent air leaks
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/11-boxafkitten.jpg
ditto inside and out (inside of box was covered in fiberglass for added tightness later on)
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/12-boxafgekit.jpg
hole in bottom of box to match contour of tub plate
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/13-speakeropeningvanonderaf.jpg
ditto
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/14-speakeropeningvanonderaf.jpg
nova_niek
02-11-11, 09:32 PM
second and third layer of fiberglass
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/15-polyesterlaag2en3.jpg
nice and shiny
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/16-polyesterlaag2en3.jpg
layers 3 and 4 added
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/17-polyesterlaag3en4.jpg
excess fiberglass strands sanded off and again making good use of cheap labour
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/18-schuurstofwegzuigen.jpg
ditto
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/19-schuurstofwegzuigen.jpg
Nephew Max using the tub as an alternative to subglasses
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/20-Maxinpolyesterbakpose.jpg
tub (lower half) fitted to box (upper half)
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/21-polyesterbakproefmontage.jpg
top view with port in place
(had totally forgotten to provide a mounting position for the port so I had to bodge eeeehhh modify the top plate a bit)
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/22-polyesterbakenpoortproefmontage.jpg
port view
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/23-poortopjuisteplaats.jpg
spot the modification (three layers of MDF glued together)
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/24-poortopjuisteplaatscloseup.jpg
out come the gloss black rattle cans
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/25-boxzwartgespoten.jpg
big fat wires - love them!
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/26-kabeldoorvoeren.jpg
+12v , gnd, remote and boost knob (ooeeerrr!) wires
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/ff333/nova_niek/nova/pp-22-kr/27-kabeldoorvoerenenreservewielmontage.jpg
...sorry, no pics of the finished product!
Hope this helps,
Niek
I done this in 2004 using a free air sub, no need for "sub box" or anything like that. Mounted it into a complete false MDF floor.
bobmarley1888
11-07-12, 04:57 PM
it would soun seriously pants did it the way i got around it was cutting a hole through the floor for an air outlet didnt last long though as it got very wet wont ever do it again jus custom make a skinny but long box for air flow you will lose boot space but not alot mate
Novasport
12-07-12, 01:02 PM
I have some under seat active subwoofers. The are enclosed & amplified all in a small unit. They are still BNIB so not tried them but my wifes BMW has a factory version and they work quite well.
nova_niek
23-07-12, 08:54 PM
Love them wheels Niek
Thank you sir. They are an acquired taste but I love them to bits! :cool:
Novasport
24-07-12, 10:34 PM
Thank you sir. They are an acquired taste but I love them to bits! :cool:
You still got the CD's?
nova_niek
20-01-13, 09:43 AM
You still got the CD's?
Apologies for the late reply - yes I do, 3 pairs of them in fact and on the lookout for more. :)
bobby1982
28-01-13, 09:06 PM
i've seen this done but its a very time consuming process and the fibreglass work is a pig. i know of people that have made an mdf cone and then fbreglassed that to fill the recess so its easier to remove if/when you sell the car.
millworm
28-01-13, 09:38 PM
Mercedes b class comes with a sub in the spare wheel compartment standard might be a bit big for a nova though
jimbob-mcgrew
30-01-13, 06:42 PM
nice hair there niek, and sub project :)
your kid seems enthusiastic to learn :thumb:
to gibbo that started the thread, what you decided ?
you could always get a wee 8 inch in a custom box, and tuck it to one side out the way.
or you could be ruthless and tear out the back seats to make ultra boot space.
Sorry to bump this.
How much resin and matting did you's (that have done it) use?
nova_niek
29-10-13, 11:09 AM
Sorry to bump this.
How much resin and matting did you's (that have done it) use?
Oof, that was over 10 years ago! *scratches head* If I remember correctly I used 2 to 3 litres of resin and roughly 2 m² heavy matting. Don't quote me on this please. :d
Cassandra
06-02-15, 03:26 PM
Does anyone know where I can have a sub box made to fit ski or might have a go myself. Daft question but how important within reason are the dimensions???
nova_niek
09-02-15, 06:17 AM
A subwoofer needs to "see" a certain volume (in litres) to work properly. Do you have specs on the sub? The spare wheel well holds roughly 22 litres give or take. As for the level of difficulty: it's doable given the right tools (old brushes and rollers) and materials (matting, resin, hardener, mould release wax, tape). If a numpty like myself can do it, pretty much anyone can. lol
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