Build A Stealth Box For Your Sub (PICS)

[rs97eclipse1695]

Whats up guys. I just finished building this box, and I love it. I personally have to haul a lot of shit back and fourth to school and home and dont have a lot of space to spare for a system, but I do love a little bump in the trunk. So here's what I did. If I miss anything just let me know and I'll fill you in.

First, here is what mine looks like. (thought I'd save everyone the trouble of scrolling to the end )



Obviously this will raise the floor of your hatch a few inches, but what do you expect?



First start off with some MDF or whatever your pref. is for building boxes. I can't exactly remember the measurements, but it's not that hard. Here is a guide as to how wide and long I made it. The width is the same as the carpet going over the raised part (directly below my strut bar). The length is as long as you can get a board to fit here. The height is about that of the lip behind the back seat, plus 2 or so inches (room for amp to sit) so just sit your amp on this lip and measure how high off the bottom of the hatch it is. Don't forget to allow for the thickness of the wood here. Usually about an inch per board, but measure whatever you're using and test fit as you go. Also, if your amp is too big to fit on the small raised area behind the back seat, you can also mount it to the back seat. It wont be hidden of course, but at least you have somewhere semi-out of the way to put it.





Next you have 2 options.
Option 1: use the stock board that covers your spare tire.
Option 2: cut a duplicate of the factory board that is under the carpet

If you dont give a shit about the stock board, or want to save a nickel, use the stock one, but do realize that you will have to cut a hole in this board later so I advise simply cuting a duplicate. I made a duplicate out of some OSB plywood (1/4 inch stuff i think)

Below shows the OSB board with the stock spare tire lid to the right. Simply unscrew the plastic tie downs then trace and cut the board. Don't bother with the plastic clips that attach, they'll be in the way later if you attach them to the new board. (this also means you need to remove them if you choose the first option)



Once you have your spare tire lid cut with a hole SLIGHTLY LARGER than the size of your sub, attach it to the box. Think of this as making a sandwitch. Your spare tire board will be at the bottom with a hole for your sub to fit through so it can fire into the well, the box will sit on top of that, then on top of the box will be a template of the stock carpet which I'll cover next.

In the next picture, the carpeted side of the box has the hole for the sub to fit in to be mounted, then the OSB ontop of that is your spare tire lid. Cut a hole bigger than the sub in this board so that it can mount to the box without interfearing with the sub.


Sub box with hole to mount sub:


Cutting hole in spare tire lid:




The next step will probably be the most time consuming as far as progress goes. Take your carpet from the hatch and trace it onto a piece of OSB board. This will be your top. Remember to not trace the part of the stock carpet that goes up to the higher area where I mounted the amp (the vertical piece of carpet when installed in the car). Just to explain a little further incase someone doesnt understand, when looking at the stock carpet, there will be 3 "sections". The large section that covers the floor, the section that goes up, and the section that covers the metal raised part just behind the back seat. Don't include the middle of the 3 sections when you trace it onto the OSB board. Otherwise when you cut your board it will be too long behind the back seat.

Take your time with this part because the carpet wont fit the curves at the raised part. After tracing the carpet, go ahead and cut it, and test fit it and you will see what I mean. The next 30 minutes to an hour will be you trimming and fitting. If you screw up and cut a little too much, there is a simple fix, so save your trimmings until you know you don't need them.



How to fix fuck-ups:
Simply screw a scrap board underneath the main board and attach your fuck-up.


Also notice the carpet doesn't extend all the way to the right side of the hatch. I just left this part out, and put a board in the notch in the plastic. (look in the corner and you'll see what i mean by notch) now i have a small cubby for small shit that tends to roll/slide around. You're pretty much free to do as you please here. Try to cut a piece to fit, leave it, whatever you want. But realize if you cut a piece to fit, it wont go into the hatch very easily due to the smaller size up top.

The last step is to carpet it. Go to your local upholstry shop and pick up some carpet of your choice. Lay your top board ontop of it, cut 1-2 inches out around it, flip the edge over the board and attach. Also, small tip, in the curves closest to the back seat, dont cut the carpet to close. If you notice in the pic of the board by itself without carpet, that there is a small space between the plastic and the board. Let the carpet cover this when you stretch it around the board.

If I missed anything, or you guys need more detail on anything just ask. And if at some point down the road this thread is old and I dont respont, shoot me an Email at [email protected] or an instant message on aim to spartankid8810.

[rs97eclipse1695]

so i just noticed the sub forum rules...sorry for the post here...can it be moved instead of deleted?

[Blackcrow64]

Originally Posted by rs97eclipse1695

so i just noticed the sub forum rules...sorry for the post here...can it be moved instead of deleted?

It's fine as a write up.