How can i Install an amp and a sub woofer in a non MOONSOON solstice? Is there any way cutting the black covers behind the seats? I would really want to have my old sound back... Thanks in advance for your help

http://www.me-mag.com/Upload/ME607_installing.pdf

http://www.me-mag.com/Upload/ME10p89-99.pdf

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2006 Mysterious/Black Top
Fully loaded minus On* and Smoker's(I smoke, yet didn't get it?)
Mods: AEM CAI, Stubby, Red Calipers, Debadged, Flowmaster 40, Blacked out Lights, Black Headlight Bezels, 2 12" Infinity 1250w subs, silver interior trim painted red, 30% tint on windows and 5% on rear

Coming VERY soon: Fresh Paint! Matched Windshield Trim too!

Future Mods: Shorty Header, Lambo Doors, DDM Stage 2

Thanks so much, really helpfull, probably will go with just one sub in one side and the amp on the other side.

I actually had a small local audio shop quote me for the sub enclosure and he came up with an estimate of 2700$ (for just one side!) Apparently custom fiberglass enclosures are freaking expensive.

I recently ordered the monsoon sub enclosure from gmpartsdirect and I'm going to have him install that instead. Much cheaper! Although he hasn't given me an estimate for it yet. Heres the threads that talk about the adding the monsoon enclosure:

Part Number Needed for stock Monsoon Sub Woofer Enclosure

*HOW-TO* Install factory subwoofer in non-monsoon car

Just an update, the subwoofer box has been back ordered. Hopefully, it comes in soon I'm dying to get some bass in my car!

Derek

That custom audio shop is smoking the good stuff. And they ain't passing it on. That is a bit too much cash for something like that. At least I think so.

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do you get lube with that . Thats a little pricey JPM qouted me around a grand

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Seriously? A grand? This guy quoted it at 30 hours x 90$ an hour. Maybe I need to shop around a bit.

I had the same idea to put a sub & amp in my base model. And yes, went to an aftermarket shop & was quoted $$$$$$$ for a fiberglass enclosure job. So I ordered the subwoofer box from GMpartsdirect and got the same "backorder" reply. After about 6 business days I sent them an email asking on the status. Now i don't know if it was coincidence or if they actually read my email & took action, but i got the enclosure 2 days later!

After all that, I haven't had the time to get it installed yet, tho!

Its refreshing to know that you eventually got it. Still waiting for mine!

I went back to the same install shop with my amp and the monsoon sub enclosure for a new estimate, and was given a much better deal. I was also convinced that i would be better off replacing the sub with a 8" thin mount sub. Install guy said he would "reinforce" it in the enclosure, i guess that's a good thing?

Anyway, I have a question -- install guy said he would most likely mount the amp in the trunk . Has anyone had this done? Is it a good / bad idea? Any thoughts / comments you can provide before i go thru with it next week would be appreciated!

-- Sorry !

Anyone?????

mapn2002 & wired, a heads up for you's:

I finally had the custom install guys put in my monsoon enclosure (with 8" thin mount) and an amp. Make sure you whoever does your work knows how to install on the Solstice, and print out & bring that thread HOW-TO* Install factory subwoofer in non-monsoon car with you -- it'll save you some headaches afterwards.

I brought a few pics to them, but not the entire thread explaining exactly HOW to remove the panels, and when i got home i noticed that the passenger side door kinda *sticks* when closing. Turns out it is rubbing against the passenger side rear speaker panel, since it was not put back on securly. And the reason for that is because they broke off one of the metal tabs AND the plastic extruding knob at the top of the piece that secures it in place.

SO i had to remove the panel, superglue the tab back on (hope it stays!), and find some hard plastic to recreate that plastic extruding knob.

I then noticed that now with the bass, the passenger side back wall panel rattles at the top of the arch behind where your head rest is. It's also not securely flush with the arch, which leads me to think they also broke a tab or a knob there.

Lastly, the waterfall screws are missing.

My baby is going right back to them -- they got some 'splaining to do.

I was also thinking of ordering the Monsoon Sub Enclosure. I am kind of sketchy though. An 8" Sub is a lot smaller than I am used to. I have 2 12" Subs in my truck.

I think a 10" JL would be perfect. I am not to crazy about the idea of having piece of fiberglass separating the inside of my car from the outside though. I saw in the PDF's that they have to cut into car to install the enclosure.

Poor Installation Job aside (which is really messed up and you have my sympathy friend...), how does the 8" Sub sound??

from what I saw as i watched them attempt to fit the 10" in the Monsoon enclosure, they would have had to cut out the back of it would would result in the sub hitting the firewall. So the 8" was the only option since i didnt want them to cut any part of my car.

Although the monsoon gave my car the bass that it really lacked, it wasn't powerful enough and kind of distorted when playing music with lots of bass.

The 8" earthquake shallow mount sub sounded much better. A bit too much bass for the small cab, but a few tweaks of the EQ fixed that!

Another word of advice: be prepared to have a custom subwoofer grille made, since GMPartsDirect does NOT sell the Monsoon grille as a separate piece. Wish i had known that before installing the sub!

Speaking of which, anyone have a monsoon grille they want to part with?

This 600W Kicker sub and the 400W rms Alpine mono amp sound better than the Monsoon in my wife's car and are fairly easy and inexpensive to install! The square design makes this subwoofer have the same amount of surface space as a "12" round sub. Cost was in the ballpark of the Monsoon system, around $400. (Best Buy and eBay) The speaker grill has to be purchased seperately unfortunately. The speaker has Dual 2 ohm voice coils.

The plastic interior panel behind the seats has to be removed as well as the radio to perform the installation, but that's not too difficult.

The mounting base is made of 3/4" plywood covered with batting and "sand" colored or black leather, or faux leather. A square hole is cut out behind the passenger seat where the arched area is. The base can be reinforced inside the speaker cutout for additional support. The resulting enclosure needs to be insulated to keep the sound waves from bouncing around inside the trunk area. The base keeps the speaker from bottoming out when mounted.

The Alpine amp fits behind the drivers side in the existing amp mounting area. It's a great amp with smaller than average dimensions.

The amp needs to be directly wired to the car battery and the power on switching for the amp can be wired into the Head unit harness. The wiring harness pin out can be found on the forum. I just set it and forget it on the amp output settings since the amp is completely hidden behind the driver's seat inside the panel. I tapped into the rear speakers for the amp's audio input.

This system has worked well for over a year and provides a lot of bang for the buck. The door speakers could be upgraded while you are at it. One needn't pay a fortune for a fiberglass box or waste more than five or six hundred bucks for great sound in their Sol.

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GM FYI Blogs:
Discovering a "Solmate" (part1),
Discovering a "Solmate" (part2),
Solstice Lovers Gather in Kansas City

hOmEmADE ViDs:
SolMates Slideshow
First PeachTree City, GA Meet slideshow (Jan 2006)