FRS SQ Install - KM4SH #0002
 

Before things ramp up, I figured I would start a build thread to track my progress as the install goes. My goal is to upgrade the stock audio of the FRS. I drive the car up to Canada at least every other weekend to visit my fiance, making long commutes very brutal with the stock setup.

Some background on the car... It's Keith's KM4SH #0002. I flew down August of 2015 from SEA -> PHX, and road tripped it back up here. Since then I haven't done much to the car besides, well, daily drive it. I've put roughly 8k miles since then.. The car's been to SEMA 3 times, so i do my best to take car of it!

Since it's on bags, commuting up and down Downtown Seattle hills is actually possible! Not to mention the Washington State Ferry I use at least 4 times a month... You're getting the point... Air bags are essential to my commute!

What's in the car:
For more info on the car's lifelog, visit this speedhunter's archive!
Project ZN6 - Speedhunters



On to the next story... plan is to install a 'simple' active 2-way front stage with a single subwoofer to fill the lows. While I am at it, I will be deadening the entire car with proper treatment, installing a seperate backup/front camera system, and re-integrating my dashcams + radar detector (Passport Escort Max)

Following gear:
-Deadening treatment: MLV, CCF, CLD
-Front Stage: HAT C62-1
-Subwoofer: 12" SI Mag V4 D2
-Headunit: Pioneer DEH-80PRS
-Amplifier: Alpine PDX-V9 (5 channel, 500w sub, 100x4 to front stage)

I am currently renting a space by my work...luckily I was able to persuade my roommate to give me the garage. It isn't much, but should be just fine for what I'll be doing.

More to follow once gear comes in.

Day one
Bulk of the interior was removed. This car is really the easiest thing in the world. Can't believe it. Everything in this car was made to be modified/gutted. Got practically everything out of the car in a little under 3 hours, and that's with me taking my time making sure none of the pieces were damaged/misplaced (bolts,tabs). All I have left are the seats, floor carpet, and the driver side door. Should take my about 30 more minutes to get all those pieces out. Upon removal of some of the interior parts, I began to uncover a lot of OEM + other wires previously ran. This is what used to be in the car... All of the gear was removed by the time it came into my ownership. But that's okay, I was never a fan of Memphis.


Sad to say, while it really looks great with all of the interior panels/carpet overlay on; once removed I was actually quite disappointed at how the wires were ran. Unorganized and all over the place.. Yeah, its probably my OCD kicking in (electrical engineer undergrad); but for a show car I would've expected things to be bundled more carefully and methodically. I also discovered a few spots where CLD was previously laid down. It was laid down underneath the two rear bucket seats, and underneath the spare tire. Not really sure why these specific locations, as CLD is really meant to deaden rattles as opposed to acoustics. The CLD looks like its sort of peeling off, and could really use reapplication. I won't criticize the brand too much, as I know the car must have sat in some serious Arizona heat.



I didn't realize i lacked an E10 torx socket; quickly ordered one on amazon, should be here friday. A lot of my misc. parts are also coming in...(zipties, electrical tape, heatshrink, wires, etc). Stay tuned. Hopefully I get a hold of a better camera to track my progress.


Outstanding questions:
-Best way to mount tweeters...
-How to mount MLV on vertical surfaces?
-How and where should the subwoofer be mounted? I wanted to place a backslanted 12" sealed enclosure placed in the trunk, facing the trunk...But the height clearance in the trunk from the trunk floor to the rear deck at its most constricted point is roughly 12-13".... This limits my idea of having a vertical facing subwoofer pointed to the trunk. What I could do instead is have it seated on the rear seats in the cabin (with seats down), facing the trunk... Placement is really just going to have to come down to experimentation. I have a spare box I'll use to see what works the best.

More supplies arrived today..

Met a local FRS guy from NW fb group to purchase a velox lip... this thing is thick! Can't wait to finish aero on the car.. Plan is to also pair a velox rear diffuser (non-aggressive) and the race upgrade for the front lip. I also have a bunch of "30k tune-up" things I want to do to the car.

Backup camera

Front Velox lip splitter
Knukonceptz package arrived. I ordered 3 pairs of their basic RCA cables, in 5 meter lengths... Was only 5 bucks a pop. I'm not a strong believer in expensive ass cables. As long as there's moderately good shielding and the material qualities arent shit, it works for me.

KnuKonceptz order:
-3x 5m RCA cables
-10ft Kolossus Flex 4 awg
-6x 4 awg crimp sleeves


Since none of the deadener arrived yet and the fact that I only had a couple of hours to work on the car prior to work, I knocked out what I could. Today I tackled the big 3 upgrade... basically involves upgrading the following wire connections:
-Positive battery to Alternator
-Negative battery to Chassis
-Engine ground to Chassis

I left all of the OEM cables in place and measured out the lengths I would need with the 4 awg wire. Measure, cut, strip, crimp terminal ends, heatshrink ends.

Battery before:

Do you know if the rear fenders were cut for the KM4SH kit? I heard you didn't have to cut, but I have no such indication of it.