new member with pics

[KU_MechE]

new member with pics... (long first post)

I have been around for about a year, but i never took the time to register. As a new member, i'm posting some pics of my green '99 T4R and associated mods.

my parents don't like the bass in the car, so i installed some switches.
Switch on left controls the amp (on/off).
Switch on right controls the antenna (up/down)

The illumintaion at night. I had varius other LED switches before, but they were too bright at night. these are just right. also, the square switches fit the factory openings perfectly (no drilling required)

This is a pic of a custom machined 6061-T6 Aluminum deadpedal i had made over the summer. I worked at an engineering firm and i had free access to the machinist and their mills. I designed the part in AutoCAD myself and a guy milled it mor me. If anyone is interested in making it for themselves, i can send the .dwg file.

Another pic of the switches and the deadpedal:

This is my JVC Head unit. sounds good and i did all the install and wiring to the switches myself.

You can tell from the previous pics that i have the popular Walmart floor mats, but after seeing the previous posts about other mats i went back to WM. I found these oversize rear mats that are really way too big, but perfectly big for me and my buddie's wet ski boots. thse cover more area than the other Wall-mats i had before and therefore they're great. $10 ea. Also, my local walmart was out of the cargo mat (i need one to protect the car from wet dogs) btw, i dislike walmart

Never get the clear walmart mats. they will turn brown. My dad will not be buying floormats for the T4R anymore.

This is the wet dog i mentioned earlier. He gets great distance off the dock. 2 yr old black lab. also, my rear windows get dog nose-prints all over them

Question about speakers:
I have some 4" Rockford Fosgate components lying around. Should i replace the stock front 6.5" with the nicer 4" or buy a new 6.5" comp set? will i notice a difference in sound quality if i upgrade to a 6.5" set even if i have 2 subs?


Thanks for looking, and if anyone can tell me how to efficiently load pics, i'd appreciate it.

 

[Griffeycom]

Hey, where did you get those switches for the AMP and antenna? I'm looking to put a switch to do the same thing with my amp. And those switches look like they fit nicely.

 

[riceandpho]

buy some brand new 6.5 comps, especially get focal, i see u got some radioshack subs? lol

 

[jetdrivr]

pic uploading question

How did you attach your photos?

 

[RonMAIDEN]

My Alpine has a button to defeat the bass amp and the antenna has always been controlled by the HU also even when stock,isn't there a way to control that from your JVC unit?

 

[Drew]

Jet-

Check your thread, I updated your IMG question.

KU-
that dead-pedal is awesome. If you get the chance do a write up and Im sure it'll find its way to the all impressive STICKY posts and then you name will live on forever..........


Drew

 

[motorheadwannab]

do you have a write up for the antenna switch(or is there one somewhere on here?) I would love to be able to listen to the radio while off roading w/o worrying my antenna might bust off! Also where did you get those switches, almost look like boat switches.

 

[tarheeltp17]

doing the antenna switch is quite easy actually... All you would need to do is snip the power antenna wire running from the back of the radio and run it to one side of the switch. On the other terminal of the switch you'll run a wire to the other side of the power antenna wire you snipped. In 99-02 the power antenna wire is black with a white stripe. If you have the amplifier in your car your power antenna wire is on the wide plug in the amp behind the radio, and is still black with a white stripe. 03-06 is a black wire. Anything older than 99 is probably black with red or pink with blue.

 

[KU_MechE]

I got the switches from Electronics Supply in Kansas City. here is their link. order a catalog or e-mail. The switches
are "GC" illuminated marine/auto rocker switches. GC P/N: 35-3505. I think about $7-$8 bucks/switch. I ordered them through my company for a "project" and somehow they ended up in my car...
I ordered the green illuminated, but light colers are varied. browse thru the online catalog and look for automotive rocker switches.

http://eskc.com/default.asp

This is from the webpage:
hes >> Rocker Rocker Switches Sealed Automotive/Marine Rocker Switches Specifications: Current Rating: 20A-12V DC. Insulation Resistance: 50 Megohms. Dielectric Strength: 2000V RMS. Contact Material: Silver. Terminal Material: Brass. Terminal Type 1/4" Quick Connect. Mounting Hole: 0.830" x 1.450". Lamps: Incandescent Light 12V. SPECIAL NOTE: () = Momentary Function. Sealed against spray and submersion. Replacement Gasket # 999-16543-001. Part Number Type Action Actuator 35-3500 SPST ON, OFF Amber Nylon 35-3505 SPST ON, OFF Green Nylon 35-3510 SPST ON, OFF Red Nylon 35-3515 SPST ON, OFF Blue Nylon 35-3520 DPDT ON, OFF, ON Amber Nylon 35-3525 DPDT ON, OFF, ON Green Nylon 35-3530 DPDT ON, OFF, ON Red Nylon 35-3535 DPDT ON, OFF, ON Blue Nylon 35-3540 SPST (ON), OFF Amber Nylon 35-3545 SPST (ON), OFF Green Nylon 35-3550 SPST (ON), OFF Red Nylon 35-3555 SPST (ON), OFF Blue Nylon 35-3560 DPDT (ON), OFF, (ON) Amber Nylon 35-3565 DPDT (ON), OFF, (ON) Green Nylon 35-3570 DPDT (ON), OFF, (ON) Red Nylon 35-3575 DPDT (ON), OFF, (ON) Blue Nylon






They fit the stock opening so well, i don't even have to use glue/adhesive/anything to hold them in, just a perfect press fit.

Switch wiring: In my JVC unit, there is just one wire coming out called the "remote Wire". this controls the antenna and subs turning on and off when the Headunit turns on and off. i can't control anything from the headunit, so I routed the remote wire to the switches, split the wire, sent one to each switch, then sent the wires back to the same spot behind the headunit to connect to the amp remote wire and the antenna remote wire. The ground for the illumination goes down behind the plastic kick-panel by the driver's left foot. The reason i wanted the antenna on a switch was because whenever the JVC unit was turned on, the Remote wire was powered and anything connected was turned on. I didn't want the antenna going up when i was listening to my ipod or a CD.
Tarheel has it right for the switch wiring.


The deadpedal: it is made from a 3/8" thick plate of aluminum. you need a mill with a 45 degree bit to get the grooves. Also make sure to Counterbore the holes for the bolts so they fit flush with the top of the plate. The drawing i provided should be enough to make the part. Installation is easy if you have a right-angle drill because a regular drill won't fit up in there. I drilled holes big enough for #8 Socket Head Cap Screws and had locking washers and nuts on the other side (in the wheel well). The holes will go through the wheel well, so you need to seal them on the wheel side with your choice of sealant and then paint everything black. I used expanding/sandable/paintable foam insulation to seal everything. then i sanded and painted it with matte black paint. As far as machining the part, it's not very cost effective. It will take a skilled machinist a few hours to finish, and at the rate the machine shop charges, it'll get pretty expensive. The bits on a mill can only remove so much material. you have to make a dozen or so passes for each groove, then rotate the part and do the same for the cross grooves. this is definitely a DIY project if you have access to a mill. If i didn't have access, i would have used stock diamond plate found at any hardware store.


Rice: good eye on the Radio shack subs. The whole package including box cost me $50 5 years ago (clearance + employee discount). they actually sound good and have been working for a while. I might "upgrade" to 2 alpine 12" E series subs for about $50. Do you think that would be worth it? If i didn't do that, i'd get some Elemental Designs 12", but i don't have that much to spend on subs.

 

[riceandpho]

elemental designs are kool, i have 2 12s myself and they are rockford fosgate punch 2, if i had the money right now, i still get jl audio or focal, anywayse do u play ur system loud?, getting new subs will require u to buy new amps to power them up right, so hows the radio shack subs treating u lol

 

[Mike415]

elemental designs are kool, i have 2 12s myself and they are rockford fosgate punch 2, if i had the money right now, i still get jl audio or focal, anywayse do u play ur system loud?, getting new subs will require u to buy new amps to power them up right, so hows the radio shack subs treating u lol

he said they were pretty good so far. And I wouldnt go with alpine E types. A friend of mine has 2 and they arent impressive at all.