This build has been a long time coming for me and still has a long way to go, but i figured that I have nothing to lose by posting it up on the site that has answered all of my 'boot' questions so far. I have been stock piling all of my parts for about a month and have everything i need except my Raamat, but that will be here on Wed of this week. This is my first attempt at doing anything with car audio, so if you have some constructive criticism, please let me know what i could do to improve my system.

My build was done on a very tight budget (my wife would not allow me to bust the $1200 mark) so some of you audio gurus will inevitably recommend a more high end product, but the fact of the matter is right now my primary banking institution (i.e. the wife) will not allocate me any more funds so the upgrades will have to wait.

My gear list looks like this:
-Pioneer AVH P4100DVD
-Pioneer wireless remote (dont care about losing the steering wheel ctrls)
-JL Audio 500/1
-JL Audio wired bass control ****
-JL Audio 300/4
-2 Rolls Raamat and 4 yds Ensolite
-Rockford Fosgate P1682S components
-Kenwood KC6889ie 6x8's (just as filler for the rear stock replacements)
-Q Logic 10" sub enclosure
-Arc Audio ARC10D4 10" Sub
-2 awg amp wiring kit
-16 awg speaker wire
-12V relay (4 pos)
-Metra wiring harness
-Metra DDin mounting bracket for HU
-Sirius Radio Pioneer bus interface
-Sirius Radio SCC1 Tuner and antenna

 

I opted to use more of a phased operational approach to my build seeing how i don't have the ability to start off by applying the sound deadener first. So heres my tentative plan. It may seem like overkill, but the phases actually correspond to the days i have when i will be on leave. So i know by the end of the day I will have at least completed the appropriate phase.

Ph 1-Pull out back seat and complete wiring/soldering of wiring harness
Ph 2-Relocate rear window motor to mock up amp board
Ph 3-Amp board cut and painted
Ph 4-Cut/Dremmel and mount bass **** and amp remote switch
Ph 5-HU and Sirius install
Ph 6-Pull out front seats and door panels. Pull out stock speakers.
Ph 7-Install Raamat and ensolite. Run power and speaker wiring (looks like
my day will beging no later than 0500 if i want to get this done in one
day)
Ph 8-Replace all carpet and seats, except rear seat
Ph 9-Connect all wires to amp and ground locations.
Ph 10-Replace door panels. Insert fuses. Connect battery. Crank her up...

Next post will have photos, still trying master photobucket...I have only completed up through phase 5 as of right now. Not bad considering all of the misc tasks that I continue to get from the wife.

 

Here are some pics of Ph 1. Big thanks to ARchutek for his write up on how to remove the back seat. It took me a grand total of 5 minutes to have the back rest freed up and out of my truck.

Heres a pick of the initial deconstruction



A few busted knuckles, and a screwdriver and the back rest is gone...



Close up of the retaining clip that secures the backrest...



Everything out




I had no idea how LOUD the inside of my cab would be after i removed the entire backseat. Holy cow, i can barely hear myself think over all the road noise and wind that comes up from beneath.

 

Now that i got all of the rear seat removed and staged, it was time to begin wiring for the HU. The Metra harness was amazingly simple to work with and the 4 position relay for the video bypass was simple as well. Here are some pics of my first attempt at wiring anything to do with my car stereo.

Prestaged all my required gear


Harness all wired up, I did solder it together, but forgot to take pics...

 

I only took a few pics from my work during Ph 2 and 3. The amp board mock up was done with some cardboard and a few amp templates, nothing sexy. Once my measurements were good, I cut the board out of 1/2" MDF with a few right angles cut out so i dont block the vent on the passenger side. I painted it with a flat black, mainly because i couldn't afford the matching carpet. I got the motor relocated, only moved it about 8" to the right to free up enough room for my board. I still need to hide the window cable, but thats easy enough and will do it before i install the Raamat.


Nothing complicated or sexy, but functional. Plenty of room for my D block and crossovers.


Motor relocated, now i just need to hid the wires to allow my board to sit flush with the rear wall.

 

Ph 4 was more of a PITA than anything else. I removed the plastic that houses the lighter, took measurements to place the bass **** and switch halfway between the lighter and left/right sides.



I then had to take the Dremmel tool to the back side to remove the plastic that would house the connections if i had the reverse sensors or something else electronic, i have no idea.



Sanded down the back to allow the bass know and switch to sit flush, then wired it up. I am big fan of the heat shrink tubing now...



Close up of the 12V switch for manual controll of the amps remote wire.



Front shot of the finished product.

 

Next up was Ph 5 (and the last phase i have completed so far) which was fairly simple.

HU in and wiring harness attached. Both of the Sirius radio components were uber simple to install. Just tied into the 12V source going to my HU and the ground. My truck came with sirius so instead of running a new antenna, i removed the plastic housing from the stock antenna (already mounted on top of my cap) and plugged it right into the Sirius SCC1 tuner. Took me all of 15 minutes to mount and install the Sirius components to my HU. I had the remote and parking brake wires pulled out so i could mount my relay in a secure location.



Put the dash back together



Connect the AC and air bag sensor, throw it back on and here she is...



Honestly, i am not too impressed with the fit and finish of the double din mounting hardware i have right now. I will be making some minor adjustments using washers and spacers to achieve a more 'stock' look and feel.

If anyone has any comments that would help me out as i begin the more complicated and labor intensive portion of my build, I would love to hear them. thanks.

 

Looking good so far!

 

did this get done? any results

 

Sorry i havent updated in a while. Been in Italy for the last 10 days. I am gutting the interior tomorrow and laying down the Raamat. After that it all goes in and hopefully will be done. As of right now, the improvement in SQ over stock is amazing. It is soooo loud and clear, I love it.