xA - Amp install location ? (Updated w/ pics!)

[koan]

I just picked up an Alpine MRP-M350 ( http://www.crutchfield.com/S-sUbhoBI...20&search=m350 ) Its pretty small ( 9-3/16"W x 2-7/16"H x 9-9/16"D ) so I would hope to hide it away as much as possible. It looks like there is plenty of room under the front passenger seat but I would like a location that is a little less exposed. I'm trying to figure out how i can squeeze it into the rear compartment without sacrificing my spare. Any ideas? If the under seat location is best, does anyone have any hints on how to protect it a bit better?

[DoggyStyle]

I have a single 10" in a small sealed box in my xA. Yeah under the front seats is def an option. I mounted mine to the reaer of the sub box. I have my box facing the hatch so the amp is between the rear seat and the back of the box. Not visible and I ensured I left a little slack so I can still access the spare tire.

[koan]

I guess I should have also mentioned one of my goals is to be able to fold the seat down and still have the full cargo area (what little there is!). I have a seperate sub box I can simply remove it as desired, but I didnt want to have exposed wiring, etc from a removed amp.

[DoggyStyle]

OK I guess your options then are somewhat limited. Under the front seat sound like the best plan of attack. I never fold the seats, well almost never.

Does the xA have a small storage area next to the spare tire area? Funny I own a xA and never have looked. I heard the xB does and people have used that to some degree. Maybe we'll get lucky and find something new.

[koan]

It does have the area but its a bit smaller from the looks of it.

I was checking it out last night and I think it may just fit.

1) Put the tools on the other side or the tire.
2) Remove the 2 bolts and plastic well
3) Cut just a bit of the plastic that covers the wheel well.

#3 is iffy - I have to look a bit closer tonight. I think the plastic covering the wheel well protrudes an inch extra from the metal of the well. If i cut a small rectangle out of the bottom for the amp, it should give me just the bit of extra clearance i need.

*fingers crosssed*

[DoggyStyle]

Sound like a good plan to me. Let me know how you make out. I guess I should look under the rear carpet for myself sometime.

[koan]

Success!

Here are some pics:

Wheel well with plastic removed and right panel cut:



Close up of work/mounting area:



You can see in the above picture I didnt cut all the way back to the end of the side panel plastic. I left a "leg" for support of the above plastic and because I didnt absolutely need the extra inch at the top. I did however cut a channel for a few wires to get through. Here is a close up of the area:



Next I installed a wooden mount plate made from cheapy plywood. I cut the wood a little long on the side that goes toward the passenger side panel so I wouldn't put to much force on the wires that will be housed there. I then cut 5 holes: 4 for bolts coming up form the bottom to mount the amp and one to mount the plate to the flooring using the stock plastic hole that was already there:



And the final product:



Certainly not the cleanest or most professional install, but it gets the job done nicely and is 100% stealth while loosing none of the functionality of the trunk space. Also, if I ever need to go back to stock, I can easily reinstall the plastic bucket in its orginal location and none of the cuts I made would be visible

[zyzyx6969]

kool

[TheScionChef]

here is what i did with the amp i just had it slanted on my box with the two subs many people at shows says it looks great and asked me were i had it done but i did it my self took about 3 hours to build the box and like 16 hours for paint to be done properly along with all the silcon and sealing of the box

[koan]

Looks nice, I contemplated doing something similar but as my previous posts pointed out, I wanted something I could detach w/out exposed wiring (I suppose someone must make some sort of quick release connection...)

Can you still fit the stock cargo area cover/screen over the top without it bulging? That was one of the other considerations I took into account when going with the setup I did. I went with a truck box lying on its back ( http://www.crutchfield.com/S-46SVOpm...0&I=044T1012SS ) and an Infinity Kappa Perfect 12.1D - You can't really tell its not stock from the outside

Also, if i have something dirty that I dont want to carry on my rear seats, I can also detach the sub box and re-attach it in the back seat sitting upright. Cargo + Bass ;)

I guess I should post pics of the box/sub too