Dinu's Honda Civic - ICE upgrade

[dinu2506]

Hi everyone, I have finally done the updrade to the Civic. Its a basic upgrade
1) Front components - JBL GTO 607C
2) JBL GT5604 4 channel amp
3) JBL GT5-12 subwoofer in a sealed enclosure
4) Original wires untouched
5) Basic damping for the front doors and boot lid
6) Monster cable for the sub
7) Tsunami fuse
8) Totally independent wiring (easy to bring back to original at the time of car sale)
9) Preouts taken from the IC of the headunit so that speaker to line level conversion was avoided
10) 2 channels powering the components at front and the other two channels bridged to power the sub.

The work was carried out last week at Auto Fusion in Koramangala under the supervision of Anwar. I should say, the workmanship was immaculate. Lot of care taken and the fit and finish was superb.

The only external change was the cutout made to the rear parcel shelf. But Anwar did a fabulous job of fixing a custom fibreglass mould with wiremesh which looks awesome.

Will post the pictures soon.

[dinu2506]

Here are the pictures
1) Front door before start of work (cover removed)
[COLOR=#22229c]http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/9567/img00234lr6.jpg[/COLOR]

2) The stock speaker
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/182/img00235rm6.jpg

3) Speaker and plastic sheet removed
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/3348/img00236ee8.jpg

4) Bootlid damping in progress - thermocole
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/912/img00237cc3.jpg

5) Dashboard stripped
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/455/img00238jl4.jpg

6) The original Alpine HU
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7820/img00239oe3.jpg

7) Bootlid packing
http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/1728/img00240gu6.jpg

8) Bootlid packing
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/2328/img00241og2.jpg

9) Start of parallel wiring
http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/4959/img00242uv7.jpg

10) Stock rear speakers continue duty without change
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/1687/img00243ta5.jpg

11) JBL component tweeter goes into stock location
http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/4701/img00244rd7.jpg

12) Sub enclosure being made
http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/5911/img00245lt6.jpg

13) Component crossover being fitted to front door
http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/770/img00246yp9.jpg

14) Moulding being made for cutout made in the parcel shelf
http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/9265/img00247qp9.jpg

15) The JBL GT5 12 monster
http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/8925/img00248ll8.jpg

16) The completed sub enclosure (sealed)
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/8730/img00249ow2.jpg

17) Wiring in progress (rear seats removed)
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/5921/img00250ql2.jpg

18) The completed bootlid
http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/6141/img00251kj3.jpg

19) The HU removed and new wires ready to take on the inputs
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/6264/img00252xv7.jpg

20) The Tsunami fuse sitting on the original fusebox
http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/5310/img00253lb8.jpg

21) Padding the doors
http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/2779/img00254rf4.jpg

22) MDF rings for the front components fitted
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/1719/img00255ar4.jpg

23) The JBL comps go in
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/8922/img00256fz2.jpg

24) Cutout in the rear parcel tray and covered and finished with black carpet cloth
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/8073/img00257tz3.jpg

25) The JBL GT5 amp in the boot - on the side
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/7093/img00258ty2.jpg

26) The preouts taken from the HU can be seen (in red). Now its easy to upgrade further
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/3008/img00259lp8.jpg

27) The piece-de-resistance - the fibreglass moulding with mesh for the rear parcel tray. Looks really cool and wicked
http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/1273/img00260vd9.jpg

Overall a very satisfying experience for me, great work, great sound. Thanks to Auto Fusion and thanks for all the advices on this forum.

The picture quality is not too great, was taken on my phone.

[low_bass_makker]

From where did you got the preout out from the HU. And how is it sounding now.

[dinu2506]

Originally Posted by low_bass_makker

From where did you got the preout out from the HU. And how is it sounding now.

Instead of using a speaker to line level converter externally, the preouts were taken from inside the HU circuit board. This ensured that the original wiring is totally intact.

The performance is as expected, but there is definite scope for improvement if I use a monoblock for the sub and then I will have two free channels of the amp to power the rear speakers. This is my next upgrade.

[Bass&Trouble]

Hey Dinu!

Glad to see that it has turned out so well!

Cheers!

Ajay

[Sam Kapasi]

Bravo Dinu, well done.

How does it sound? How about some listening experiences?

[low_bass_makker]

Originally Posted by dinu2506

Instead of using a speaker to line level converter externally, the preouts were taken from inside the HU circuit board. This ensured that the original wiring is totally intact.

The performance is as expected, but there is definite scope for improvement if I use a monoblock for the sub and then I will have two free channels of the amp to power the rear speakers. This is my next upgrade.

Good to hear that.

Which sub and mono you are planning to get.

[S@~+#0$#]

Nice install dinu. It is pretty innovative of Anwar to do the preout tweak. Haven't heard of this mod before.

Would like to audition it sometime. Have PMed you.

[Ajaybiz]

As usual neat job from Anwar, dont wait for more time mate just buy a mono and enjoy it in its full.
BTW if you dont mind, you bought stuff from Anwar or outside and how much for the equipments and installation, just qurious.

[dinu2506]

Originally Posted by Ajaybiz

As usual neat job from Anwar, dont wait for more time mate just buy a mono and enjoy it in its full.
BTW if you dont mind, you bought stuff from Anwar or outside and how much for the equipments and installation, just qurious.

It was Anwar all the way. He sourced the equipment as well.

I'm trying to get a monoblock from the US. Once I get that this will be added on.

Originally Posted by Bass&Trouble

Hey Dinu!

Glad to see that it has turned out so well!

Cheers!

Ajay

Hey, thanks Ajay. Yes, it has turned out quite well.
Dinu

Originally Posted by low_bass_makker

Good to hear that.

Which sub and mono you are planning to get.

Thanks

Planning on sourcing a Blaupunkt THA1350 monoblock from the US. saw a cool deal on at Crutchfield. The JBL GT5-12 sub will continue to do duty.

Dinu

[ramie2400]

Wow thats a really cool setup Dinu.. lovely install

[Nitin]

Nice clean job!
Congrats,dinu!

[dinu2506]

I am planning for the next upgrade, adding a monoblock amp for the sub thus freeing two channels of the 4 channel amp for powering the rear speakers. I am sourcing a Blaupunkt THA1350 Mono amp from the US.

Need your advice on upgrading the rear speakers (currently stock ones). The fronts are running JBL GTO 607C components. Please advice on matching rear coaxials.

[dinu2506]

I have got the Blaupunkt Monoblock THA1350 and I have given the car for the Stage 2 upgrade. Changing the stock rear speakers to Alpine 6.5" coaxials. The final setup would be

1) JBL GTO 607C components in front (Stage 1)
2) Alpine 6.5" coaxials as rear fill (Stage 2)
3) JBL GT5 604 four channel amp powering the front and rear (Stage 1)
4) JBL GT5-12 sub in sealed enclosure (Stage 1)
5) Blaupunkt THA1350 monoblock for the sub (Stage 2)
6) 8 gauge wiring for speakers and 4 gauge for the sub
7) Stock HU (with preouts taken out earlier)

Should be getting the car tomorrow. Will try and post pictures after this.

[nripin]

Hi Dinu,
Since yo9u have a decent plans for Subs i'd recommend you put components at te back as well.

You wont need the extra bass from the 6"x9" or the less clarity from coaxials.Stick to Components From JBL esp the new ones running at 2 Ohms thay are a very good punch for the buck you pay