Fiberglassing rear speaker deck

**jmilin5931** · 09-16-2006, 06:12 PM

I couldnt fit aftermarket speakers in my rear deck so I had to fiberglass a new rear deck to fit the speakers. Let me know what you think so far. I just got finished covering the fleece with resin, and I'm going to start fiberglassing tomarrow.

Any tips on how to keep it nice and clean around the edges, or any other tips or things I should know about this? I plan on either carpeting it when I'm done, or painting it. I'm also wondering whats the best method to keep the deck secured down, so its not just this piece sitting on top of the metal in the back, bouncing around when I go over bumps. Thanks.

I attached pictures.

**GoHybrid** · 09-16-2006, 06:18 PM

it'd help to know what you've got under that fleece. did you build a frame yourself or are you modifying another rear deck trim piece. Just based on what i see, I'd do two things... if you want clean edges, you have to pull that fleece TIGHT. failing that, i'd say you're due for alot of extra sanding at this point. Don't forget to reinforce those areas.

As for holding it down, if it's just MDF sitting on the sheet metal in the car, I'd use T-nuts and machine screws at various points, and i would make sure to sandwich a few layers of sound deadener, and soft foam to minimize rattles and movement.

that's my $.02, what do you think?

**Ces///M3** · 09-16-2006, 07:05 PM

The best way I'd say to secure the piece down would be to go from underneath the rear deck (read sitting in the trunk) with a drill and some screws and proceed to screw the piece down. The outcome will be a completely secure piece that will have no exposed screw holes on the interior side of the car. If the piece you are making is a sealed application make sure to have mounting points for the screws outside of your airspace area to avoid any air leaks. also make sure to treat any area you drill through (besides stock mounting locations) in the rear deck with a sealing agent to avoid any rust from eating through your rear deck in case you develop a leak or moisture buildup down the line.

another way you can approach it based on the same principle is to glass (cast in) or (mount in) threaded anchors into the piece you are making and line them up with the holes you have drilled through your rear deck. This would probably be the most professional looking way to secure it down, the end result looking like a factory job.

anyway, the job you are doing looks to be coming out well, keep updating the pics Id like to see your work as you go along brother - Ces

**jmilin5931** · 09-24-2006, 06:14 PM

more progress... I'm ready to carpet it now. But not sure what kind of carpet to use and where to find it.....

**GoHybrid** · 09-24-2006, 07:58 PM

if you go to wal-mart they have this "trunk carpet replacement" stuff which is nice and stretchy, unbacked, and easy to spray mount onto that sort of thing... it's only $8 for a whole roll... should cover that no problem. comes in black and blue.

**jmilin5931** · 09-24-2006, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by GoHybrid

if you go to wal-mart they have this "trunk carpet replacement" stuff which is nice and stretchy, unbacked, and easy to spray mount onto that sort of thing... it's only $8 for a whole roll... should cover that no problem. comes in black and blue.

Cool that sounds perfect! I'll check it out.

**excluesiveonez** · 09-25-2006, 08:18 AM

looks decent

**jmilin5931** · 09-25-2006, 11:04 AM

Yeah.. I know it looks pretty rough, but that's why I'm going to carpet it. It's not perfectly smooth or anything. But it's going to be covered in carpet in the back of my car with the front lip tucked behind the rear seats.

**excluesiveonez** · 09-27-2006, 01:05 PM

my lil project.... my first try at fiberglass

**jmilin5931** · 09-27-2006, 02:51 PM

nice. Im assuming youre gonna paint it. I just got my carpet from wallmart and I'm going to carpet it tonight. But as I was test fitting it, I noticed that one speaker hole slants foward , and the other one is pretty level... Thats going to bother the hell out of me every time I look in my rearview. I'm not going to cut it all up and fix it now because I'm about to move into a new apartment and have alot going on, so I'm just going to carpet it and screw in the speakers. I can always rip the cheap carpet off when I have time for a project and go back cut it up and fix it I really want to... But I just want to get this deck in my car and have speakers now. It's not perfect, but it beats not having any rear speakers or deck. I'll post pics hopefully tonight.