Spare wheel well project (In works)

[iG] · 06-05-2004, 11:42 PM

Just thought I'd post some pics of what I'm doing, might be of interest to someone looking for a solution. (Thanks to Snootch for helping out with info!

Step 1: Sound deadening the trunk floor

BlueSkin - Found at local Lansing. Seems like great stuff so far, no smell at all, goes on easy. In the end I decided to buy a 9" roll, and glad i did. anything more would cause even more problems around all the curves in the wheel well.

2 Layers of BlueSkin later. A heat gun helped a lot to reveal all the air bubbles and to also just get it all laid out nicely. Just dont overheat the stuff, it burns right through the top blue layer and you have exposed hot tar -> Not good.

Step 2: Fiberglass Mold

Tools! That mask is a must, trust me.

Mask off the area with multiple overlays.. just to be safe.

Foil + more masking tape = a definite must and a life saver in getting the mold out.

Applying first layer... Resin the surface apply the fiberglass and than saturate it with more resin. Precut all the fiberglass before you mix the resin. (Also I didnt do precise measurements on my resin mixes, but as a rule of thumb i always put a bit too much hardener. It's better if it dries in your tray than having it not try at all with fiberglass in place.. Having said that, dont put too much. I made that mistake when i mixed 8oz of resin, managed to get about 3 sq ft done and than the stuff just became like a rock

While the glass was drying i decided to open up some packages i recieved this week from honk kong

LED Sills! Look even better than I anticipated! Will install once I do my speakers

After about 40 minutes i just pulled out the entire mold. As you see the foil helps a lot as there is nothing holding it behind. (Masking below is just for your own security). One tip.. Start by putting the foil around the edges and mask outside edges to the first layer. From there lay more foil and connect each piece to each other, without touching the first layer. That way.. All you have to do if you didnt have any leaks that is.. Is just tear off outside edge masking tape and effortlessly pull out the mold.

Mold after some cleanup, removed most of the tape and foil.

Test fit! Perfect

-- End of day 1. That was enough for one day. I'm going to apply the second coat tomorrow, i think 2 should be enough for my project.. And start MDF work to build up the structure.

lgbr · 06-06-2004, 01:24 AM

Good job. Let me know how that sound deadener works for you.

Why are you fiberglassing that spare tire wheel well? What do you plan to put in there?

[iG] · 06-06-2004, 10:47 AM

My 2 JL Amps + carputter

Q_gamelogic · 06-06-2004, 10:52 AM

and if you get a flat tire ??? hehe ....

(a pump does not always help)......

I guess you'd call a towing or service place ...

binary.h4x · 06-06-2004, 11:10 AM

Q_gamelogic · 06-06-2004, 11:14 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by binary.h4x

have you actually used that ???? I wont let that touch my inner rim ....

of course ..... I maybe the few that dont like that thing (or maybe the only person .. heh .. then it'd be very sad)

Snootch · 06-08-2004, 02:48 PM

[iG]: Good job so far! I'm glad that the blue stuff worked out for you. Looks like youv'e got the hang of fiberglassing. Can't wait to see how it comes out. P.S.: how do you plan on finishing the inside? with matching carpet?

icet · 06-08-2004, 03:39 PM

MAN...i plan to do the same thing to my honda....
plan to put my amp and one 12 sub...hope i have enough room....haven't measure yet...cuz now i am molding my console putting my xenarc and headunit in...
u beat me to the beat.....
ehehehee...
good job....
icet

srcstc · 06-08-2004, 04:55 PM

That BlueSkin looks like good stuff. What's it normally used for?

Rich

[iG] · 06-10-2004, 09:54 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Snootch

[iG]: Good job so far! I'm glad that the blue stuff worked out for you. Looks like youv'e got the hang of fiberglassing. Can't wait to see how it comes out. P.S.: how do you plan on finishing the inside? with matching carpet?

Yep, so far so good with BlueSkin!

Fiberglass came out alright, found quiete a few air bubbles i didnt notice at the time, but for this project it's not vital, i just need a mold so i can mount all the stuff, it's not that structurally important.

I -was- planning to do the glossy finish inside.. heh. I did a quick sketch in corel before is started this to check the area i have and it seemed alright. However now that i have the mold and after I did a quick mockup of what it's going to be.. It doesnt look like i have that much free area in there at all. Which means that if i do the gloss... You'll barely see it.. and for the amount of work that will go into it, it's not worth it. I dont think I'm going to carpet it, though thats not something I really considered (will look into). I think i may go out and buy some of that foam stuff and just lay it out around all my parts.. Hmm. Not sure yet! heh. Once i get all the mdf done and my parts laid out i'll decide!

Quote:

MAN...i plan to do the same thing to my honda....
plan to put my amp and one 12 sub...hope i have enough room....haven't measure yet...cuz now i am molding my console putting my xenarc and headunit in...
u beat me to the beat.....
ehehehee...
good job....
icet

Hmm, i dont think putting the amp in the same well as the 12" would be a good idea. First off there is not that much space in there, so you might need the full volume of that well. Depends on the sub i guess! Remember that you need to vent the well also if you're going to throw the amp in there.

srcstc:

http://www.bakor.com/residential_weatherbarrier.asp

Weather barrier

mykolJay · 06-21-2004, 06:22 PM

i wouldn't leave my house without a spare tire. Especially, when last memorial day i got a blowout in the middle of nowhere in upstate ny (25 mins from the canadian border). Being that nothing was open. I drove 400 miles on a donut (in the rain). Fix-a-flat wouldn't have done squat. I'm thinkingabout keeping a full-sized spare (17" rim!).

However, I respect the creativity. It's going to look cool.

lgbr · 06-22-2004, 11:00 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by [iG]

Hmm, i dont think putting the amp in the same well as the 12" would be a good idea. First off there is not that much space in there, so you might need the full volume of that well. Depends on the sub i guess! Remember that you need to vent the well also if you're going to throw the amp in there.

Hondas have a lot more room under the trunk. right now I have a spare tire, my motherboard, power supply, hard drive, and and cdrom drive under there. I don't think it would be a problem to fit subs in there. I plan on taking the spare out and putting a second battery, both my amps, and my computer in the trunk.

[iG] · 06-22-2004, 03:08 PM

Wow, thats a lot of space!

I actually finished my project 2 weekends ago, but i didnt have the camera handy while was making it. Come to think of it, sec, i'll post a pic

[iG] · 06-22-2004, 03:18 PM

Here:

I actually changed my plans while i was workin on the project. I decided to keep the box i have now for the carputter and at later date make a fiberglass enclosure on the side (same spot as the box now) for it. The spare wheel well is now reserved for 2 JL Amps/cap and the rest of wiring i need to hide.

You can actually see some structure in one of the pics.. You wont see it once the amps are in

The window is just the right size to show both of them and nothing else.

Snootch · 06-22-2004, 06:56 PM

Looks good man, glad everything worked out alright! Post up a pic when you get the amps/subs installed!
P.S. you wouldn't happen to need some JL 12"s now would you? (Hint, Hint

)