1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Budget Daily Build

[Kwik_Cutty88]

What's up guys? I'm starting to get into audio a lot more, and I'm starting to put moar good stuff in my car. I'm only 16 (but working two jobs) so I'm doing this build on a budget. Will be updating this thread and adding pics later tonight!

[Kwik_Cutty88]

Alright here we go! Just a little background on myself and the car. It's a 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, OG Euro Clip. My dad, myself and one of my dads friends built a mild 383 (cam, TRW Pistons, Eagle Rods and Crank, 10:1 Compr.) and threw it in. It's my first car, my DD. I'm only 16 so this will definetly be a budget build.

The car already came prewired with Monster 4 Gauge, some Infinity Kappa speakers (2 of them blown), a shitty capacitor, and an optima red top. Not too long after I got the car my dad let me use some of his old stuff that was in his Trans Am to get a little system going. Right now here's what I got going:

Alpine CDA-7893 (2004 Model)

(2) Clarion 3.5" SRG922C

(2) Clarion 6x9" SRG6932R

(2) Clarion 6.5" Component System SRQ1622S (With .75" tweets) <----------Recently Added

Jensen A4320 4 Channel

Kenwood KAC-821

Old school Pyle Driver II 12"

Crappy no-name cap

Optima red top

Plans:

Precision Power 4 Channel

Clarion EQ

Big 3 upgrade

XS Power Battery (ditch the cap)

Iraggi Alt

Sundown Subs (12")

Precision Power monoblock

Here's what I have in the trunk so far. You can see why I want to relocate my 6x9's

Recently I finished the build on the pods for my door speakers...

Started out my taping off the door for the resin mold

Mold all done

All wrapped and soaked in resin

One coat of bondo and filler primer

Flush moutned tweets

Finished products! It was my first time glassing so they didn't come out perfect, but they didn't come out horrible either.

Next I'm going to make pods for my 6x9's to put them in the rear passenger arm rests. This time though I'm going to flush mount them in the pods.

Even before that though, is to install a parts express volt meter in the factory cluster.

[Kwik_Cutty88]

Not a whole lot of updates guys. I've been pretty busy juggling two jobs and school. I have started body work on the car, and a voltage meter is on the way, more pics soon! Also pieced together my own Big 3 kit from Knu and Sonicelectronix, so as soon as I have the money I will order that.

[ibf150]

Love the Cutlass she's a real beauty, those door panels turned out amazing.

[Kwik_Cutty88]

Thanks man, it's coming along really slowly but surely

[Crandis16]

speakers look very very clean I like it

ok I have a question. I have been trying out fiberglassing and it always turns out looking meh at the end IMO... for the finished surface at least. Do you not fiberglass the outside of the enclosure? I fiberglass the outside and it always makes it a huge bitch to get a perfect surface.

Edit: did you use fleece?

[zrkie]

those door panels looks ridiculously good. like someone with a lot of experience cranked out.

This is great news for you. Fabrication skills takes you further than big wallet and expensive products!

[Berto]

speakers look very very clean I like it

ok I have a question. I have been trying out fiberglassing and it always turns out looking meh at the end IMO... for the finished surface at least. Do you not fiberglass the outside of the enclosure? I fiberglass the outside and it always makes it a huge bitch to get a perfect surface.

Edit: did you use fleece?

Fleece, resin, mat, resin, body filler, sand, sand, maybe a bit more body filler, sand, sand, sand, sand, sand, sand, oh yeah and sand.

Sounds about right when it comes to glassing.

[Kwik_Cutty88]

Thanks guys for the comments. Here is the next update!

Made some more progress on the Cutty. Started its first body work! I sanded down the panel that fills the gap between the rear window and trunk lid. Started with 180 on a DA, then the first coat of primer, and then 320 by hand and another coat of primer. Also sanded the rust on the back by hand with 80 and primed it.







Also started work on making pods to relocate my 6x9's to the back seat arm rests. I'll be glassing them, but I got a little bit of a head start with 2 plastic frames my dad grabbed from work. Also had the board laying around in the garage.





And here's a little bonus of what it sounds like in the cold weather!

Now, I've scrapped the first idea on the 6x9 pods with the plastic frames. I just didn't like how they were going to turn out. So i decided to make some rings out of MDF and start all over. So here is the updated progress.

Here is what the recessed ring looks like. One of my first times using a jigsaw, so I know it might look a little rough. I think these look better because the frame of the speaker will never stick out past the pods.



I needed about 2-5/8" of clearance, so I made some MDF blocks 2-1/4" tall.



Finished frame, and in the car.



Wrapped in fleece, looks damn good to me! Only thing is I need to make to top edge of the pod flat, so that it will slide into the sail panels nicely. So I'm not going to be hacking up the panels or the car to get these to fit.



So I tried to staple down the edge without ripping the fleece, then put on some resin. A little on the back too, to hold the fleece down better. I guess I will see how this turned out when it dries.



Also put in an OnStar mirror my dad had in the garage. I would like to plastidip the buttons and maybe wire up the buttons to something in the car. Any ideas?

[Carbon]

Wire them to a garage door opener or leds

Btw panels look good!