98 Civic Refresh UBL (Uninterrupted Build Log) Update - LED's, Glowing XS Logo,2 SMD VM-1's - 4/11/13

[meade916]

I know i have worked on this thing off and on for the last few years, never really making too much progress on some of my bigger idea's. Mainly because this car had 4 dead or dying Yellow Tops and a bad alternator. Well i replaced the alternator a while back but never did anything with the batteries. Until now. Just the other day i installed a new D5100 under the hood so i can move the car and actually start it for a change. After going to the Autorama this weekend, it inspired me to get off my ass and work on it some more.

So here is what i have done for a few hours yesterday and most of today.

Me and my son cleaned, removed and re-ran a bunch of wires. etc

Added 6 new XS Power D2400 Batteries. Recently added: XS Power D5100 (under hood) and a Mechman 220+a alt @ 15.3v

Added 1 Rockford Fosgate T400.2 (for the mids)

Added 1 Rockford Fosgate Punch 200.2 (for the tweets)

Sub amps, undecided. Probably 4 T2500.1 bdcp

Rockford Fosgate 3sixty.3 over Optical to Alpine IVA W200 and Bluetooth to Ipad

New SMD D'Amore RCA's

Subs, RE MT 18's are out while they still work...SMD 18's planned.

to see where this car came from and the MILLION original build pics click here: http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/58-my-honda-theft-recover-and-rebuild-video-of-theft-update-60907/

[meade916]

[meade916]

Optical Cable in, RCA out to the amps. LOVELY.

[meade916]

was busy, had a delay of a few days but worked on it more today. Got the optical working GREAT via the 3sixty.3 and added 2 more XS D2400's. 6 Total. Tomorrow i have to buy some stuff to make some buss bars. OH FUN!

[meade916]

Todays Progress Pictures. (taken over the last couple of days).

the plan is to seal the wall of so NO bass goes backwards, which is one of the biggest problems this car has. It has a nice flange but it isn't air tight. When i make it air tight, its gonna go BOOOM even better then before.

Here we have the Rockford Fosgate T400.2 for the Power series mids. I have a Punch 200.2 for the Tweeters. The Alpine IVA-W200 is optical out to the 3sixty.3. That blue cord is the Toslink cable. It sounds incredible and its still FLAT! So this car will have Optical and Bluetooth inputs ONLY, no RCA's at all. I used SMD D'Amore Engineering RCA's. After i seal the wall and get this thing sounding great, i will make a cover so it looks nice. Trust me.

the blue cord is the Tosslink cable

3/8" Aluminum Bus Bars Started

6 XS Power D2400's (there is also a D5100 under the hood)

Time to bust out the new drill press

Me and Antheny puttin in work.

Tapped for 5/16" bolts. (Stainless)

[meade916]

Tap that asss. LOL

These batteries are SHOEHORNED in LOL

I didn't buy enough of the 1 1/2" to make 4 bars.....but i did have a piece of 2" laying around. Its a little wider but won't hurt anything.

Turning 3 fuse holders into 6.

Fuse it or lose it! Any wire that touches a battery in this car has a fuse.

I had to use a few extra washers to keep the bolts from hitting the battery. They are just a HAIR too long. Its no prob though.

You know me, i like to solder EVERY wire in the car. This is the reason my rides last as long as they do. I build them to LAST.

[meade916]

Whats another roll of solder....noooo problem LOL

I love the RF wire! there is TONS of 1/0 AND 2/0 in this car....

I had Antheny drill all the holes and the holes on the larger bar should have been closer to the edge for the fuses to grab onto better. They are a little further out then i expected but i used some large washers to make up the difference.

Time to cover up all of it and give myself a platform to work from. I plan on cutting a window in this so you will be able to see the wires and i will also light it all up. Should look SWEET when done. I hope.

I was just bumping some Doja Clik shit and realized how awesome this thing sounds over the optical cable...man, i really think this shit is going to sound great when i am done.

I ordered 4 Rockford Fosgate T2500.1 BD CP amps on Friday. So far here is the plan. I am going to mount them on these little boxes. 2 amps per box. The wires will dive into the box and look ultra clean. The box will be removable, on a guide and lock into place, with the amps still on them. There will be plenty of slack in the wiring so i can pull them all the way out if i want and work on the gains, Xover settings, etc. One thing i HATE is installing my amps and not being able to get to my dials.

To make the dials easy to get to, they will be mounted upside down, but still vertical as shown. I will be installing a cooling system to keep the trunk air circulating.

So plexi glass window looking down into the battery rack, and a bunch of mirrors on the side walls, as well as a nice trim-job to make it all look nice.....stay tuned! More updates coming soon!

[meade916]

thanks for checking in!! Click here to leave a comment!

http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/162743-98-honda-civic-gets-a-refresh-another-rebuild-thread/

[meade916]

EVERYTHING IS SO DIRTY, I KNOW!! I will power wash it soon and start thinking about paint.


A new XS Power D5100 under the hood. This car now has 7 XS Power Batteries and a Mechman 220a Alternator.







The old beloved RF terminals with pressure fittings are too big and i can't close the hood with them on. Time to grab some other ones.







These will do! I am glad i never thow anything away!!










These bad boys fill my tank from ZERO PSI to 200 PSI in 4 minutes. That Mechman alt comes in handy for that! Doesn't even blink an eye and those pumps pull some amperage!

[meade916]

this is an uninterrupted build log - please click here to join the conversation and post a comment

http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/162743-98-honda-civic-gets-a-refresh-another-rebuild-thread/page-5

thanks!