Re: 2014 Avalon Limited Build
A slight update to this.
I absolutely LOVE the way my car sounds but I also know there’s some untapped potential without a proper tune… can’t wait for one of those.
In the meantime my passenger side midbass has developed a crackle when temps drop below 30 degrees. As the system/car warms up the music to crackle ratio gradually exchanges. Since it’s JUST the midbass I have already eliminated everything before the DSP. I swapped the amp for the right side and confirmed it was NOT an amp problem. Tonight I swapped the L&R RCAs so I’ll have to wait until tomorrow morning to see what happens. The biggest issue with this particular problem is after each step of the diagnostic process I have to wait until the next morning as long as it’s below 30*. Just because the air temp is below 30 doesn’t mean the faulty component is. I pretty much have to wait until it’s cold saturated for the problem to reoccur. I’m just REALLY hoping it’s not a blown midbass. I’d much rather pay to replace RCAs than new TM65s or sending it back for warranty replacement.
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Re: 2014 Avalon Limited Build
It seems I forgot this was here. I’ve been updating this on “that other forum” but I forgot about this. As far as the midbass issues goes, it seems that a little moisture got into the magnet/coil gap & when temps dropped the moisture froze and caused noise & enough resistance to keep the coil from moving some times. After removing the moisture and adding bigger rain guards, there have been no further issues.
Everything else was going just great until I got the itch to get a 2nd SQL-12. So everything in the trunk came out and I started all over. The idea is to have the amps, DSP & distro block take the space occupied by the foam block holding the jack and accessories.
Attachment 18416
The spare will stay and be accessible by simply lifting up the amp rack.
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Amp board was constructed to sit on top of the spare and hold two PDX-V9s (one for each side), the Twk & power distribution and carpeted black on the top as well as the bottom to keep the wood from squeaking on the tire with any possible movement.
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Then a top trim panel was made and chamfers cut
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I originally covered it in black suede but I’ve since pulled it off as there’s no other suede in any part of the install and I thought it would look out of place.
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Next was wire prep before installing into the car
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Then came installing into the car
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Next up will be sub install…
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Re: 2014 Avalon Limited Build
Even though I thoroughly enjoyed the single 12 sealed, this time around I’m going trunk baffle firing through the ski pass. So next up was making a cardboard template for the baffle. It’s 2 layers of 3/4” MDF with the trunk-side layer extending up about 3” for securing at the top.
First layer template
Attachment 18425
Second layer template
Attachment 18426
You can also see, on the sides, where my buddy cut the factory carpet to make the previous box fit. I was not happy about this. So I scored some new pieces for $60 from a part-out, cleaned em up and waited until final assembly to install them.
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Next up was the test fit of the 2 separate layers. Then sand/test/sand repeat until I was satisfied it would be a snug fit with carpet attached.
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Then it was the ol’ glue & screw the 2 panels together and wait 24hrs. In the meantime I drilled holes and installed threaded inserts for mounting the baffle.
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Time to cut sub holes & more test fitting. You can see here that I got real frustrated dealing with the cut-up carpet as it was fighting me every time I tried to install & remove the baffle so I taped the sh!t out of it which actually helped immensely.
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Re: 2014 Avalon Limited Build
Now it was time to test fit the subs and drill the holes for mounting screws then add the t-nuts for the #10-32 mounting screws.
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Then the floor panel for securing the bottom of the baffle was made out of 3/4” MDF
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The plan was to space that piece off the floor of the car by 1/4” so when everything is done the new false floor (made out of 1/4”) will sit flush with this piece.
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Corresponding holes were then drilled into the floor panel as well as the floor of the car and the panel was glued & screwed to the baffle.
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One last test fit to make sure all the mounting holes line up before adding carpet. At this point you can see I pulled the cut-up trim panels out in prep to install the new ones.
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Re: 2014 Avalon Limited Build
Since everything lined up and I was happy I went ahead and installed the new trim panels and added the carpet to the baffle. Since my back seats don’t fold, the cone side of the baffle can only be seen through the ski pass, and it’s a pretty minimal view, so I decided to do basic black carpet on that side and charcoal “trunk liner” carpet on the trunk side.
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Again, since my seats don’t fold, I knew I was going to have to mount the subs BEFORE installing the baffle in the car. I was NOT looking forward to that, as anyone familiar with these subs knows they are NOT light, and then add the weight of multiple layers/panels of 3/4” MDF. I also added a layer of painters tape to protect those beautiful motors from any woopsies.
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Next up… wiring. I had an idea of trying to keep the amount of visible wires to a minimum. So with the jumper wires I used black heatshrink in the middle to blend into the rubber boot and white heatshrink on the ends to blend into the basket.
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Mission accomplished. Next was trying to make the amp connection wires disappear as much as possible. Unfortunately I ran out of white heatshrink so these ends just got red & black but that definitely helps identifying polarity a LOT easier (added after I took the photo). What I did do, though, was wrap the rest of the wire in the matching charcoal carpet. If I find more white heatshrink I’ll add ends to those wires while leaving just a small bit of red/black at the end for clarity.
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Next will be rear speaker block off plates & installing the baffle into the car.
Re: 2014 Avalon Limited Build
That's a really neat trick with the wiring - VERY good work on the entire rebuild!
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Re: 2014 Avalon Limited Build
Thanks for the compliments.
So next up was rear speaker block-off plates. I traced the rear speakers onto some 1/4” MDF and cut em out. And it wasn’t until I was on my back struggling to figure out why things weren’t close to lining up that I realized that the mounting tabs for the factory speakers are NOT symmetrical. You can see in the first pic, especially on the left panel (it’s close but definitely not symmetrical), that the tabs are closer together on one side. Things went a LOT smoother once I realized that side faced towards the front of the car. I cut some notches into the “front side” to make identification easier, then covered them in black carpet.
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Next up was heaving that heavy sumbitch of a baffle into the trunk and beating it into place with a rubber mallet for about 20mins until everything lined up and then I bolted it into place. Even without securing it into place I could move the whole car just yanking on the baffle. It’s a good thing I plan on keeping this car for a long time because this thing is going NOWHERE. It was at this point I was really hoping I hadn’t messed anything up, or forgotten something, because it’s NOT coming back out… at least not easily.
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Then it was pull the tape off the subs and secure the top amp panel. For the amp trim panel I wanted something to attach it securely but be easily removable, and without magnets. I’ve tried using magnets before and I can never seem to get them level enough to “grip” firmly. I fully admit it’s user error. So this time I went with speaker grille guides. Male post side mounted in the trim panel and female socket side mounted in the amp rack. Easy peasy on & off.
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While on my back doing the speaker block-offs I also added an LED strip wired up to the trunk light and I had also added some LEDs to the amp rack. The amp rack lights are currently wired up to the remote wire but I’ll be changing that over to the trunk light so they’re not constantly on when they can’t be seen.
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So this is where I’m currently at. I have off today so today’s agenda is to make the new false floor and hopefully get it carpeted and finished. If all else fails I can hold off on the carpet but I want to get the floor built at the minimum.
Im not sure where those 2 random attachment photos came from but I can’t seem to remove them. Meh… oh well.
Re: 2014 Avalon Limited Build
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Re: 2014 Avalon Limited Build
New floor time…
Started with making cardboard templates of the factory floor
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Then transferred that to the car. I used tape to hold things in place while final adjustments & trimming took place. You can also see where the rear corners have an upward angle to them. The factory floor also has that angle so that’ll be 2 separate pieces but carpeted as one to allow that angle.
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Then the cardboard templates were transferred to 1/4” mdf.
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Even though I usually prefer symmetry, I went with staggered angles on either side mostly because of the size difference between the distro block & Twk. It’s subtle but it’s there. I tried symmetrical first and it just didn’t look right. As soon as I tried the offset angles I knew that’s what I was looking for. Then I installed the grille guides that’ll attach the panels. Male pins on the floor panel & female sockets on the amp panel.
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Test fit
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I still don’t understand why photos are upside down… they’re fine in my phone. Oh well, you get the idea. At this point I really got going and forgot to take a few progress photos. So now fast forward to a final test fit of all the floor panels in place after lots of testing & adjustments.
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Re: 2014 Avalon Limited Build
The next step was printing out an SI logo. I then determined the center of the logo as well as the panel & the logo was then cut out of 1/4” mdf and glued to the center floor panel.
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A little preview shot of the trunk with all the panels in place.
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Next up was carpet… amp panel first, then side panels
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Now with the center cover in place. I love that subtle SI logo
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I ended up adding a pull-tab to make pulling up the center panel a little easier but now… the money shot(s)
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At this point it’s pretty much done. The only thing left is some fan cooling. On my 30 minute commute home from work yesterday the amps were awfully toasty. They never shut down but boy did they get hot. Admittedly the last 10-15 minutes of that were at full-boogie to see what those subs could do, but some fans will definitely give me a little peace of mind.
I always say I’ll never win any Installer Of The Year awards and this one is no different. It’s far from perfect but perfect from far, but I’m very proud and happy with the job I did. I can’t wait to get this tuned in May and see what it can be.