I yanked off the radio bezel to check things out and found the cavern under the radio that everyone talks about. I would like to mount a small 4-channel amp in there, but would like some ideas about how to secure it. Looks like it's gonna take a little creativity.

I also found the audiophile plug inside the dash, taped back, but I'll be darned if I can find the other end in the back. I ripped off the whole tread plate along the door, looked up and down the wire bundle, peeled some of the carpet back, peeled back some of the vertical trim along the door jamb, felt inside the L-hole under the seat, nothing.

 

I'm thinking of getting a piece of hardboard and mount it with 3 bolts on existing holes in the metal frame behind the dash. 2 on the right, 1 on the left that's currently used to secure the radio wire harness. Kind of hard getting a drill in there without tearing out the rest of the dash for any more holes.

A 4-ch alpine will fit in there quite easily. But I'm probably going to put a 120VAC inverter there instead and mounting a couple amps on the rear wall behind the rear seats.

Yeah, it's there--the other end of the sub plug is hidden quite deep under. It branches off that main harness bundle just after the rear pillar. There's a 1.5" slit in the carpet where it's supposed to otherwise come out.

 

Do you mean the B pilliar (or at least, where one would be, its a scab), I see where the main harness branches off and heads behind the drivers seat, found nothing. Or do you mean the C pilliar where it goes vertically up the rear door trim?
I'm considering removing the rear seat to put a sub amp on the back wall anyway, so maybe I'll pull the bottom of the seat out too. See if I can look under the carpet... It would probaby be just as easy to run a patch cable myself.

Thanks for the amp suggestion, I saw some nice looking frame holes, but they're not really on the same plane. I'm not sure I'll be able to fab anything to help. I saw one guy hung something in there with zip ties. I forget who.

 

The connector is behind the C-pillar along the bottom edge and it comes out behind and under the lower pass seat cushion. Mine was a bear to find -- I had to force my fat hand/wrists in there under the carpet and under the seat to fish it out. It would be easier to just unbolt the seat frame

I have power window in the back. The motor occupies a good amount of real estate on the back wall :-( I was hoping to stick a JL 500/5 amp back there, but it won't fit without bumping into the motor and cables. There's no easy way of relocating the whole assembly from the looks of it. I think I have to settle for a separate 300/4 and mount a separate 250/1 sub amp (if it fits!) behind the rear driver-side seat, but there's some crash black-box there taking up space also.

You know what works for me? Make everything out of cardboard before fabbing or buying anything. I taped together little cardboard boxes that are dimensioned the same as all the amps I'm considering. You can check for fit/spacing easily without discovering something doesn't fit later.

 

Call me crazy but the space isn't as large as some people seem to be making it out to be. Am I missing something? I have a small 2 channel amp that will barely fit in there. Also, isn't this an easy way to introduce noise? By having the amplifier this close to the head unit?

JT

 

I've never heard that about noise. 99% of HUs have an amp built INSIDE of them, so I can't see noise being an issue. I believe speaker wires can pick up electrical noise through the truck though...

Did you actually mount your amp in there, or just test fit it? Have any pictures if you did?

I think the hole is pretty huge, IMO. Could probably fit 2-3 more Double DIN HUs in there.

 

I haven't mounted it in there. I don't like the size of it and I'd rather it be a bit more accessible. Huge is a relative term - you're right, you could fit a few head units in there, but I don't consider that very large at all. When people said the space was "enormous" I was thinking something much much larger than it is.

 

I'm surprised that more people haven't done this...
Anyone?

 

Wouldn't you have a cooling or air movement issue or two, mounting the amp in the dash?

 

In knowing a few things about car audio I have to agree with Shtrdave. Mounting an amp in the dash is possibly one of the dumbest ideas I have ever heard. There is limited air flow, plus all of the other electronics build heat, just adding to the amps heat. Even if you could do some extreme modification to add cooling fans, you are only going to circulate hot air. Here is a simple test, on a normal day shove you hand as far into the dash as you can, now imagine your hand being an amp generating heat. Bad choice. There are two killers to electronics in this world, the first is water, the second is heat.

 

It shouldn't be too bad. There are quite a few openings for air to circulate. The cavity opens into the area behind the instrument panel as well as the a huge open area immediately in front of the airbag which is open all the way down and behind the glove compartment and out to the footwell. The only heat generating device in that area is the stock HU, and it runs hot-to-the-touch even in free air.

I think natural convection will take care of airflow

Of course, mounting the amp under a seat could be better...

 

After looking in the dash (have you done that yet?), I'm not concerned in the least about having an amp in there. Especially not a small 2-channel like what I would probably get to push a set of component speakers.

I probably shouldn't mention how I'm going to mount the sub amp on the back wall behind the seat, eh? Heat build-up may blow the seatback clean off...

 

Now that would be impressive. I would like to see pics of that. A small 2 channel may be fine. I run two channel amps, but mine build heat, even at low volumes with plenty of cooling. I just think that you would be better suited to find a more optimal place other than in the dash

 

Stealth is the key for me. I need to at least try it this way first, or else I'll never be happy with myself. I can always move it later I figure.

A ton of people have talked about doing this, but it doesn't seem like anyone has.

 

Ok people I have several amps that will fit behind dash all USA made don't buy any of the new crap they have out it is all manufactured overseas for max profit not sound. There are 3 manufacturers left who care about sound quality in the USA they are Arc Audio, Zapco, and Zed Audio. I just bought 2 Zed Audio amps and will put them behind seat Stephen Mantz assures me these amps only run a little warm in 2 ohm mode and don't even get lukewarm in 4 ohm mode. I have had several cars in life and this is where those old school amps are coming from contact me if you want something for behind dash. I have 2 HiFonics Jupiter 4 Channel models 1 Hifonics Falcon 2 channel and 2 US Acoustics 2 channel amps all will fit behind dash perfectly. I will also post pics as soon as I get system set up wow going to cost a bundle too LOL. SPOILTRA10@msn.com