5 Attachment(s)
2014 Avalon Limited Build
The day is finally here. I literally just picked it up a few hours ago. Since I work at the dealership I got it from I went right from signing papers to the back for applying ceramic protection. One old lady owner, loaded and only 35k miles.
Attachment 17648Attachment 17649Attachment 17650Attachment 17651
For the first 2 months or so it’ll move a little slow but after the VA meet in September the Malibu will finally be retired and most of the equipment will get transferred into this car. It’s also going to be my daily driver so down time/disassembly will be minimal.
Car:
2014 Avalon with JBL/nav system
Goals:
Supreme SQ while keeping as much useable/cargo space as possible and use OEM speaker locations and minimal modifications
Equipment:
Head unit: Kenwood Excelon Reference DMX-1057XR
Processor: JL TWK88
Amps: Alpine PDX-V9 & F4
Front Stage: SI TM65mk4, SI M3 Carbon, SI M25mk2
Sub: SI… either SQL 15 or SQL 12
The decision on sub will depend on where there’s available room for it. I’m hoping for spare tire well but I’m limited on mounting depth there (I’ll measure that out in the next few days), if that doesn’t work either side of the trunk might work.
Most people will say you can’t replace the radio in the JBL/Syntesis cars and, from what I’ve read, it’s because the circuit board for the passenger airbag light is integrated into the board with the tuning knob so it can’t be transferred to the new dash kit. So after some investigation I am under the understanding that the plug for the airbag light is the same for all models of radios so I procured a non-JBL radio so I can dismantle THAT & I can keep my original radio intact.
Attachment 17652
I should be able to start accruing install parts for this over the next few weeks so this will hopefully start moving along about the end of September. I’ll update as it moves along.
Re: 2014 Avalon Limited Build
I can dig it. Nice choice.
Re: 2014 Avalon Limited Build
Beautiful car Todd, I'm in for this one.
1 Attachment(s)
Re: 2014 Avalon Limited Build
Got it tinted today
Attachment 17673
For the short term I’ve decided to transfer the PPI mids & tweets currently in the Malibu over to this one rather than getting the SI speakers right away. Definitely getting the SQL though as I’m not doing IB in this car and the PPI 15” needs a HUGE box. Until my bank account recovers (I spent a bit more than I wanted to on the car), I’m gonna be on a tighter budget. It’s been about 10-15 years since I’ve had a car payment so this will be an adjustment.
Re: 2014 Avalon Limited Build
2 Attachment(s)
Re: 2014 Avalon Limited Build
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TheTodd
For the short term I’ve decided to transfer the PPI mids & tweets currently in the Malibu over to this one rather than getting the SI speakers right away.
Well that didn’t last long. SI is offering discounted products at the Sundown show this weekend at prices I can’t pass up. Ian (Naiku) is going to the show and has agreed to do me a solid and pick up my new speakers. I won’t be picking them up until the VA meet at his place but, again, I can’t pass this deal up.
I’ve decided to get the SQL-12 instead of the 15 and more than likely it’ll get ‘glassed into the right rear corner of the trunk. I’ve fiberglassed stuff before but never anything that would have to be done upside down. Does anyone have any tips on how to apply mat to this surface without it falling off?
Attachment 17725
To assure it fits properly I’d like to do the first layer IN the car and I’ll add additional layers after the first has cured and I can remove it safely. I estimate this area has about 1.3-1.5cf so I should be able to easily get the 1cf sealed I’m looking for.
In the meantime… my new remote starter has shown up. Supposedly it’s a 20-30min install. It comes with all needed T-harnesses and it’s all a matter of taking the underside of the dash off and securing the box. It even uses the OEM remotes.
Attachment 17726
That'll get installed this weekend as well as starting the sub enclosure and/or amp rack.
6 Attachment(s)
Re: 2014 Avalon Limited Build
Got a little more done this weekend. I had some deadener left over from the Malibu so decided to use that up while I wait for more to show up.
Trunk lid before & after:
Attachment 17797Attachment 17796
Trunk floor before & after (I ran out):
Attachment 17798Attachment 17799Attachment 17800Attachment 17801
That’s it for now. I get an extra paycheck in Sept plus I’ll get the Malibu sold so once that money comes in progress should start picking up.
1 Attachment(s)
Re: 2014 Avalon Limited Build
Giorgio, the peanut butter box is here. Well… it’s not really the peanut butter box but today was delivery day.
Attachment 17829
I’m still waiting on power wire & the USB adapter to show up and I also have to order a few more things yet but progress should start picking up in the next few weeks.
For the next 7 out of 12 Saturdays I’ll be busy, so time will be limited (I have season tickets to PSU football), because of that I’m really contemplating taking maybe 3-4 days vacation over an away game weekend to knock this biotch out. I figure a good Th-Tu stretch at the end of the month should be enough to get the majority done. I guess we’ll see how frisky I feel until then.
See y’all in a week or so in VA. Deuces!
2 Attachment(s)
Re: 2014 Avalon Limited Build
Got the knob for the TWK mounted in a switch blank only to find out the shaft is off-center AFTER drilling the hole dead center in the blank. Luckily it actually fit. Who the hell designed this thing?
Attachment 17896
The plan is to mount it in the dash with the other switches. Only problem is there’s no empty slots.
Attachment 17897
The only one I’m not going to actually use is the Blind Spot Monitor switch as I plan on keeping that feature on, so I’ll do some investigating. If it’s as simple as jumping a few wires I’ll do that & remove the switch. If not, I’ll just tuck it back behind the dash and insert the knob/blank in its place.
7 Attachment(s)
Re: 2014 Avalon Limited Build
I also got a bit of work done on the dash kit. So the OEM dash & radio have a brushed metal finish. Ignore the greasy fingerprints.
Attachment 17898
The only problem is the only dash kit they make is a gloss black finish. Because of my OCD I couldn’t live with that so I ordered some brushed metal vinyl and wrapped the dash kit.
Attachment 17899
Now for the fun part. Like I mentioned before, I bought a non-JBL radio for the passenger airbag light. After disassembly this is what I’m after. In the top left is the circuit board for the airbag light.
Attachment 17900
In the JBL radio these 2 boards are 1 piece which makes putting it into the new dash kit extremely difficult.
Attachment 17901
So I removed the airbag light and moved it over to the new dash kit & buttoned it up for now.
Attachment 17902
I stopped short of mounting the radio but I should be able to get that done over the next few days.
Next up was the sub grille. I applied an SI sticker and painted it gunmetal grey to blend in better with the grey trunk then removed the sticker. This gave me a subtle SI logo in black. It looks a little more subtle than the pic shows. I’m guessing that’s due to the super bright LED lights in my garage.
Attachment 17903Attachment 17904
After going back & forth WAY too many times between a sealed box in the rear corner, ported behind the seat, IB through the ski pass & 4th order through either the ski pass or rear speaker openings I’ve decided on ported behind the rear seat. I’m aiming for 1.6cf tuned to 26Hz. I opted for this over sealed for the better efficiency and over 4th order for ease of build. As far as IB, I really wanted to face the sub towards the rear and I couldn’t design a way to make it look appealing to me so that was out as well.
I took some vacation days from 10/6 - 10/11 so a buddy of mine & I can knock this thing out. In the meantime I’ll be doing some more odds & ends to help accelerate the process.
Until next time…