full hatch enclosure?

i have build a bunch of fiberglass sub boxs b4 but i want to try something different . how would i go about making something like this (in pic) .? 

I would build MDF boxes to hold the subs first and get them in place like I wanted them.

Then I would start out by removing the foam/rubber gasket that surrounds the trunk (seal). Stretch my fleece out like I wanted it, put the seal back on (to hold the fleece) and then apply resin.

After the first resin shot cured, i would take the seal back off and throw it away - get a new seal, they are relatively inexpensive.

Remove the entire structure, and add fiberglass to the inside for strength. By adding the glass inside, you will cut way down on your sanding when it is all done.

** you may have to frame up a little more under the top piece with MDF - depending on the shape and layout.

What he said, but I would do at least 3 layers before you try to remove it.  This may give  you a better idea.

https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=79682&KW=mustang

boostedrst, do you plan to drive this car every day??

Yep - it's more difficult to remove, say, for access to the SPARE TIRE! IF it's even still under there! D'oh! That kind of an install is nice for a show car, or something that you drive very infrequently. And when you do drive it, you have a chase car trailing. For a daily driver - no thanks. If you go for something like that, be sure to sign up for AAA service! You know how kharma works ... you could be the guy who's NEVER had a flat tire before ... you decide to go for a nice Fiberglass job like that ... to do the install, you ditch the spare & tools ... then, during the second or third roadtrip you take the car on ... BAMMO ... flat tire out in the middle of no-where. What a PITA. And to top it all off, your girl now KNOWS you're a complete tool ... making her sit at the side of the hot highway, waiting for a tow truck to come & fix your flat ... how un-manly!! LOL!! Like I said ... D'oh!

Generally, something like this is not easy to remove. It is built into the car. Remember, the subs are actually installed into boxes that are hidden underneath all that cool lookin' fiberglass. The fiberglass is purely ornamental - it has nothing to do with how the car sounds. Well ... if it's too thin, or touches the interior someplace where it shouldn't, it  might vibrate ... so I suppose it could have an impact on the way the car sounds. Also, those boxes are BOLTED to the car, if it's installed correctly. Those bolts are generally accessed thru the sub mounting holes. Sooo, to remove this assembly, first you remove the subs from the boxes. Then you unbolt the boxes from the car. Then you get a buddy or two to help lift the heavy beast out of the car ... since it is heavy & you don't wanna mess up that smooth paint job, right?

Also, bear in mind that some cars have very small trunk Lids/Hatches but fairly large trunks/cargo floors ... what this means is that if you build something into the trunk/hatch area, the trunk/hatch opening in the car may be too small to allow removal - I've seen this plenty of times. Think about it.

I understand that this won't be a daily driver, so don't get me wrong here - I dig this work. Looks great when finished nicely. It just has a tremendous impact on a vehicles day-to-day praticality - and it requires alot of care & consideration.

Building it is the easy part. Living with it can be a pain, especially since it doesn't generally have a positive impact on the SQ.

Even after 2 blow outs, and a flat, I still don't carry a spare with me.  I don't know why, I just don't.

I built a fiberglass box into the back pass. corner of some guys Subaru Outback.  He didn't want me to cut the sub floor, so instead, he had me screw it to the floor with phillips screws, and the sub to the box with the same screws.  I guess he plans to take the sub out, then unscrew it from the floor when he needs his spare tire.  I bet I see him again after his first flat.

i havent had the spare in over 2 years . doesnt really matter to me . i have a lowered eclipse , i cant even get a jack under the car without driving it up on 2x4's .i think im going to try it . the only part im still a little confused on is building the frame . the enclosure in the pic is supposivly very easy to remove according to the guy who build it . for some reason tho he wont tell me how he built it tho

boostedrst wrote:

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i havent had the spare in over 2 years . doesnt really matter to me . i have a lowered eclipse , i cant even get a jack under the car without driving it up on 2x4's.

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ooooooooohh ... you just put the whammy on yourself, man! Shouldn't have told all of us that!!!!! Never put that kind of stuff in writing!! LOL!!

You need to imagine how you want this to look when it's done. Get the fleece & play around with it. Notice how it drapes over things. The framing underneath is there to support the fleece and make it drape the way you need it to. You will need a good Air Stapler - or an Electric one might do. Build the framing to accomodate any equipment you plan to mount in this FG panel (like an Amp Box?). Start by stapling the Fleece down into the Sub openings in the boxes. Stretch it out to the frame you've built. Then, as mentioned above, remove the weather seal. Pull the Fleece tight & put it between the lip that the weather seal goes on and the weather seal itself. Use the weather seal to keep the fleece taught.

Also - as mentioned above - the Subs need to be in their own box(es), under the FG Panel you're gonna build. Build 'em & TEST 'EM OUT before starting the FG work.

There's gotta be photo's out there someplace on how to do this, no? Anybody? Bueller ... Bueller?

ok, boosted ... I looked around real quick on this forum and I found this thread:

https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=79973&PN=1

This may give you a pretty good idea of what the framing should do. Notice how he rabbitted & radiused all the edges - makes everything look SMOOTH and it will make completing the job far less time consuming!

Good Luck!

The best place to go on the internet (in my opinion) is www.alpine.com and look at the build pictures of there show cars, this will show you step by step photos of how to do a fiberglass enclosure. Note how they build the framing on the sound systems. Just remember your framing is one of the most important steps of the enire process to save you time, and money.

If you are woried about getting a flat tire you can buy another rim and tire, And build it in your sound system. Just have the subs and amps go around the wheel. Or you could take out the back seat and put your wheel there.

I hope that this helps you with your build. Please post pics of the build so we can see how it is going. And if you have any other questions don't be afraid to ask after all that's how you learn new things.

bomex_eclipse wrote:

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The best place to go on the internet (in my opinion) is www.alpine.com and look at the build pictures of there show cars, this will show you step by step photos of how to do a fiberglass enclosure. Note how they build the framing on the sound systems. Just remember your framing is one of the most important steps of the enire process to save you time, and money.

If you are woried about getting a flat tire you can buy another rim and tire, And build it in your sound system. Just have the subs and amps go around the wheel. Or you could take out the back seat and put your wheel there.

I hope that this helps you with your build. Please post pics of the build so we can see how it is going. And if you have any other questions don't be afraid to ask after all that's how you learn new things.

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