Well, friends, I've finished my shallow boxes for the Lancer... I've got a pair of 10" shallow Clarion subs, one under the passenger and driver seats. Matched up to a pair of cheap amps (will replace after I get a solid 4 chan amp and 6.5"s) and a Clarion VZ400 deck. It's fairly cheap, I'll readily admit, but it's pretty awesome to have the subs right there, the sound seems so much more even than my prior in-trunk setup.

Here's some pics... It's dirty, I still haven't carpeted the boxes, and I don't have any good pics with the seats back in.... so deal with it!

You're looking towards the back seat...




Here you can see both of them.



So... Would I do this again? I don't know. It's pretty sweet to have a near-empty trunk (just a pair of amps and a cap), and there's something special about having the subs in the actual cabin of the car, just sounds better. That said, I had to get some pretty dang shallow subs (not very much room under the seats!), and they just can't quite hit the lows as good as my old full sized subs could (I'm guessing it's due to not enough air in the boxes). It took FOREVER to build/install. (it's really hard to measure correctly... the first box took probably 6 hours to make, just because I cut and built it, mounted the sub, put it under the seat, and it didn't clear. Repeat, failed again, repeat, failed again, and then finally, it fits. No carpet left under the boxes, had to bend a bit of the metal bracket under the seat, and shaved almost as much off the box as I could.)

In the end, I'm thinking about sticking one more sub in the trunk, to handle the lows. Probably won't happen, but it's in my mind.

What do you all think? I remember seeing one other person who was trying this, but I don't think anyone ever did pull off the shallow subs...

 

photobucket

 

imageshack.us or photobucket

 

Oh, and if anyone knows of any other shallow-mount fools like me, I'm interested to see what others have thought... I know FJF started on a shallow mount (kind of inspired me to go through with the idea, even though it didn't work for him), but I haven't seen too much else.

Also, do note that I just have a ghetto Lancer, so I don't have to deal with the engine noise you 4g63er's got. And yes, I'm jealous.

 

I'm in process (literally, door panels, seats, and most of the center console ripped out) of replacing the 6.5"s and tweeters, and I've run into a problem. The tweeters are SO hard to get to! Any pro-tips? I've read that taking the dash off will be even more of a nightmare, but I can't get even my shortest (like 3"s) screw-driver in a good spot to get the screws nearest the windshield.

Anyone else replace the tweeters? I really would like to use them with my components/amp...

Thanks all!

 

In tight places like that I have used an insert bit and a wrench. They are only about an inch long so they fit no problem.

 

It did work for me, though the first enclosure didn't fit. I'm just running a single woofer under the driver's seat.

 

Use an 'offset screwdriver' (shaped like a ~ )

 

Hope your car doesn't shake rattle and roll after install your subs... I never like the idea of taking apart stuff from cars for the reason you can damage or alter the way it acts...

 

I'll just point out that they're very shallow subs... They don't really push that much low's, just a great amount of mid's. Add in the components/tweeters and coaxials, and it's a great sounding, not thumping, stereo.

And FJF, my bad man. Apparently I can't read.

Also to all the tips on the tweeter install, thanks! I eventually gave up, and just zip tied the new tweeters above where the old ones are, and they just barely make the speaker vent. I'm lazy

 

i thought about doing this once, but never got the courage to do it...lol...do you still have the box dimensions?

 

I think I made my car rattle a bit inside from too much loud music. Lately I would turn off the music and sound and drive on the freeway and I would here a little rattle or something shaking..... it annoys me..

 

My dimensions changed 3 or 4 times...I can't remember the exact dimensions it ended us as, and it's written on my box (that I can't get to without removing my seats, haha) There are a bunch of things I didn't account for, like the rear rail under the seats. I just have a ghetto Lancer, though, and not an EVO, so I'm not sure what under your seats are like at all.

I'm attaching my Google Sketchup design, so if you want to see what mine ended up looking like, give it a download!

Box Design
Google Sketchup

 

These subs aren't that loud, to be honest. I move my mirror a bit, but that's not what this is for... If you want the rattle/shake, get something for the trunk. If you want good sound quality that fills out the cabin, this works perfectly. Takes a lot of effort, though!

 

Thats Awesome...I think I will soon try this as well.... I hate the sub in trunk idea...