Another FJ Install

[TX_Flip]

Over the last year or so I've beem enamored with the latest DIY car audio systems, having familiarity with building home monitors and knowing a lot of product from PartsExpress and Madisound...it just looked like a lot of fun to do one as well in the FJ. I've already seen a couple of folks here with DIY set ups in their rides so I'm posting just a few pics of my install that was just finished up finally this weekend.

This was a very quick and budgeted install that matches the sort of theme for my FJ. Definitely aftermarket products with subtle bling but OEM blend. As for the pics I'm not saying the photos of door and floor dampening are not important or interesting...honestly, I'm just too lazy to download all the pics and reformat (b/c my DC sucks out loud). If you've seen one FJ (6.5-7inch) midbass in the door or single DIN dash kit install you've seen them all right?

- Alpine CDA9887
- Dayton Tweets
- Dayton Mids
- Sundown Subs
- Protos (also known as NEXT) 5-channel amp
- Dynamat and eDead throughout here and there
- Wiring - whatever I had laying around.

Obviously subs in a custom box in the back, mids in the doors, and tweets in re-fabbed A-pillars. Don't even try to preach about kicks vs. dash vs. doors for tweet install. Put 'em where you know they'll work for you and what you're trying to do with the install. My set up works for ME but probably not everyone. As for the amp, the footprint on my 5-channel is small and it tucks underneath the seat just fine spaced out above the floor. I couldn't justify building a whole amp rack on the opposite side of the sub box fender well for an amp barely a foot long.

The sub box and pillars were wrapped in Allante sport vinyl that looks almost perforated. I did this b/c it matches pretty darn well to the perforated/divet plastic theme that Toyota did on the dash and various other panels in the vehicle. (Probably can't tell from the pics and...again, I'll never buy another Fuji cam).

Now how does it sound? I'd be lying if I said I didn't think I can tune very well, so I've been playing with the system for a few hours now (and have several more days ahead of me) but as for where it stands right now I'd give it a 7 out of 10...which I'm quite happy with.

[BeerHat]

Looks good Jason Your installs have always been simple and straight-forward, but clean

[TX_Flip]

Appreciate it, Jon, long time no see or hear.

[BLUE TONKA]

Looks good!!! Wish I could hear it

[Gottagetone]

Niiiice work, we need to put togather another Austin FJ get togather, this time for beers.

[mr tibbs]

I love the look of it, that vinyl looks great!! How about pics of the deck and the amp and a link to the subs? Are those 8's or 10's? So, are you running the mids and tweets active, if so what are you using as an x-over the deck or the amp?

[TX_Flip]

As I said, you've seen one pic of an amp under the seat and a single DIN install you've seen them all but I guess a picture could be helpful for someone. I'll take a pic tomorrow morn with another camera and post. As for the processing, yes, everything is active off the head unit, Alpine CDA9887 - w/o the Imprint tune, which I'm still on the fence about trying which won't cost me anything but an afternoon. I like where I'm progressing as it is but I know curiosity will get the better of me.

The subs are Sundown Audio, SD-1's. I'm old school and these subs fit the bill on what I was looking for. Was going to go with some Dayton Quatros but Jacob (Sundown owner) was closing out his SD-1s (10 inch 8ohm subs) for $120 a pair shipped and couldn't resist. Emphasis on the budget install but honestly do not believe I sacrificed quality in product.

And to anyone's curiosity the Protos amplifier is an Italian "wannabe" Audison amplifier that did nothing to disappoint me when I sent it to be bench tested by Pyramid Audio in Austin (clean and pretty ballsy). It is the identical amp to the NEXT Audio five channel. I traded an old Autotek (Zed) amplifier for it and so happy I did. I can't note a similar sonic signature yet on this amp but I've got a lot of time ahead of me to play with the system.

[BeerHat]

TX_Flip previously said:

Appreciate it, Jon, long time no see or hear.

No doubt, haven't been on the car audio scene for a while and been trying to get back in it with the FJC. But right now, the 85 toyota is taking all my time and money.

[mr tibbs]

Again, it looks great! Good choice on the amp, I actually owned 2 of the Next amps, but sold them before I got to use them. They were given high praise by others that used them so I thought I would give them a shot. Also, I think I'm going to have to move my tweets to where you have yours, they just are not blending well in the stock locations. Thanks for the ideas!!

[TX_Flip]

For what it's worth here's the headunit in the AI dash kit which I liked better than the Metra and Scosche but honestly...not any of them are great so that's going to be one of the first upgrades as I start to get bored. I have a few ideas and it'll be fun.

The amp install would be another upgrade for the future but I'm absolutely content with it being hidden and tucked away. There is a ton of room underneath the FJ seats (seen stacked PDX's underneath already) so I don't worry about the heat and the back end of the amp is not as exposed as it looks when I push the seat back into driving position. The duct underneath the seat was closed off prior to the install of the amp.