Custom BASS for your GTS? Working on a serious project. Are you interested?

-FROG-

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Sorry this is so long but those of you that know me, know I am very descriptive, so sometimes I tend to write in detail when I have a topic of interest...
Hello folks. Lots of new faces around here since I have been MIA for the past year from the Viper boards. (Since I have been gone so long and feel many of you may be interested in this, I'll be posting this on the popular Viper boards.) Since I have a local Exotic Car message board I manage now and been so busy with life in general, brand new house, etc... I have neglected the Viper boards and need a spanking I'll admit! But take a look below and let me know your thoughts and questions.

So, what is this thread all about? Well, since I have been working with audio for the last 20 years, I decided to take on a project that ALL GTS Viper owners can take advantage of and I wanted to test the waters to see who all would be interested in this. Most of you newer guys, obviously since I haven't posted much on here in the last year, won't know who I am but the older folks here may can vouch for me and a bit of my knowledge on Vipers since I have torn a few apart over the last few years. So what do I have that may interest you GTS guys?

Well, I don't want to give away all my secrets about this project. ESPECIALLY since I am still in the design phase, but closing in on a final "product" that I hope to present to you guys soon. I'm not one to "flake out" in the end unless there is a valid reason and road block but I do not see anything preventing me from making something happen here, so here we go...

Why am I doing this?
Well, I have always been a "BASS HEAD" and have had all kinds of ******** audio setups in my cars since the early 90's. From 18's to multiple 15's and all others in between, I have toyed around with hundreds of speakers and enclosures and even now, for money on the side I deal with home and car audio. I have had an RT/10 (May have future ideas for that later down the road) and a GTS. Unlike the RT/10, the GTS has hope for some good bass, so using my skills and experience with this, I wanted to make something for myself and others to potentially enjoy.

What are the Options, Obstacles?
There are a few "typical" options people have gone with, in the past, to get some good bass in their GTS. If anyone wants a custom audio setup, consisting of a few subwoofers and an amp in the back hatch area they can go to their local Audio dealer / Professional installer and literally spend thousands on a custom audio fiberglass molded enclosure, which usually consists of removing the spare tire and permanently installing alot of messy fiberglass with permanently mounted subs and amps in your trunk.

What are the problems with a Custom fiberglass mold?
Well, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING if you want your Viper to look bad ass and have a custom "Show Quality" setup that anyone could respect and admire. However, this is very expensive, impractical and somewhat unsafe and here's why. First off, some of you may not know, the spare tire is part of the "Safety" design on the Vipers. It is there not only for a spare tire, but also to help absorb a rear end collision, to prevent the gas tank from being compromised, which is sitting directly behind the seats. Another problem is, it's permanent. It looks really cool, but it will be part of the selling point of the car weather you like it or not if you ever choose to sell the car. And the final problem is the sheer "weight". Usually custom setups that consist of many woofers and amps stacked up are heavy and when you want to go squeeze out some really fast passes at the track, your time will suffer because of the added weight.

Another option would be a common subwoofer box.
You can find a typical carpeted sub box, bolt an amp on it and set it back there above the spare tire. This "can" work but usually you can't find a box to fit back there in the provided area, and then you have to find a way to bolt it down so it won't flop around and cause other problems potentially breaking something because it's unsecure.

So...... What if I provided a GTS solution?
You can keep your spare tire for safety and the security of a last resort tire, to get you home. You can have the look and beauty of a Fiberglass CUSTOM / COMPETITION CAR AUDIO setup that is car show worthy and will win you trophies at the local car shows. This solution is already very light weight so it won't be adding too much more weight to your car and you can EASIELY, I REPEAT EASIELY & quickly quickly lose all of the weight, if you want to have a track outing and want to remove the entire audio setup and the spare tire as well. This would be affordable compared to the local expensive "custom" fabricated "permanent" installer. This will also allow you to use your stock Amplifier with the "Stage 1" solution. Oh, and I forgot to mention... BASS THAT SHAKES YOUR CLOTHES AND YOU CAN HEAR IT FOR BLOCKS AWAY! (The "Stage 2" solution will be slightly more expensive but will SHAKE YOUR BRAIN!)
Currently, I am almost done with a second design rev of this and have given it the "thumbs up" as far as achieving all of the solutions I mentioned above. I do still have a bit to go and there are still a few small design changes I need to make. I will have to build a few more of these "secret projects" before releasing the full details and pictures to all my Viper friends. As for now, since I have been spending the last few weeks working on this, I wanted to see if anyone would be interested.

P.S. If this works out as planned, I would like to move forward with an SRT solution as well and see about trying to create something for the RT/10 folks too, but that will be a while.

Thanks!
Paul Daniels -FROG-
 
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-FROG-

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Watching but I hate the stock amp, it is garbage.


The stock amp isn't the best but you would be suprised with what that thing can do with the right acoustics and the right subwoofers.

The "Stage 1" kit will allow the user to use the stock amp. This will allow them to save weight, by not adding extra amplifiers and also allow a super quick install with only minutes to install. It is easier to remove the audio kit, when they want to take it out for racing too. This kit basically provides a professional look and much better sound than the stock system by dramatically increasing lower end frequiencies. It's a cost effective solution with a ton of benefits.

The "Stage 2" kit will be much more powerful using an aftermarket amp, but require the user to run and conceal all the power wires and do a little "customizing" of their own to run the wires how and where they want. This will be the next phase in the developement of these kits. when I complete the "Stage 1", I'll move forward with the "Stage 2" option.

My goal is to provide a cost effective solution for those that want the customized look and a dramatic audio improvement, as well as for those that want the customized look, with "competition" type audio performance.
 

KNG SNKE

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Personally I want a box that is easily removable, maybe fiberglass setup with handles, but not one that is going to pop the back glass off its hinges (which happens without bass).
 

TP_ GTS

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Sounds good to me....> No pun intended. :eater:


My question would be what's considered "Cost Effective"?
 
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-FROG-

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Personally I want a box that is easily removable, maybe fiberglass setup with handles, but not one that is going to pop the back glass off its hinges (which happens without bass).


How are you popping the back glass off it's hinges? Wouldn't it break before popping off any hinges?
 
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-FROG-

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My question would be what's considered "Cost Effective"?

I'm still working with figures for pricing. I'm trying to get it in the $600 - $1,000 price range, with the 12" subwoofers included in the pricing depending on the kit, "stage 1" / "stage 2". This is not an easy job but I do have some skills and experience that work on my behalf with this project. Trying to get anything done like this for under $1,000 from a local audio installer would be very hard to find. I hope to have final pictures and a product in about a month.
 

KNG SNKE

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How are you popping the back glass off it's hinges? Wouldn't it break before popping off any hinges?

Some of the GTS's have been having issues with the glue that holds the struts to the window and they have been popping off. (meant struts popping off, not hinges)
 
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-FROG-

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Some of the GTS's have been having issues with the glue that holds the struts to the window and they have been popping off. (meant struts popping off, not hinges)

Oh bummer. Didn't know about that. I'll keep an eye out though, since I have been opening and closing mine often during this project.
 

GTSnake

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Well if you can come up with something that doesn't block the vents, keeps the spare in place and is easy to remove I would be interested. I've been down this path many times and it's not an easy solution.
 

GTSnake

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Some of the GTS's have been having issues with the glue that holds the struts to the window and they have been popping off. (meant struts popping off, not hinges)

That may be due to blocked vents as well. When you get excess pressure in the rear trunk when the windows are open and vents blocked it will put strain on the hinge to glass attachment.
 
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-FROG-

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Well if you can come up with something that doesn't block the vents, keeps the spare in place and is easy to remove I would be interested. I've been down this path many times and it's not an easy solution.

Bingo. Those pesky vents and that darned spare tire.... That's why I have been working on this almost daily for the last 2 weeks. It's not an easy solution but this seems to be working so far after all the experiments. I'll keep you guys updated. I'm super excited about this myself because I want to finish for my own car!
 

1994viper

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If I only had a GTS :). It reminds me of the days when I had a 1987 Trans Am GTA with 3 12s in the trunk, running @ 0.5ohm and 2 10s in the back seat. I hope those windshields are not too expensive on Vipers, as with that set up I popped mine out on the old car. :) Thanks for brining up great memories.
 

TP_ GTS

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I'm still working with figures for pricing. I'm trying to get it in the $600 - $1,000 price range, with the 12" subwoofers included in the pricing depending on the kit, "stage 1" / "stage 2". This is not an easy job but I do have some skills and experience that work on my behalf with this project. Trying to get anything done like this for under $1,000 from a local audio installer would be very hard to find. I hope to have final pictures and a product in about a month.


:2tu: "Roger that".............> I'm in
 

Seb

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I will assume that you will be using shallow mount subwoofers?
 

treesnake

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There are stereos in the cars?......:omg:

Guess I should look into better mufflers....;)
 

QKSHIFT

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I just bought my first Viper about six months ago and had my local shop build a custom box with one 10 inch sub and add an additional amp that I already had. Sounds great, also is removable and I still have truck space and my spare!!! Pics will be loaded tomorrow to show the box. Sounds great and was only $350 for the box.
 

TP_ GTS

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FROG...
Checking in with you. Make sure you're eating three meals a day and getting plenty of rest! :D We need you on top of your game with this project. :2tu:
 
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-FROG-

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I'm working on this daily. This weekend I couldn't get too much done because of the rain but got a few other things done related to the project. I hope to have a few teaser pics posted in a week or so! Trust me I am working on this daily!!!!
 
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-FROG-

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Patience my child.... I'm aiming for Perfection with this, for you guys, AND MYSELF... so it's taking a while to complete. I don't tolerate junk when it comes to an Audio project of this scale, so I'm trying to make this very impressive, so you guys can show this off at car shows and help to get trophies. If I didn't work a 9-5, Monday through Friday, I would be done with this, but my lousey job interfears with my passion.
 
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