Astro Build - 12 Cerwin-Vega 12"s in a Clamshell C-Pillar Wall

[Colin - STAPUFT]

I think its "All Chevys" in general that puts up the best fights ...

there is no "Easy" button on my truck anywhere ...

So true. I think the designers took lessons in building these things like Rubik's cubes. For instance- why in the world would they design and build the AC hoses that fish in and out of the serpentine system? And then put braces across the serpentine system to the block- and run the AC hoses through that too?? It is crazy. I could of just cut the junk and been done in 5 minutes, but I wasn't doing that either.

I saw a late model Olds 88 that the motor mount had to be removed to change the serpentine belt. Truly. That is just disturbed. What do you do if you throw the belt and it gets cut up while coming to a stop?!? No fixing that ish on the side of the road....

[Colin - STAPUFT]

Dual alts are in!!! After only about 2 years of meaning to do it too. I didn't take that many photos as I was melting in the heat. I lost 10 pounds in 2 days working in this mess.

A/C compressor pulled out. (A/C didn't work and was giving me fits when I could make it work... so, the space is better suited to a 2nd alt anyway).

Made a bracket template out of cardboard, transferred that to steel, cut the bracket out with a grinder and cutting wheel b/c that is all I had access to. That was a bear. But- it is done and didn't turn out too shabby. Matched up the holes, got bolts, lock washers, bla bla bla. This pic is with the old belt- it turned out to be a bit too long as the tensioner rode all the way at the bottom.

Here it is bolted in place, with a new belt. After wearing in, this belt has the tensioner riding right in the OEM groove.

In this picture you can barely make out the red MSD coil that gave out on me after getting everything wired up and running for maybe 30 seconds. It had me thinking that I fried the ECM or something. After some research and some advice from a member here on SMD, I replaced the coil with the 23 year old original and she fired right up again.

All wired up. I took the harness from the second alt and wired it into the factory harness in parallel. It was literally as easy as matching the wire colors together. For the output charge lead, I had to use 2 runs of 4 awg for the power wire. It was all I had on hand, but it works. Both 4 awgs are wrapped in wire loom and zip tied like crazy. Also, you can just barely make out the air cleaner assembly- I had to get one from a junkyard. The original wouldn't fit with how high this alternator is. I took the donor and cut it up to make it fit.

So... voltage and amperage is no longer a problem. lol. Yeah, the bass is louder, but better is the word. Even tighter and cleaner than before. Most noticeable is the added clarity and volume in the mids and highs. On the whole, much stronger than before. My wife said the van was "Beast Mode" now. Haha! A funny thing- on punchy bass, the RPMs on the motor will actually drop from the pull from the 2 alternators.... a very strange feeling when driving, because it feels like the van is hitting water puddles -hesitating. Crazy. If I added some proper batteries it would ease that a bit by giving it some more cushion. As it sits now, she is still rockin' the single lead acid.

That is all for now- going to Scrapin' the Coast 2012 tomorrow!

[michigancapri92]

Heard this van at scraping the coast and let me tell you your van is not only unique but sounds amazing !!! Very loud and very clear sounded amazing !!!! Credit gived where credit due!

[Colin - STAPUFT]

Heard this van at scraping the coast and let me tell you your van is not only unique but sounds amazing !!! Very loud and very clear sounded amazing !!!! Credit gived where credit due!

Thanks Joshua! That means lots coming from you after hearing your Capri. I loved that demo.

[Colin - STAPUFT]

Scrapin' the Coast 2012

My Uber Weaksauce Run:

A fun Demo:

It was HOT. Like 100 degrees in the lanes. It put major stress on everyone's vehicles and systems. The van couldn't cut the mustard and gave problems pretty much all day. Nothing really bad though- she just blew some fuses on the TL meter run- nothing burned up, overheated, no scratchy or stinky coils- just the fuses. Needs more batteries for that kind of abuse.

It didn't break a 150, but the van made the full 600 miles round trip at 20 mpg with everything intact. I'm proud of the old girl and I had a great time!

[Colin - STAPUFT]

Ruh roh! More little 2", $2 speakers. Thinking about a Soundstage Redo. ...I have to quit sitting in Randal's (Cablguy184) and Joshua's (MichiganCapri) rides. I am not going to get that good, but I am just going to aim in that direction with my budget. As much as I would love to go SQ crazy in this Van or in another ride, Audio is a hobby- and I have proper responsibilities that take precident.

Oh.. and there are fuses in there too. For my utter failure in the lanes. hehe

**EDIT**

Also, I am about to swap out the MTX LSX-2 active crossover for this even older COUSTIC XM-3. I tested it today just for grins and it sounds MUCH better than the MTX. Sensitivity is higher, plays more cleanly, more pronounced lows, mids, & highs.

I need to draw up a new system diagram. At 105+ degrees outside, I'm sure not doing any "work" out there.

[White Lightning]

LOL ... responded back to your PM ...

[Colin - STAPUFT]

Just got a signed hat in the June 2012 SOTM! Thanks for the votes and support guys, and thanks to Steve and SMD!

[ch0sen]

I know how you feel about the heat man, its 101 in NC today, and with our humidity i've been told thats like 111 in texas. I've ran out once to get some measurements and came back in lol.

I work in this heat, but doing it on my own time is totally different if you know what i mean, and congrats on the win.

[rubbernutz1]

4th place on SOTM congrats dude. i still say u should have won the cerwin vega month