Nick's 1991 200q Project - QUAT44RO

[amd is the best]

I need 50 1.2!

[amd is the best]

So it's been over two years since I made the purchase of what is in my opinion, the best car I have ever owned. I've also been dealing with a TERRIBLE stereo system in it because I was more concerned with go fast treats. When I picked up the car, I almost immediately pulled out the stock head unit in place of something more modern capable of iPhone integration, Bluetooth calling/streaming and MP3 support. I picked up a JVC Arsenal KD-A815. It wasn't chrome flashy and cheap looking and also offered infinitely variable color choices so I could match the red/amber interior lighting of the 200 to make it look less out of place.

Ever since the install of the JVC unit coupled with the factory Bose system I've basically hated it. Not the functioning of the unit (it works perfectly) but the sound quality, popping, alternator whine, hissing and the list goes on. I am not even sure how I have dealt with it for this long. Maybe because it's not my daily driver and I pretty much only get in the 200 to go out putting a hurting on unsuspecting victims, lol. Either way, I woke up last Friday and said "I'm doing something about the stereo in the 200 today." So on to it I went.

I've had sitting in my room a set of Infinity Kappa Perfect 6.1 component speakers from one of my previous vehicles from at least five years ago. I was trying to keep this system as low budget as possible and couldn't let these beautiful speakers go to waste. I knew that fitting them in the doors would be quite a challenge considering that they are 6.5" and are very deep for a door speaker. I pulled off a door panel and started looking at my options and they only option was having the speaker mounted on the outside of the panel. I wan't too keen on the idea of cutting a 6" hole in the door panel but it was my only option without dropping down to a 5.25". Here's the start of the process:



That plastic ring only holds the speaker grill in place. We used those wood screws only to hold the ring in place while cutting the panel. The speaker gets mounted through four m4 screw/bolts via a steel ring on the back of the panel that creates a sandwich with the speaker, grill ring and door panel. It mounts very secure (has to for the weight of these things).

Here's a pic of the speaker mounted:



Back side:



Grill in place:



Luckily my car was a Bose car because it gave plenty of room for the speaker depth but also for the crossovers (yours truly doing the wiring):





I mounted the tweeters in the corner trim piece near where the mirrors mount:



And all back together:



I don't have any photos of the amp install but it's mounted in the truck to the bottom of the rear deck (not sure what it's called). It's a four channel amp and just something my friend had laying around (cant remember specifics/specs). Ran all new wire from each door, through the loom and to the trunk.

So, I get in the car to test it out and it sounds great until....I start the engine!!!! FML, the alternator whine is still there despite all of the new wiring which ditched every bit of the factory nonsense. Some of you have probably seen my thread about the alternator noise issues. Either way, after hours of troubleshooting I was frustrated and slept on it. Woke up today and went to a car audio store (specifically car audio) and it's actually where I bought my head unit. I asked the guy for help. He said nine times out of ten this is caused by the RCA cables. They don't even have to be bad however there are several things that can induce noise through them. Differences in length, resistance and shielding can contribute to noise issues. The ones I originally used were two different lengths, brands, material, condition, age and quality. He went into the store and brought out an awesome looking four channel specific cable which also had a separate wire hanging off of it to ground the shield. We hooked it up running outside the car and the noise had vanished. I questioned that maybe running outside the car kept it far enough away from the noisy devices and after it was installed if it would be back. He said it was very unlikly but if that were the case he'd gladly refund my money.

Went home, installed the wires and the noise is gone! WOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry the long post :(

Random pic for fun:

[WOMBAT]

amd is the best wrote:[/quote]

So it's been over two years since I made the purchase of what is in my opinion, the best car I have ever owned.[/quote]

I stopped reading after this because of the epic truth.

[archuva]

Looks really good - I take it you didn't do anything about (or removed) the speakers in the top of the dash?

I'm getting really tired of the popping of 21-year old speakers myself.

[loxxrider]

looks good Nick. I'm curious to hear how they sound just firing right into the door shell as opposed to how I have them sealed.

[EDIGREG]

Nice. I miss the sweet stereo in my old S4...rockin the stock Bose now. Need to upgrade at some point.

[Mushasho!]

looks good Nick. I'm curious to hear how they sound just firing right into the door shell as opposed to how I have them sealed.

Most door speakers are designed for infinite baffle use anyhow so he should be fine as long as the front waves are sealed from the rear. Its only some higher end drivers that require a tuned enclosure...

Sent from my NexusHD2 using Tapatalk 2

[loxxrider]

Yeah... but a speaker designed for an infinite baffle still probably wont (the way I see it) have the impact a sealed driver will. I'm just curious how it sounds.

[Mushasho!]

Yeah... but a speaker designed for an infinite baffle still probably wont (the way I see it) have the impact a sealed driver will. I'm just curious how it sounds.

No, you're right... and upon closer look I see the Bose grill is not covered to create separation of front and rear waves... I'm curious on how much mid bass has been lost...

[loxxrider]

All I know is that whatever the case is, it will be a lot better than the stock setup lol

[amd is the best]

These speakers in general don't produce a ton of mid bass however I am seeing more bass in the 200 then the other two cars I've had them installed in. The low frequency response of them is only 75hz where most 6.5" speakers is much lower (50 or lower usually). Either way, MUCH better then stock. You guys can hear it at Carlisle

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-7cejglcQo9 ... etails-tab

[Mushasho!]

HELL YEAH!!!!

[amd is the best]

http://quattrodriven.com/features/featu ... sts-C3-200 Vote for one of us! lol.

[Mushasho!]

amd is the best wrote:[/quote]

http://quattrodriven.com/features/featu ... sts-C3-200" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Vote for one of us! lol.[/quote]

Lmao... you're the man!...

Sent from my NexusHD2 using Tapatalk 2

[amd is the best]

amd is the best wrote:

http://quattrodriven.com/features/featu ... sts-C3-200" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Vote for one of us! lol.[/quote]

Lmao... you're the man!...

Sent from my NexusHD2 using Tapatalk 2[/quote]

I voted for you! I emailed him with a more correct mod list. Is that what you did?

[Mushasho!]

amd is the best wrote:[/quote]

amd is the best wrote:

http://quattrodriven.com/features/featu ... sts-C3-200" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Vote for one of us! lol.[/quote]

Lmao... you're the man!...

Sent from my NexusHD2 using Tapatalk 2[/quote]

I voted for you! I emailed him with a more correct mod list. Is that what you did?[/quote]

That's exactly what I did... I hadn't updated that in over 9 months... plus how can I compete with such a sick car... I needed something describing my unnoticed efforts... haha...

Sent from my NexusHD2 using Tapatalk 2

[Mushasho!]

Now I can't compete with that mod list... OEM phone antenna & Meticulous polishing/glaze/sealant/wax ?.... I need to go back to the drawing board, soon!

Wanna see a log file of my car, tweak the config and send it back this why I can list that it's been "tweaked by that guy >>>>"...

I think it'll be hilarious!

PS. I didn't know you went from 1000cc to 870cc injectors... I thought e85 needed the bigger ones...?

Sent from my NexusHD2 using Tapatalk 2

[amd is the best]

Now I can't compete with that mod list... OEM phone antenna & Meticulous polishing/glaze/sealant/wax ?.... I need to go back to the drawing board, soon!

Wanna see a log file of my car, tweak the config and send it back this why I can list that it's been "tweaked by that guy >>>>"...

I think it'll be hilarious!

PS. I didn't know you went from 1000cc to 870cc injectors... I thought e85 needed the bigger ones...?

Sent from my NexusHD2 using Tapatalk 2

Haha, people always ask why my car is so shiny had to explain it. It's original paint (as far as I know)!!

If you want me to look at one of your logs, be my guest to send one over to me

I never had 1000's. 1000's were in my very preliminary planning stages but when the actual build took place I went with the 870's and have had them ever since. The 870's are rated at 3bar which is what I'm running current on the 3B's stock pressure regulator. At 25psi of boost the 870's hit 80-85% duty cycle on E85, so they are close to maxed out. If I bump my pressure up to 4bar with a 7A regulator, that will essentially make my 870's 1000's and that should be plenty for the stock limits of the bottom end (not that I'm not there already). Not sure if my single 044 will cut it though.

[Mushasho!]

Gotcha..... if you remove the check valve that 044 should be plenty...

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[amd is the best]

Gotcha..... if you remove the check valve that 044 should be plenty...

Sent from my NexusHD2 using Tapatalk 2

You think the check valve has a large impact on flow? Are you talking about the check valve that comes installed on the pump or the one I used in place of the one that came on it?

[amd is the best]

So I've got a couple leads on some 7A cams and I should definitely have a set within the next week.

Just an idea but I was thinking it might be fun to do a cam swap on my 200 at Carlisle. I know Ed and Chris have done it a bunch of times. Might make a fun Carlisle project. I have no problem tackling this project myself as it looks very simple. Hell, once I get them I may just want to throw them in asap anyway.

What do you guys think?

[Quattrocakes]

If you put them in early put in a new cam chain as well, it's good insurance for cheap$

[loxxrider]

We could definitely do that at Carlisle no problem. That'd be fun (Just gotta remember to bring some durty clothes)

[amd is the best]

If you put them in early put in a new cam chain as well, it's good insurance for cheap$

Thanks, I'll pick one up tomorrow when I'm at German Auto Parts picking up some other treats.

We could definitely do that at Carlisle no problem. That'd be fun (Just gotta remember to bring some durty clothes)

I thought'd be cool. We'll see. I get antsy, plus it's going to have to be retuned of course. I am prob going to throw in a 7A FPR as well.

At the same time, it'd be cool to dyno it as is, put the cams in and dyno again! Hmmmmm

[crappyoldaudis]

I just got a bee in my hat over my avant stereo The sedan had a 200w jvc ipod deck but only the rear shelf speakers worked and there was that awful whine and they sucked. The avant had a 1995 "upgrade" alpine (rubbish) and a 25w per channel amp with all paper cones... elaborate cross-over system... WHY GOD, WHY!?!?!?

It was f-ing crap.

I just ran all new heavy wires and stole the 6.5" rear door and 4" dash from my other car (won't seat without some CUTTING, lol) all poly with built in crossovers 2-way infinity and Kenwoods using the JVC deck I stole from my sedan.

Fuggin BUMPS! Minimal work and 10,000 times better sound. wewt.

Now if only I could get the car to run before I kill the new battery.