Art's 92' Corolla Build

[Cardboardcat15]

Another update! Got a few things in the mail

Hmmm, what could this be?

Ahh..now I know

D1200, resting voltage out of the box.

Stickers!

DO NOT BUY THIS SHUMACHER CHARGER. Even though it has an AGM setting, it charges at 15.5 fucking volts. Maybe I'm late on these chargers, but this is what I experienced. good thing I checked the batt while it was charging with my DMM.

Another day, another package!

Interesting...any guesses?

Sweet victory! The ever so impeding hump of budget stereo builds that is an alternator! 220 amp Mechman alt! Don't need ALL of the power, but it's all they had for my car. Plus, I like having lots headroom and little voltage drop

Some more shots

About two hours after my alt came, another little treat arrived at my door

A four channel! Finally!

Mmmm, pure sexy that is sleek black.

[Cardboardcat15]

Well, right after I got my alt in the mail, I decided I would try and get it in today. Sadly, that didn't happen. Reason being, a pesky pin on the bottom of my alt bracket that the alt pivots on. The damn thing is too long to be pulled out of the bolt hole all the way. So how do I get this stock alt out? Drop the engine. That's right, DROP the fucking engine. This is such a pain in the ass. I can't get to the last bolt on my bracket because its above my A/C unit and the starter. So, tomorrow morning my dad is going to help me drop the engine and get this alternator in. This really is a pain in the ass. Now I know why my mechanic was gonna charge me $100+ to install this alt. PITA!

Here are some pictures.

This is the stock alt, pivoted all the way back on the bolt. it made it much easier to see what I was dealing with after I did this.

And here's the pin of doom. Doesn't seem to menacing, right?

Awwww....fuck.

Needless to say, this alternator ordeal has been an experience. It's good for me though, I am learning a lot about my engine and how everything is set up, just by dicking around with the alternator. Maybe after all of this I'll learn a thing or two about cars other than changing oil LOL

[lilboom]

o yeah i like this i don't know about that amp thought let me know how it treats you i tried the apsm1300 and we did not get along.

be sure to use some of the resin and Matt for that pre fab(i see no box).after that you should be rockin rollin

[kam311]

I'm liking the build man! Way to take on some pretty difficult stuff!!! The only thing I would change if I were you (besides the previously stayed 4ga) is your ground, it looks a bit too long man, maybe just the angother the camera. Anyways good build man I like it

[BassJunkie]

Very nice build so far. Good choice in equipment too.

[bigp_on_the_beat]

Nice starter build your glassing came out pretty good for a first time. Keep practicing and your skills will get better overtime.

[Cardboardcat15]

Thanks for all the replies guys! I will probably glass some few things here and there throughout the build, maybe some tweets in the A-Pillar and try to do some 6.5's in my doors (once I get a new HU). For now though, this is about the maximum of what my funds will cover LOL. I be building a new sealed box for these 15's, doing a simple MDF floor in the trunk and making a nice battery rack in the trunk until my next Fin aid refund comes in and I start working again in the fall. It's cool to know people are watching my build! Hopefully it will come out as nice as I envision it.

[Cardboardcat15]

Well got another update, this time not so good. I dropped the engine (raised actually) and managed to get the pin out that was holding me back from getting the old alternator off. I pulled the old alt out, and with the help of my father and my uncle who's visiting from Texas, I got to test fit the Mechman alternator. Sadly, it doesn't fit. Here are the pictures.

The unit is actually very very close to fitting in the stock area, the only problem is that the alt housing is just barely too big to fit under the arm of the bracket. I am in no way trying to give Mechman a bad name, this alternator is a BEAST, and I can't believe how extremely helpful and willing they were to help me out through my problem. After calling my personal mechanic and Mechman, I've figured out that tomorrow I'll pay my mechanic to grind down part of the arm to get the alt to fit. I am no longer affiliating anything with my father car related (or anything else). He almost drove me to take a crowbar to his face. Thankfully, I kept my composure. Back on topic, I'm hoping that grinding down the arm no more than half of the metal that is there should work. Cross your fingers!

[Cardboardcat15]

Okay, another update. The alternator still doesn't fit after shaving off the top bracket. Sad, I know . But it's all good, I'm fine with that. Mechman has treated me with amazing customer service, I've never once had an issue with getting a hold of someone for help, and everything else about the alternator is prefect and works with the car, minus the housing. So in a few weeks I will have my mechanic fab up a new top bracket that will fit the alternator.

[Cardboardcat15]

So not much has happened in these past few days. I got some of the last things I ordered in the mail, that's about it. Since I have to pay for t he alternator bracket now, the $230 it is to get it made has set me back. That took up the last of my money LOL. So things will be slower from now on until I start school and start up my job again. Anyway, let's get to the pictures. Here's what came in the mail.

Some mice things from Knu. 20Ft of KCA 1/0 and a 20ft 4 channel RCA.

Just a shot of the inputs.

Hmmm....I wonder what this could be...

Oh...ok. Sweet!

25Sqft of Audiotechnix 60mil Deadener.

SO until I get this alt bracket made (which is happening this Thursday) I wont be doing much. Tomorrow I'm going to try to get some deadener in the trunk, but that will require me to take everything out, and I only want to take everything out once I'm ready to get a template of my trunk floor for the Sheet of Birch that will be going over. I plan on doing a small false floor in the trunk, but only with one sheet of Birch so it's easier to attach my box and other things. I don't want to lose too much height in the trunk for my box. My plan is to make a nice box and battery+amp rack, and having a false floor will make it much easier to get everything down and secure. Once I get more $$$ I'll give another update.