MattBlackMinibus - Progress Report

[MattBlackMinibus]

What colour is that? Looks like chrome!!!!

I wish I could say it was black chrome mate but alas ...
it is Halfrauds gloss black, to match the limo-black windows.

[AlanN]

One of the things I liked about BrownyV6's 8 spokes was the backs being painted a different colour

[MattBlackMinibus]

One of the things I liked about BrownyV6's 8 spokes was the backs being painted a different colour

Yeah, looks pro

[MattBlackMinibus]

Been busy on the bus recently.

Eventually got the rear coach seats welded up properly -


These speakers, to fit into the footwells, attached to side trims,
positioned for sound quality and to allow access to fuse-box and bonnet release -


Lay down some masking tape and glass-fibre -


...and remove when set -


One of our new chicks 'Alice' lending a talon -


Attach to trims, and attach speaker rings -


Stretch material around, add glass-fibre resin, and cut off excess -


Fill them with expanding foam, then carve out area for speaker when set.
Slap some body-filler over the outside and sand to perfection,
then cover/trim with your desired material/covering.
I'm going to spray them with dynamat, then spray them matt black,
cos I'm pants at trimming!

[BROWNYS V6]

them pods are wicked,looking forward to seeing them finished

[MattBlackMinibus]

them pods are wicked,looking forward to seeing them finished

Cheers mate Same here

I've been wanting to do an install since '93 when I first got into car hi-fi,
but have gone through so many motors that it's never happened.
I love my Transit and plan to have it for a long time, so now's the time.

The pods are a bit ropey, but they're my first, so I'm pleased to have done them.
They'll do.

There are loads of threads on other forums and sites with detailed instructions,
but they are a mission to build the first time. A messy time consuming mission.

You'll come n see them at the Weald, yeah?

[noobrider]

big up to people who at least try you dont know what you are capable of until you try to do it. top job and looks great

[MattBlackMinibus]

Cheers Noobrider

THIS WEEKS PROGRESS

Built an amp rack and fitted it behind a side panel.

Did some filling on the outside of the pods to smooth them out a bit


Added 2 layers of roof flashing to the undersides,
and sprayed them with plastic primer, then matt black (of course )


Drilled wires through, siliconed up the holes, and gave them a test run


...on the workshop system
ipod into guitar pre-amp into genesis car amp, running off mains transformer


Then fitted them, ran the cabling, and loosely fitted the tweeters to the A pillar trims.


Knocked up a box for the sub, which will bolt in behind my seat



I'll make some tough grilles for the mids to stop size 9s meeting them,
then cover the whole pods with thin speaker fabric, home speaker type.

The sub box will be trimmed up somehow. Not sure about that yet.


Will get photos of the pods in place a.s.a.p.

[bigmastif]

that looks the doggies mbm

[MattBlackMinibus]

Just thought I'd post some pics I took this morning.
I emptied a can of matt black all over it on Saturday,
an hour before leaving for the North Weald run,
so it's looking a bit tidier than usual

[MattBlackMinibus]

Hi-Fi Update ;

I bought a home pre-amp to feed the ipod through, into the amps.
I went that route to save money and for sound quality.
The pre-amp was 40 notes second hand,
compared to hundreds for a head unit of equal sound quality.

I have a Rockford 500a2 on the Clif Design mids n tweeters,
and a 160a2 on the 15" Punch DVC sub.

The sub box is 'technically' too small for the speaker.
which restricts the lower frequencies, but creates really tight bass.
The amp has a Bass Boost function, which restores the bottom end.
This, in theory, results in tight punchy bass like a 10, and the low notes of a 15

Theory works. It is tight, and drops really low.
The clarity of the front speakers is absolutely amazing.
Truly beyond anything I've ever had in a car or home.


Future plans;

Fit a Genesis four channel amp, bridged, to the front speakers,
and use the 500a2 amp for the sub.
Better sound quality up front, and 3 times the power to the sub.
Then add another sub if I can find one identical.
I intend to fit 2 midbass speakers at the bottom of each front door when I find some,
so the redundant 160a2 amp will be used for those.


Other van progress;

I've bought a repair panel for the crusty jagged draughty rear door
(which I may get round to fitting one day when time allows!),
and I'm picking up my new front bumper this week
Both of these are standard Transit parts, but with a twist

More pics next time.
Roger, over and out ... for now

[MattBlackMinibus]

Quick update -

Hated my std front bumper with a passion
and being skint and tight lead me to this solution
I like the look of the mk6 bumper, it's much deeper, and they're cheap.
Mine was 30 squids complete, and already painted, which saves some prep-work


One pic for now. I'll put more on when it's finished



See viewtopic.php?f=13&t=47042
for some (very basic) fitting info.

[Gurj51ngh]

coming on well that is!!

i want some speaker pods made for a mk6 inside door pillars

[MattBlackMinibus]

coming on well that is!!

i want some speaker pods made for a mk6 inside door pillars

Cheers matey
SO much to do still though

[MattBlackMinibus]

New pictures now it's in matt black
Still need to fill gaping holes on top under headlights, but it'll do for now!





Well chuffed with this mod
Anyone want my old bumper? Free to a bad home (burn it)