Hi everyone!

It's been a while I haven't posted here! The reason you guys didn't had a lot of news is... well... I was busy with work and the Fiero. I was working on it to be able to run it as soon as possible for this summer, but it ended up i took it out for the first time at the beginning of august. (Motor swap, suspension, grinded and painted the whole front...) It was a lot of work! Now that I have a temporary motor in my Fiero, I still have to rebuilt the one that was in it so it will probably keep me going until the school restart! Tough, in the mean time, I will try to make some enclosures here and there.

As stated above, my brother has the prototype strapped in his car, my father has the pre-production with the prototype brackets mounted under the dash, and I made the first production enclosure that is in my car. I am still working on the brackets which had been made by hand. I will mount it as soon as I get the courage of taking out my dash. lol

Making the bracket by hand is a long process since we are limited on the metal equipment. I am trying to make all the adjustments before contacting a local shop to send them the AutoCAD drawings so they can cut them for me (Waterjet). It's going to be way cheaper that way, and way faster!

Now, I have started an other enclosure which is almost done (Just waiting for the brackets to be riveted on). I can't mount the brackets on the enclosure since last time, I didn't took precise measurements on where they exactly go. (A small mistake and they might not be able to fit properly. Though, the first sale approaches!!!

Note: 84 Fieros with A/C will need some modifications to the plastic vents cover beside the enclosure since the chime module is screwed into it instead of being hold by a bracket. The cover will need to be cut and patched to aloud the enclosure to fit under the dash. (A picture would help to explain, but don't worry, I will explain everything properly and with pictures, make a walk through and specific instructions that will be given with the enclosure.)

I will keep you informed (Probably start a fresh thread) as soon as the first one is up for sale.

Don't lose hope! lol :P

Fred

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87 Pontiac Fiero GT

I totally agree with you.

The reason I didn't put any price at this point is: I don't know EXACTLY how it cost to make an enclosure. With the first enclosure that will be up for sale, I've managed to calculate the cost of material, but I'm not done yet with the calculations. (Right now it's missing the cost of the brackets) Though I can give you guys an idea on the final price based on the material and the time invested at this point.

Per enclosure, the price will be around 200$ WHICH INCLUDES:
-The fiberglass enclosure with a gelcoat finish
-The enclosure already cleaned, prepped and painted black
-The terminal already mounted with subwoofer wires for the terminal to the subwoofer (Inside the enclosure)
-3 Custom metal mounting brackets for each Fiero model and years (With and without A/C) already painted and installed on the enclosure

The only things you have to do is the work on the car:
-Removing the dash.
-Relocating the chime module.
-On 84's Modifying the plastic vent cover.
-Mounting the subwoofer into the box (With the pioneer's screws but I will send some for the JL Audio (They are not coming with any)).
-Installing the enclosure at the proper place under the dash.
-Run the subwoofer wire from the power amp to the enclosure.
-Re-installing the dash.

It might not seams like it but making one enclosure is a long process and requires a lot of material. It doesn't just stop as making fiberglass.

I DO NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE FINAL PRICE WILL BE 200$!!! It's only an idea. Keep that in mind.

Let me point out that some 8" underdash enclosure made out of sonotube were selling up to 100$, which is not the same production cost, nor the same work and hours

Still interested at that price?

Fred

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87 Pontiac Fiero GT

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87 Pontiac Fiero GT

I have some picture for you guys.

The first one is the 84 duck work that needs modification, I'm referring at the 2 "pins" that needs to be shaved off. If you have an 84, keep in mind that you need to do that.



Now I will show you the different clearance with and without the air conditioning. The enclosure mounted is without A/C and the one which is sitting on the car floor is with A/C. You guys can see the difference of the clearance with the duck work. (The first picture has been taken at the belt level while sitting in the car.)




And now, upon request, some pictures of how it looks mounted in the car. You CAN NOT see the enclosure from the outside of the car.

I was standing outside the car when I took those pictures:




When kneeing outside the car, you start to see it:



When crouching:



From the inside of the car, it can easily be seen THOUGH, it keeps a low profile look, not attracting much attention since its similar and close to the duck work and has a similar black color. The first one is like when you look down at it, the second one is as if you look straight out of the windshield.




I hope this answers to a lot of questions.

Fred

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87 Pontiac Fiero GT

This is exactly correct! With A/C and without A/C do NOT have the same duct work. For the amount of time invested in one design, i don't want to invest into making 1 kind of enclosure for A/C, one without, one for 84s, one for... etc. I preffer only one universal enclosure that requires only minor modifications in different applications.

It's been a couple of times where people are asking me why I didn't make it bigger, I will try to make this clear. (Note: I'm putting capital letters just to attract all the attention, I am not angry, I just want everyone to see it clearly. )
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THE ENCLOSURE DOESN''T NEED TO BE BIGGER! I did put water in the enclosure to measure up the "air volume" the enclosure is. We arrived at 0.35 CUBIC FEET. If you guys remember correctly, the JL Audio subwoofer (8W3V3) required an air volume of 0.30 CU/FT for optimum performance and the Pioneer can go from 0.10 to 0.50 CU/FT, but for an optimum performance, it requires 0.4 CU/FT. Again, WE ARE AT 0.35 CU/FT WHICH MEANS WE ARE BANG ON IN BETWEEN BOTH REQUIREMENTS!!! This means, even if we would have all the space imaginable under the dash, it would still be the best way to go, if you go bigger or smaller, you loose performance.

NOTE: I did said 0.35 CU/FT. Though, air volume MAY change from one enclosure to an other due to the difference in the thickness of the enclosure itself. (Nothing too drastic though, maybe 0.02 CU/FT of difference)
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Yes, not only would you be able to accidentally kick the subwoofer with your feet, I think that you WILL accidentally kick it. Unless your VERY cautious with everyone who gets in your car, telling them you have your subwoofer there, I still think that eventually, the inevitable will happen. It is right above the foot rest, without any protection, I'm affraid it will happen. JL Audio is actually making a grill for the subwoofer, which, I think, is well worth the investment. I will try to provide the part number. Unfortunately, the Pioneer subwoofer doesn't have a grill. If a universal grill fits, or you can add some bars, I think it would do the trick!

I hope it answer to all questions. I'm assuming you still want the pictures from the driver side. I will try to provide them as soon as possible!

Fred

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87 Pontiac Fiero GT