Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Audio Need some install advice ASAP!

I'm gonna go blow some money on a sub. I'll be doing the install myself, and I already know the following:

1) Get a decent wiring kit... don't skimp out or you could cause a lot of problems.
2) Run power down the driver's side, signal down the passenger side.


However, I don't know the following:

1) Where should I ground the amp?
2) Do I need to remove the rear seat (I have the 60/40 split type)
3) Will I need to drill through the firewall to get power through?

etc...

As you can see, I have a decent idea of what I'm doing. I've installed my deck and door speakers and cd changer, so I'm no fool. I am not, however, the sharpest knife in the drawer when it comes to car audio, so any suggestions would be great! I have NEVER hooked anything up to the battery before (not directly, anyway!)

Thanks for help in advance... I should be home with my new gear in about 2 hours or so!

Brian

You can ground the amp to the chassis pretty easily, just find a piece of metal in the trunk and screw a ground wire down into it. You don't need to remove the seats, after you finish running the wires under side floor panels you should be able to push them through the bottom corner of the seat and into the trunk. Firewall doesn't require drilling but I'm not exactly sure where the hole is either. Anyone help on that?

With an ATX car there is a grommet where the clutch cable would go, easy to pass the wire though there.

wiring kit at knukonceptz will work wonders... cheap too

Knu! Knu! Knu!

www.knukonceptz.com

All I can say about the back seat is a friend of mine has a 40/60 split in his Grand Am. It looks really sweet mounting the amp and capacitator on the back of the seat and then folding the seat down. Throw some neons in there and watch the wonder.

yeah, mounting on the back of our seat is a good way to go. Just make sure the fins are lined up vertically so it gets good cooling (NOT HORIZONTAL...you'll fry your amp eventually, esp. on hot days.). Screw some painted black 1/2" wood to the back of the seat (use about 1.5" long 1/4" thick self tapping screws, and no they will not poke the back of the seat...i used 2 inch deck screws and no body who sits in the back ever feels the screws in the seat.), then mount the amp to that. Looks nice, functional design, easy to access to make adjustments, and simple show off. Back of the seat all the way!

oh yeah, ground the amp as CLOSE AS POSSIBLE to the amp. I found the best spot is on the seat belt bolt (most common place) or just sand the primer off a metal spot in the trunk and get a short (1") screw metal in there *(use a star washer with the ground wire if screwing into sheet metal). ground it close to the strut tower, there's nothing electrical or mecahnical under there so its safe to drill and screw into (unlike the gas tank under the back seat...eek!). Just make sure the ground wire is no longer than a foot long (ideally) and preferably larger guage than the power wire.

Pics of my amp installation

that link has pics on how to get your power past the firewall...

hope it helps..
if they arnt clear i cant type out instructions..

cheers,
jca