I started asking this in my wire length thread: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1913990 but its really a different topic.

I'm working on a complete audio overhaul on my C5 and so far have been having great help from the people here, especially C5 Kidd, he knows his stuff!

for phase one I'm adding an amp and a subwoofer, the amplifier is an Boston Acoustics GT-22.

my plan is to mount it on the back wall of the hatch between the two latches. I would prefer to hide it somewhere, but I have no idea where, and that spot will work. here's where I need some advice. that amp is good height wise, but width wise it occupies about 2/3 -3/4 of the width of that panel. I'm not done with this system yet, I Want to add an additional 4 channel amp, GT-40 (which is the same size as the 22, but longer) for my front and rear channels. they won't both fit there.


so, where else can I look at locating my amps? I know there are a few installs which put them behind the passenger and/or driver's seats. I looked at that today and it just doesn't look feasible to me. the power seat will motor its way right up to the wall behind it, leaving to room for that amp. it would squish it (probably leading to a damaged seat?) is there something I'm missing here? does everyone who has put an amp there just not moved the seat all the way back from then on? I have dual power seats so under it is not available.
another option which may make for more possibilities is the GT-20


I don't remember price-wise, but functionally its exactly 1/2 of the 4 channel amp. I think one of these with the GT-22 will both fit on the back wall, leaving only one small relatively thin amplifier to find a good location to hide.

or, that amp is stable to 1 ohm in stereo mode, I could wire the front and rear speakers in parallel. I don't like this idea much because I would have no front/rear fade control at all, and the front and rear speakers would have to function with the exact same high pass settings, which probably won't give me enough control to properly tune the system. but the logistics of where to hide the amplifiers has be considering this option, even though I think its a bad idea.

I'm open to any good suggestions, you get a if you include pictures!

thanks!

 

please?

 

I have my amp behind my passengers seat and my distro blocks under the seat. You do lose the ability to put the seat all the way back, which really only matters when you have a taller passenger. If it is just me and my wife in the car, she has plenty of room.

One thing I will say though is I was not really happy with how big the amp is.. I have considered swapping to another amp just to give more room, but it works for now.

Pic of amp and blocks..


Pic of amp with seat back..


And just so you can see something mounted on the back wall.. that is where I have the carPC mounted (please ignore the sub box.. pic was before I finished it)..

 

behind seats works but plan on lossin some space

maybe find smaller amps

 

with the amps mounted behind the seat what happens if the passenger moves the seat all the way back? with nothing there the seat will move all the way back until its touching the panel. I think I could live with the loss of 1.5" of space (the amps are pretty thin) but I'm worried about making sure I don't damage my seat or the amplifier. do I have to tell every passenger not to move the seat all the way back? adjust the seat track somehow to prevent it from going back all the way? or is this something which I don't have to worry about at all? I know if you recline the seat then move it all the way back the seat will hit the panel behind it and it will force it into a more upright position. the reclining adjuster seems designed for this to happen without hurting anything. will the same happen with the amplifier there? the seat will just gently unrecline itself when it touches the amp? or do I have to build some kind of protection for it to keep pressure off?

I know many have done it so it must be ok to do, I'm just making sure I know what I'm getting into. based on my plans for my car I will have no choice but to mount an amp there, or find some other location where one might fit, which doesn't seem likely. since I want to keep my cargo space I don't really want to build an amp rack to mount them.

 

For stealth, your only other options for a multi amp system are under the seats or in an amp rack. (cargo area behind seats) For this you would want a cover for the rack itself to hide them. You could build somthing like mine easily but without the fancy windows/emblems.

Check out this thread for Ideas.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...light=amp+rack

Fw190D9 has a stealth setup (minus the huge emblem)
NVTHIS's old setup was rather stealth.

There's a corvette cargo tray that makes a great based frame to build an amp rack.

...or you could go here: (search amp rack)
http://www.corvettecaraudio.com/

 

I am just mindful when I put the seat back so that I try not to push it to far back.. however, if I do get to close the seat just stops trying to go back. I am sure if I kept holding the button down it might harm the motor, but if you let off the button when it starts to slow (or stops) then it should be ok.

 

thanks for all the help! I'm now seriously considering an amp rack right behind the seats. I may eventually go that route. the amps I'm using are very small relative to the power output, an amp rack would not have to be very large in order to fit there. in addition I will be adding an aftermarket CD changer eventually, I was going to locate it in the compartment along with my F45 computer, but I may build it into an amp rack. some 1/2" MDF maybe and lexan windows should provide enough protection that I can fill up the rear of the car with bags for traveling without having to worry about damaging any equipment. it would actually be safer than having it mounted to the rear wall. the first amplifier is likely to need to go there at least at first, I am probably a few months away from completing the system 100%. if I do locate them into an amp rack, then I will no longer need the mount on the back wall. I don't want to drill holes through that wall to hold the amp there for a few months only...any suggestions on an alternative? what is the back wall made out of anyway? is it a thin piece of wood, cardboard, plastic with carpet on it? maybe I'll do something really cheesy since it will be temporary and use a piece of wood to mount the amp and attach it with wire ties or something?

 

Behind the seats. Silicone an MDF board behind the carpet then screw the amp to the MDF. Less chance to screw into something like a gas tank, and easier to remove later than liquid nails.

 

Silicone is by far a better choice. it takes a little longer to dry but if you want to take it off later, it's easier to remove than liquid nails. If you plan on keping your car forever, liquid nails is far more solid. It is possible to remove a board mounted with liquid nails....it just takes alot of grunting and leverage.

 

I let the silicone dry over night.

With the carpet back in place and the silicone dried the amps will not move and will not become missiles in an accident. But will and can be removed at a later date, if you sell the car or change your set-up.

Be sure to post some pics when you are done.

 

here are mind i mounted a piece of wood behind the seat and on the rear located in the back workk perfect

 

how thick of a piece of wood will fit behind the rear wall of the hatch area? and how do I get that panel off so I have access. I'm hoping that I can put the 4 screws through that panel and into a piece of wood (hopefully 3/4" MDF will fit that's what the box will be made of) and be able to remove them and cover the holes with the carpet fairly well. if I do eventually put in an amp rack the rear amplifier should move into it.

 

A 3/4" will fit. For a more secure (and arguably less invasive procedure) I decided to mount my MDF to the rear wall using 4 bolts with locking washers. grnted you do have to drill holes but it's significantly easier to remove than liquid nails or even silicone.



I threw some dynamat over it for good measure:


You may also decide to mount the amp directly to the rear wall using bolts and forgo the anchorboard all together. This is the least invasive method and wold not require dismantling the rear wall. If you choose this route here's how I marked the holes for drilling. PLace a piece of duct/masking or painters tape on the general area where the amp mount hole is. Sit the amp in it's desired mounting position and using a small punch, probe or marker, mark through all 4 mounting holes. Then you can drill without having to actually measure.

 

i don't know how thick the wood is but i used one and one fourth screws to hold the amps down,to take the panel off i just un screwed the screw that holds the cargo net and unlock the right cargo cover and remove it,then pull forward on the area close to the top holder it should come right off good luck