Gas tank vs Sound System

[pill]

As per the title, I have just acquired a VT (exec) and am intending to install both of these. Gas is being installed professionally, getting $3k back towards it (something the government is actually good for?), but i'm putting the stereo in myself. However, i've found a conflict: it's fine cause the subs can sit further in in the boot, but where do i mount the amps? I've had a few ideas, but there are problems with each:

• on the back of the rear seats

- but i won't be able to get to them after the gas install

• underneath the parcel shelf

- but probably won't fit with gas tank / won't be able to get to when gas is in

• back of rear seats, but with some sort of slidey removal system

- but expensive, hard to install and hard to mount so they're secure while i drive

• under bottom of back seats or behind back seats, but not on boot side

- but no way that would fit / poor ventilation

• under front seats

- but would get kicked, and wouldn't be good for the amps i'd think

• some sort of custom fibreglass boot

- i'm a uni student and i couldn't even afford a quote on it. (thus why the car's going on gas). I've already got the stereo from a previous car, however

I intend to mount two amps (one 4chan pioneer, one 4chan blaupunkt) running with 2 subs, 2 6x9s in parcel shelf (already installed), and 2 6inch pioneer splits in front doors/under dash.

Has anyone come across a similar dilemma or have any suggestions as to where the two amps can find a new home? any idea will help!

[Ozzie]

If the amps are for subs, You can screw them to the sub box.
Otherwise you can bolt them to the bottom boot carpet and put a "dummy" floor on top of them (with ventilation)

[HoZy]

I had gas, now i have subs... Never going back, I hated how gas ran

[pill]

If the amps are for subs, You can screw them to the sub box.
Otherwise you can bolt them to the bottom boot carpet and put a "dummy" floor on top of them (with ventilation)

(back of sub boxes) i don't like the idea of the amps vibrating with the subs, and being able to roll around, would there be a good way to lock them to the outsides of the boot? contrary to my last car, there's barely anywhere to put any restraining ockey straps or anything on...

(bolting to floor) where do you reckon would be the best for that? on the sides? i wouldn't want to screw it through cause i might not be able to get the tire out unless i cut a hole in the boot mat, which is something i don't want to do. perhaps a replacement boot mat would be good? could be difficult to find one to fit perfectly but i'll check (i work at super cheap auto, we sell some rubber ones...), thanks for the idea! anyone else?

[bezz]

im going with a false wall in front of the gas tank with the amps and sub mounted to that. Going to try and and build a sub box to angle around the tank slightly then build the wall around it. You could try moulding a fibreglass box in each corner of the boot (behind the taillights) for each sub, or if fibreglassing isnt your forte, they are always available on ebay.

[Ozzie]

pill your kinda answerin ur own Q's here lol

The amps should have rubber grommits on the screw holes to eliminate vibration.

Doesnt really matter if you put it on the box or not... the whole car will vibrate if the sub n amps any good.

The carpet above the spare tyre is re-enforced with masonry, You can just pop holes into it and bolt the amps to it... That way you can still get to your tyre, the amp will lift with the carpet

[Ozzie]

And like HoZy says... subs in cars with gas dont sound too great, the gas tank baffles the bass to the front of the car

Id be more worried about the vibration in the gas tank than in my amp lol

[bezz]

And like HoZy says... subs in cars with gas dont sound too great, the gas tank baffles the bass to the front of the car

Id be more worried about the vibration in the gas tank than in my amp lol

not true at all, couldn't tell any difference in sound quality when my gas tank was fitted. And what the hell is vibration going to do to a thick metal gas cylinder?

[pill]

Id be more worried about the vibration in the gas tank than in my amp lol

heh yeah true. The tank could be a problem, but cause of all the holes in the (underneath metal part of the) parcel shelf the sound should find it's way through (i'm not sure how high up the tank will sit, but yeah). thanks for your help. I don't mean to answer my own questions but that's just how i think through things hehe

the floor might be a good idea, i could get a perspex cover so i could still put stuff in afterwards too, put the wiring down through the spare wheel hole, get a couple of 12v fans rigged up, do you think that'dd work well?

[HoZy]

Yeh not true all i said was I had gas, now i have subs lol

I used to run a 80litre tank 65litre usable an 2x12" subs & 3 amps in my boot.. sounded great.. i just got rid of gas cos i hate it even though its cheap.

[bezz]

heh yeah true. The tank could be a problem, but cause of all the holes in the (underneath metal part of the) parcel shelf the sound should find it's way through (i'm not sure how high up the tank will sit, but yeah). thanks for your help. I don't mean to answer my own questions but that's just how i think through things hehe

the floor might be a good idea, i could get a perspex cover so i could still put stuff in afterwards too, put the wiring down through the spare wheel hole, get a couple of 12v fans rigged up, do you think that'dd work well?

Honestly tank wont be a problem at all, the only downside to it is it takes up space! Your false floor plan sound good, sounds like a fair bit of work tho!

[pill]

Honestly tank wont be a problem at all, the only downside to it is it takes up space! Your false floor plan sound good, sounds like a fair bit of work tho!

hey, yeah, it's a releif that it won't stuff up the sound. However, i just went and had a look at how the sub boxes themselves fit, and unless i wanted to buy/build custom boxes it could really make a false floor tricky (not to mention making changing the tyre difficult).

i think i'm gonna go with mounting the sub amp on the back of one of the sub boxes (it just fits) and mounting the 4-speaker amp on the fold-down for the middle rear seat (considering the gas tank will cover the whole boot anyway). That way i should be able to get to both amps if i need to adjust the settings.

Is there a trick to getting the stereo rca leads/ amp battery cables through the firewall, through the cabin and into the boot? or is it easier to go underneath the car (thats what i did in my old car). What do you guys recommend?

<edit> or is there a particular guide on the forums i should try and find?

[tyrefryer]

dude i wouldnt run the wires under the car, u will risk them getting damaged, the sound system being put in first is easy cos u have a few free holes in the fire wall. theres one right up in the top corner on the passengers side....but they use those for the gas install so u might **** them off doing that, other wise u can use the big rubber grommit where the clutch cable for a manual would go. that all i could use cos i had gas installed already and being a calais all the holes were filled with wires. then run the calbles down the sides under the interior skirt then take the back seat out n there is holes to run into the boot

Also ur spare tyre deal, id be more worried about the gas tank trapping ur spare tyre, that happened to mine cos the bolted the plastic flap thing down with the gas pipe...then again that was more cos the pipe wouldnt run out the side cos the stupid stock stacker.

I was planning on bolting my amp onto the floor, easiest way and the problem with it being on the sub box is its easily stolen togther. anything is better than what im doing now, its just sitting in there sliding around and occasionally il have to get out n reconnect up a wire lol

[pill]

ok. that'll make it easier than drilling holes in the firewall.
From those with experience, what's the best way to get wires from the head unit to the boot in a vt?

[bezz]

ideally, down the centre however this requires removal of the front seat. Otherwise, go for the opposite side that your power wire is running down.

[pill]

so down underneath the carpet?

Are there any trenches that go down the car for other types of wiring that i could use?

and which front seat would i have to take out to do the above?

[bezz]

so down underneath the carpet?

Are there any trenches that go down the car for other types of wiring that i could use?

and which front seat would i have to take out to do the above?

yep, under the carpet. The stock wiring to the boot i believe runs down the drivers side, there isn't a trench but its just sorta right in the corner. You will also need a torx head screwdriver to remove the side scuff panels on the doors to get to the carpet.

As for which seat, whichever side you choose to run the wires down. Word of warning tho, don't start the car until you reconnect the yellow cable attached to the seat, otherwise you will get an airbag warning light on your dash. The only way to get rid of it is to get it reset with a tech2. Matter of fact, your battery should be completely disconnected while you're doing any work like this.

Running them down the centre is a pain in the ass, upto you whether you think its worth it. It does give you a little bit of extra length on your rca's though, as having the gas tank in the back leaves the standard 5m rca's slightly too short to work with. Either way, run the rca's underneath the gas tank right in the middle.

[pill]

thanks.
it's not too hard to run things under the centre console, but would it be difficult (do you think) to get through (to) the carpet in the back to continue the rcas from the boot to the head unit area?

[bezz]

by carpet in the back do you mean in the boot or near the back seats?

[pill]

like, the floor carpet that sits under your feet and goes up the sides to underneath the seats.

[bezz]

If you're deadset on running it down the centre, take the seat out, the door scuff panels and the centre console and you should be able to thread the RCAs under the carpet in front of the gear shifter, behind the headunit. Then thread the cable under the carpet till it comes out under the backseat, and then through to the boot.

[pill]

Thanks bezz, and others, you've been a great help. I'm gonna attack it tomorrow

[tyrefryer]

that sounds like so much work, alot easier just running the cables along the bottom of the glove box tucked up, then down near the computer, then along the side under the plastic scuff plate then up behind the backseat into the boot, but whatever floats ur boat

[pill]

ok. well, to be honest, i'm not going to know how i'm going to do it until i start, but i'll see whats easiest. thanks again for all your help