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2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71 by Audio-X
After a long wait, and a lot of grief from my friends, I've finally started on my build. Here's the patient...a 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71 quad-cab. If I had kids, I probably would have opted for the crew cab, but I prefer to have a longer bed. With the bed extender, I can carry a full-sized sheet of plywood laying flat in the bed.
https://images2.imgbox.com/f4/f2/NZWk2yZX_o.jpg
https://images2.imgbox.com/0c/3c/iNGIoNLW_o.jpg
https://images2.imgbox.com/c0/95/HXmg99gy_o.jpg
https://images2.imgbox.com/5d/56/Fil6MjJE_o.jpg
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
Here's the HU that I'm installing:
https://images2.imgbox.com/13/96/2IQSfVgi_o.jpg
https://images2.imgbox.com/19/9f/jPXlnlwN_o.jpg
https://images2.imgbox.com/fa/fa/jKFeazm8_o.jpg
I had a helluva time getting everything soldered, because my tip was burn up to the point that I couldn't even tin it.
https://images2.imgbox.com/5d/af/wZ2bSSXJ_o.jpg
I didn't have another one on-hand, so I had to order a replacement...and here it is :D
https://images2.imgbox.com/81/9c/qgGkVxLV_o.jpg
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
The DMH-C5500NEX has an 8" capacitive touch screen, and Metra just released a dash kit specifically for it. It's one of the best looking kits I've ever seen:
https://images2.imgbox.com/7e/cf/CHhjvIep_o.jpg
https://images2.imgbox.com/4b/be/WH3ni8Pq_o.jpg
As you might have noticed, this unit has a separate screen that connects to the hidden radio box via a data cable. This means I didn't have to hack up the dash to get a double-din to fit.
I did have to take apart half the dash to run wires, though. Here's the pigtail that plugs into the steering wheel clockspring harness
https://images2.imgbox.com/de/57/Z8Uakv1h_o.jpg
Everything is controlled via a iDataLink Maestro RR
https://images2.imgbox.com/fd/0e/W23tdpCJ_o.jpg
Here she is all buttoned up and playing
https://images2.imgbox.com/f3/a7/Wb4WB6lA_o.jpg
More to come...
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
That is awesome my friend! Love that clean, absolutely factory looking install. You done very well my friend!
That Hakko is sweet, right? Easily my favorite soldering setup ever. Sooooo easy to use.
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
That thing really does look good in there. You got the ball rolling so may as well keep it going. What are the plans downstream of the headunit?
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
I like the front view of truck and the rear shot of CAJ sticker the view of work bench wall looks like it is in the truck, a partition .
Prolly amps/amp -n- speakers, HillbillySQ.
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hillbilly SQ
That thing really does look good in there. You got the ball rolling so may as well keep it going. What are the plans downstream of the headunit?
I bought Erin's Helix DSP Pro, and I have a couple of Mosconi AS 200.4 that I got from Chuck. Not sure on subs or speakers.
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
You can join me and chit in the Audiofrog lovefest OR just do Anarchies, ccwr's, and mdt12's with the ported 18". OR, get a sub that will work well with a bridged pair of channels from one of the 200.4's.
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
I'm thinking possibly a 12" or two in custom center console...but I still want an 18 for that low stuff...
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
Two words... Poor Ted. Or is it, Por Ted?
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
Beautiful truck, HU looks perfect, and can’t wait to see where you go from here!
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
I really like that separate screen with the Pioneer, trying to stuff my Kenwood into the dash opening with all the wiring harness behind it was a major PITA. Would have been cool to locate the main radio piece in the glovebox and just mount the screen in the dash.
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
Quote:
Originally Posted by
naiku
I really like that separate screen with the Pioneer, trying to stuff my Kenwood into the dash opening with all the wiring harness behind it was a major PITA. Would have been cool to locate the main radio piece in the glovebox and just mount the screen in the dash.
The data cable is only 8" long, but they make a 59" extension cable, which I bought for possible future use.
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
Weird that the cable is only 8" long, somewhat restricts being able to put the brains somewhere other than where they would be if it were a traditional double din. I can't see many vehicles having a spot 8" away from the screen to make it worthwhile, yet a 59" cable is pretty long. Seems that it would have made sense to offer an 18-24" cable with the unit, but still have the option of the 59" one for those that might want it.
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
Quote:
data cable is only 8" long . . . . . .
Quote:
the cable is only 8" long, somewhat restricts being able to put the brains somewhere
Doesn't require any brains !
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
[QUOTE=BigAl205;44625]Here's the HU that I'm installing:
https://images2.imgbox.com/13/96/2IQSfVgi_o.jpg
/QUOTE]
50 watt "Mosfet" amplifier ? Cooling necessary !
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
I was having issues with the system...backup camera wasn't switching on in reverse, and the system would periodically flake out to where it would automatically revert to the phone screen. I could press another button, it would change for a split second, then go back to phone. It seemed to work fine when I started up the system, but hitting the turn signal the first time would cause it to spaz out.
I fixed the backup camera issue...I'm slightly colorblind, especially between blue and purple, so I had the blue/white wire from the Maestro hooked up to the purple/white of the radio harness, and vice-versa. It's working fine now.
I pulled the Maestro, re-flashed it, and it seemed to be doing okay until I tried adjusting time alignment while sitting at a drive-thru. It didn't change screens on me, but I lost most (but not all) steering wheel controls. I pulled into a parking spot, rebooted everything, and it worked fine all the way to work. As long as it doesn't flake on my while driving, I can deal with not making adjustments without restarting. I'm going to try a few more troubleshooting ideas before I start a thread on the Maestro's forum.
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
Is it getting enough juice? Might have to recable the positive and negative to the battery...
Kelvin
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BigAl205
I'm thinking possibly a 12" or two in custom center console...but I still want an 18 for that low stuff...
How about that new Kali series from Adire Audio?
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
Quote:
Originally Posted by
subwoofery
Is it getting enough juice? Might have to recable the positive and negative to the battery...
Kelvin
I hadn't considered that, thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ckirocz28
How about that new Kali series from Adire Audio?
If I go 18, I've already got an Audioque that I was really happy with, but it's been sitting around for a couple of years. I'll check that out, though.
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BigAl205
I hadn't considered that, thanks!
If I go 18, I've already got an Audioque that I was really happy with, but it's been sitting around for a couple of years. I'll check that out, though.
40 mm Xmax, one way. XBL^2.
https://www.adireaudio.com/product/kali/
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
Okay...hehe...so, funny story...
I haven't had much of a chance to troubleshoot the control issues the past couple of days. It actually got to the point that the steering wheel controls would quit working almost immediately. I remembered the radio came with a wireless remote, which I've rarely ever used on previous radios due to the idiotic button layout. I figured I would use it until I could do some more troubleshooting. As it would have it, the remote didn't work either...so I figured that since the Maestro was plugged into the wired remote port, it must be overriding the IR remote. Before I left the house this morning, I un-bolted the screen real quick and disconnected the 3.5mm plug from the radio.
https://images2.imgbox.com/96/2f/couNGvyV_o.jpg
I buttoned everything back up, and the wireless remote started working, so I went on about my day. On the way to breakfast, without thinking, I pressed the steering wheel button to adjust the volume...and to my complete surprise, IT WORKED! So I tried all the other buttons, and everything is working as it should. Thinking back, I recalled the Maestro had a data cable that had a Molex connector on each end that plugged into the radio, so the 3.5mm plug must be some redundant control. I got to wondering if I left it unplugged, what functionality I would lose. I would do more research when I got home.
Well, it turns out...and this is the funny part...that 3.5mm plug isn't a data connection for wired remote after all. It's actually an audio plug that was supposed to be plugged into the AUX-in cable. In fact, it said as much right there in the $&^*ing installation manual. https://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum...es/redface.gif
https://images2.imgbox.com/02/ea/5j95o0si_o.jpg
Sooo...I got everything wired correctly this time, and everything seems to working properly. It appears the only functionality I lost was the "Now Playing" screen now longer displays at the bottom of the gauge cluster...it instead shows "Audio Off". It's no big deal, but somewhat disappointing.
Also, the plug that hooks up to the ODBII port doesn't play well with others. I have a module that prevents the engine from dropping from 8-cylinders to 4, and I thought using a y-adapter plug would allow me to use both, but the radio shows connection error on the gauges screen when the module is plugged in. I'm not sure that I really need more gauges, so I might just disconnect it and use the bypass module instead.
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I feel like this is necessary to post :puter::rtfm:
I like the Morel components. Is the midrange an add on or is that a 3-way?
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
I've had the mid for a while. It's the 2-1/2" Morel CAW214, which I bought back when Madisound had them for $30 each https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.co...4-03212017.pdf
They have discontinued it, and replaced it with the CCWR 254, which is the exact same thing for 5x the price.
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
For those who don't know, I bought a Helix DSP Pro from Erin...and for those who don't know who Erin is, she's the ugly purple-haired chick with the new Civic.
Anyhoo...I bought a couple of accessories for it
https://images2.imgbox.com/38/a7/hWLTDVp2_o.jpg
I wanted the ability to run digital straight from my iPhone to the Helix, so I got the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter to go directly to the Helix HEC HD Audio USB Interface. For volume and subwoofer control, I didn't really want a Director, so I opted for the URC.3
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
A question on the headunit if I may BigAl...when in network mode do you know if it has separate left and right eq like the 80 prs? I'm most likely going to install mine soon since it looks like my factory headunit may be taking a dump and thinking about ditching the twk88 for a super simple setup. Thanks
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
No, all the "network mode" does is tell the fronts to be highs, the rears to be mids, and then includes rudimentary crossovers. The EQ is just generic for all channels.
Now that I've taken it out of network mode, all channels are back to being full-range, but you still have individual delay and speaker level in addition to balance/fader. I listen to audiobooks quite often, and just based off some slight tweaking, the imaging on the factory speakers is spot on. The narrator sounds like he's just to the left of the rear-view mirror. Music sounds good, but is a bit less distinct.
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BigAl205
No, all the "network mode" does is tell the fronts to be highs, the rears to be mids, and then includes rudimentary crossovers. The EQ is just generic for all channels.
Now that I've taken it out of network mode, all channels are back to being full-range, but you still have individual delay and speaker level in addition to balance/fader. I listen to audiobooks quite often, and just based off some slight tweaking, the imaging on the factory speakers is spot on. The narrator sounds like he's just to the left of the rear-view mirror. Music sounds good, but is a bit less distinct.
Thanks! I didn't see it mentioned anywhere but hopeful since I have found features before that weren't mentioned in manuals.
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
Hmmm...what have we here?
https://images2.imgbox.com/82/7a/5H3arHeH_o.jpeg
Whatever it is...it's well packaged
https://images2.imgbox.com/6a/3f/5Uo9zt58_o.jpeg
BOOM!!!
https://images2.imgbox.com/d9/5c/TbdvkdZU_o.jpeg
The tinsel leads are laced thru the spider
https://images2.imgbox.com/91/a9/jkTMimMp_o.jpeg
The cone on this thing is THICK. I didn't rally have a good way to measure it, so I made a fixed zero measurement on a set of calipers
https://images2.imgbox.com/0c/87/wv9y3F7W_o.jpeg
I couldn't hold the camera and measure at the same time, but the cone is 3/16" thick
https://images2.imgbox.com/6a/20/P5m2Q3P9_o.jpeg
Yup, that's thicker than a drill driver bit
https://images2.imgbox.com/26/2c/CwmWd533_o.jpeg
I'm curious to see how well it performs
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
Holy Moly, that’s a monster!!!
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
That is a beast --- "Let's Get Ready To R U M B L E !"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN-E1dfMfO0
Enclosure [ 4 cu ft tuned to 22 hZ w/2 - 32 inch long 4" flared vents ], would work well ! Perfect, wrap it in black acoustic felt , for that rock concert wedge monitor look !
Right around 4:30 in vid , flared at both ends !!!
2,000 watts @ 1 ohm NICE !
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
Quote:
Not sure on subs or speakers.
Dayton 18" is Sweet !
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The copper/silver one on sub box and red "LEDs" !
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
What have we here?
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f848102fd9.jpg
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71
Looks like it's about to go down! Keep the pics coming!
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Re: 2018 Chevy Silverado Z-71