Chevy & GMC Vans

Nice clean install. I've noticed other car shows, pictures that amps are hidden, don't they need open air to keep cool????

Don't worry about our PM's, with gas prices, utility bills going up, I'm not worrying about installing mine right now, thanks for the help anyway, maybe at a later time!

WOW ! I got a chubby ! I started something similar for my 10" sub, but man that looks awesome, just what I was wanting to do. Can't wait to see the finished panels.

And I thought I was looney having 3 amps in my van...
Nice work!

Verrrry nice.

Very Nice Install Chris
Is there going to be a source of colling for those amps? :-k

Having large concert systems in my backround,I know full well how much for thought goes into clean wiring like you did.That looks very well done Chris.Do the research in the library for Carlson couplers boxes.It is a folded vented box that is 180 degrees and will reproduce a 20 cycle note to 20,000k.It is very small in size and was way ahead of it's time.

Thanks guys for the comps.

And I thought I was looney having 3 amps in my van...
Nice work!

Actally two of them are mono amps and the sub amp is bridged. I've got the fronts bi-amped so there's one running the highs and two mono's running the mids and midbass. One two channel running the rear fills and one for the sub. It's really more power than I could ever want, but I've collected this stuff for years. I perfer to have more power than I need and keep the gains down. I used to re-cone speakers and I can tell you this, I rarely repaired drivers that were blown from two much power. When you clip an amp it causes arc burns across the coil. To over drive a speaker you push it beyond it's physical limits. Ive had these same infinty ribbon emit tweeters for years and they have never been damaged. Ribbon tweeters are real sensitive to amplifier clipping.

Having large concert systems in my backround,I know full well how much for thought goes into clean wiring like you did

Yep I've seen high end equipment that sounded like crap due to lousy installation pracitices. It's taken me weeks to get this figured out. The front speakers in the kick panels have been a real treat. Made up special bracket so I can adjust them for optimum imaging. I'll snap some pics of those soon. I have them mounted, but need to modify the panels themselves.

As far as the amp cooling goes, the Nakamichi amps are mounted such that natrual convection will work. The sub amp is not, but I'm barely using it's capability. Eveything is ran at 4 ohm, no low impeadances. I'm more worried about the EQ-s since I modified the front channel with higher quality op amps that draw more current than what was in there. I've noticed the power supply transformer gets hot. I may have to improvise a fan on it. As far as the whole system goes I'll see how it goes. If it seems like I'm getting a heat build up I did leave provisions to add a fan. The other nice thing about where I have them Is I could easily duct air from the rear A/C to that area.

I was up to 2:00 in the morning last night. Getting anxious to fire it up. I haven't had a good system in a vehicle in years.

Very nice job,looks well thought out

Making progress. Wiring is done! Here's the factory side panels in place. I'll have to make some clips to hold it and I think I'm going to hinge the front piece. Covers it up nicely.


Just have the rear speakers to finish up waiting on crossover parts. I still have to modify the kick panels too. Still debating on how I want to accomplish that. The drivers are mounted. I'll be bringing home a scope from work to verify polarity of the drivers, then setting up the 1/3 octive analizer to adjust the EQ curve. Gains are all set.

Well just about finished up. Installed the rear speakers and passive crossovers. I used a set of Infinity reference components with 6" mid-bass. I wound up throwing in a set of Kappa 4 inch mids too that I had laying around next to the tweeters since the factory had openings for them. Of course I had to make a custom crossover for them. Also the front mids and tweeters are set up. I still need to modify the kick panels to cover them. I've set the EQ curves and checked speaker phasing. I've decided to post a how to on phasing and EQ curving. Man I'm jamming now! About time.

Pic of the rear mids & highs

Here's the custom passive crossovers I made.

The front mids & highs in the kick panel area.

Ok, I have to ask, since you built your own crossovers, where is a good place to learn more info about crossovers? I'm interested in putting 8" midbass speakers in the van, but it will probably have to be a 3 way setup. I wanted to build the crossovers for it myself, but I'm not too smart when it comes to crossovers. I understand what they do, but i don't understand how or why. Any books you would recommend?

Great job by the way...

Steve O

Lookin Good
This is going to be a very nice SQ system

I should have you come tune mine when your in the area. Out of the box my girlfriends Ford Edge sounds way better than the gear in my astro. Maybe I'm not doing it right....