04 Blazer Slow Build: 1 minor update and 1 Big update, Plans Changing

[subsonicluv]

Hello SMD!

I've been lurking long enough and decided to jump in and start a build log. This is my 1st post on any forum....ever. So i'm a little nervous. lol!

A little over a year ago I got back into the audio game after about a 10 year vacation from it. I had pretty typical setups. Mainstream brands, prefabed boxes and so on. Then one day I pulled the old Vega 154's out of the closet, blew the dust off of them, and started building. Shortly after that I discovered SMD! I was officially addicted at that point.

I don't have that much equipment for the new build so I'll keep you guys entertained with my previous installs (screw ups) to start off with. I will let you know ahead of time that some of the previous equipment that I used was less than par, to say it nicely. That was eventually taken care of.

Here goes it

These are what I'm working with. Can you tell I like blazers?

Building the port. Tuned @ 20Hz. Yeah I know. Too low.

Port installed and amps mocked up. Like i said, less than par. I got these for $75 each from Parts Express.

Box glued and screwed. It came out to 12 cubes net. Too big, I know. I ended up paying for this mistake later on.

Made my own flare with a little frame made out of MDF and lots of wood filler.

Box installed with amps in temporarily until amp rack is started. Everything worked. So far so good.

Dry fit on the amp rack. Also got a crossover to compensate for 2 volt pre-outs from the head unit and these amps didn't have built in high pass crossovers. It all was crap but at least it was matching crap.

And, done. At least for a little while.

[url=http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/Jonathon_Murphy/media/04%20Blazer%20Build%20V-1/IMG_20120702_191212.jpg.html]

It sounded ok I guess. Just wasn't loud enough. It did get low . But I wanted it louder, or not as quiet I should say. So it was time to upgrade.

[subsonicluv]

It took me a while to decide what amp to upgrade to for the sub stage. Then I found the Boston Amp. It was a perfect fit with all the terminals lining up with the Pyramid. It also matched the RMS power handling of the Vegas, not in this box though.

Once it was installed it was night and day difference. I was really happy with the volume that I got out of it. So then it was time to get it metered. Went down to Tyler (about 2 hours away) to a show last June I think it was.

Got 2nd and 3rd place.

Ended up with a 138.5 in the kick with driver's door open. Also did a 154 in Port Wars.

This happened when I was in the lane, to both of the Vegas. This is how I paid for the box being too big.

Then I rebuilt shortly after...

[subsonicluv]

Alright so I waited until the last minute to start the rebuild before the next show I went to down in Tyler back in August. Got some CA glue from Parts Express to fix the spiders on the Vegas and talked the wife into re-gluing them for me.

Also picked up a Boston Acoustics GTA704 for the Mids / Highs amp so NO MORE PYRAMIDS! Also ditched the cap LOL.

So, I started ripping everything out

And back to a clean slate. Decided to fold the back seats back up too. Yeah, That means I went to a smaller box. I learned.

Mocking up the amps again. I never really finished it the way I wanted to but they were supposed to be completely concealed around the bottom to cover the terminals with air being able to flow all around them.

My 1st attempt at 45's. Only put them down at the inside openings of the port to help air flow.

And done....again....kind of.

I never really got any pics of the amps all wired up. This time the box was half the size of the 1st one being at 6 cubes net with the port having 15 square inches of area per cube. So naturally I made the port 6" x 15" and tuned to around 37Hz.

[Bship]

good looking work. I'm in fort worth, and wouldn't mind hearing your truck sometime.

[subsonicluv]

good looking work. I'm in fort worth, and wouldn't mind hearing your truck sometime.

Thanks. Unfortunately I'm bassless right now. I would like to meet up with some local bassheads since I'm the only one I know so far. lol. I live south of the metroplex down by Midlothian.

[subsonicluv]

nice tuned in

Thanks

[Bship]

could definitely meet up. I have a little bass in the Focus and I'm trying to get started on the Suburban, but it's gonna be a long build for sure. Focus build is in my sig. I've only been here since november so I don't really know anyone yet. Arlington is only like 20 min from both of us it seems. What happened to your bass?

[subsonicluv]

Here's another "finished" pic.

So I barely got it all playing in time for the show in Tyler on August 18th and hauled ass down there. Didn't have time to set any gains but I did pic these up when I was there.

1st and 3rd. The 1st place was in Port Wars Open and I did a 149.5. Unfortunately this time the port was too small to fit the sensor inside with the globe on there so it was quieter than last time. I could have done Super Port Wars and taken the globe off but Jenissa with BassBattles advised against it cause there were some people on they're way that were doing 170's in super port wars. I should have done it anyways.

3rd place was SPL modified 0-1000 and I did a 145.6 in the kick with driver's door open. I was going for stock 0-600 but the box was just barely above the window line. I couldn't believe the difference with smaller box and more port area and higher tuning. Went from a 138.5 to the 145.6 in the kick using the same equipment. Needless to say I learned from my mistakes. Next up: Road to 150 with some Obsidians. I'll try to keep everyone updated with the current build the best I can.

Thanks for looking!

[Krakin]

Welcome to the forum!!

My dad owns a old two door (I think '73? idk I'll find out later) K5 blazer. I would love to fix up that truck but it has sat for ages and needs god knows what done to it.

This is what it looks like but it has some old faded peach paint on it and showing fiberglass on it.

Would absolutely love to revive this old beauty.

[Krakin]

You can see the ugly color on the right of this pic.