Project MULE - Expedition build on a 1991 1500 4x4 Suburban
- Thread starter PMA4x4
- Start date
PMA4x4
Adventurer
Ok finally some progress. It's been busy around here and with only less then two months left before out cross country trip i gotta kick it into high gear. Center console and re paint:eek1::doah:
I didnt get pics when I first started this project but I used poster board material (same for the bumper templates) to do all the rough shape cutting on. I then traced that to the plywood. This ply wood is sacrificial as I wanted genuine hard wood to do the final template on.
I have a router table I picked up for cheap just for the console and rear drawer/sleeping platform. I plan to router the edges with a 1/4" round bit.
First idea of the profile turned out to be way too low.
Tika insisting she helps.
The shop in woodworking mode
The cross pieces are not part fo the design. right now they are there to just bolt everything together.
I didnt get pics when I first started this project but I used poster board material (same for the bumper templates) to do all the rough shape cutting on. I then traced that to the plywood. This ply wood is sacrificial as I wanted genuine hard wood to do the final template on.
I have a router table I picked up for cheap just for the console and rear drawer/sleeping platform. I plan to router the edges with a 1/4" round bit.
First idea of the profile turned out to be way too low.
Tika insisting she helps.
The shop in woodworking mode
The cross pieces are not part fo the design. right now they are there to just bolt everything together.
Renntag
Adventurer
Nice console progress. Like the angle down from the dash. What is going to be in it?
Plans to mod the case shifter to come outside the box?
Having just removed my dash cover, I agree, its an easy removal. Installing new speakers, cleaning up the air ducts and sliding in a new stereo. I'd prefer to have the stereo over head since access in the stock location isn't ideal. No time right now, so that will have to be later.
Waiting to see the progress in preparation for the big adventure.
Plans to mod the case shifter to come outside the box?
Having just removed my dash cover, I agree, its an easy removal. Installing new speakers, cleaning up the air ducts and sliding in a new stereo. I'd prefer to have the stereo over head since access in the stock location isn't ideal. No time right now, so that will have to be later.
Waiting to see the progress in preparation for the big adventure.
Last edited:
PMA4x4
Adventurer
16 toggle switches
1 gauge
1 1000W power inverter
1 Dualband Ham radio
Power distribution leading to the back
Tranny temp gauge
two cup holders
cooling fan
power outlet
2 USB 2.5a chargin ports.
power for the Toughbook
power for the Tablet.
Garmin GPS
Its sounds like a lot more then it really is.
PMA4x4
Adventurer
We do like to listen to our music when on the road. We figured it was time to upgrade the 23 year old sound system to something a little bit more modern.
With as good as built in amps are in head units these days having to run this one at near full volume to over come the open windows was working ti a bit hard and it just was quite there.
Full stereo specs:
Head unit: Pioneer DEH-44HD (HD radio and front USB slot)
Amp: HTP-445U Alpine inline small footprint amp. 45x4 amp (runs off radio circuit)
Front speakers: Rockford Fosgate Punch series P132
Rear speakers: Rockford Fosgate Punch series P1684
XTC Speaker baffles
These were moderately priced speaker that had great reviews. The amp was perfect. small enough to hide anywhere behind the dash and runs off the same 15amp stock radio circuit. We already had the head unit. All its pretty much used for is just the USB connection. We got a Scosche brand 4gb low profile flash drive. no CDs no worries about radio stations in the middle of Nebraska
. just roughly 60 hours of digital music.
now I will say technically neither sets of these speakers will fit int he stock locations. I thought the 3" P132s would but I got lucky (ill explain in a bit). The rear speakers going from 4x10s to 6x9s requires some cutting of material out of the stock speaker hole to round it out a bit more. You will also need to make a adapter plate/mount to mount the new 6x9s. I did exactly that with some left over 1/4" oak I had laying around. I used a deck sealer stain I had laying around and then shot it with lacquer. Once cured I sanded with some 000 Steel wool. When I mounted it the wife noticed it looked like a weathered starcraft conversion speaker... Damn if it doesn't!:eek1:
The front speaker mounted up fine depth wise. The raised tweeter was the problem. I want to lay the dash pad back down and the padded speaker grilles were so brittle the tweeters just popped right through. This was not much of a problem for me as I just received the new molded plastic dash cover from LMC truck and that gave us new speaker grilles.
the other thing I added was foam speaker baffles. this will help in sound immensely. They give a slight sealed box sound adding depth and more full sound to the music.
Installed the amp and new speakers, remounted the head unit and started tweaking the sound. The quality is awesome the sound is great very full and clear. I am running the gains at about 75% on the amp and the HPF is "off" on the fronts and set at 120hz on the rear HPF.
I will say this, if you go with USB flash drive for music get a low profile one like this Scosche. I almost snapped a regualr sized one off with my knee.
http://www.scosche.com/car-audio/4-gb-low-profile-usb-digital-media-drive
Custom Starcraft conversion right there!
With as good as built in amps are in head units these days having to run this one at near full volume to over come the open windows was working ti a bit hard and it just was quite there.
Full stereo specs:
Head unit: Pioneer DEH-44HD (HD radio and front USB slot)
Amp: HTP-445U Alpine inline small footprint amp. 45x4 amp (runs off radio circuit)
Front speakers: Rockford Fosgate Punch series P132
Rear speakers: Rockford Fosgate Punch series P1684
XTC Speaker baffles
These were moderately priced speaker that had great reviews. The amp was perfect. small enough to hide anywhere behind the dash and runs off the same 15amp stock radio circuit. We already had the head unit. All its pretty much used for is just the USB connection. We got a Scosche brand 4gb low profile flash drive. no CDs no worries about radio stations in the middle of Nebraska
. just roughly 60 hours of digital music.now I will say technically neither sets of these speakers will fit int he stock locations. I thought the 3" P132s would but I got lucky (ill explain in a bit). The rear speakers going from 4x10s to 6x9s requires some cutting of material out of the stock speaker hole to round it out a bit more. You will also need to make a adapter plate/mount to mount the new 6x9s. I did exactly that with some left over 1/4" oak I had laying around. I used a deck sealer stain I had laying around and then shot it with lacquer. Once cured I sanded with some 000 Steel wool. When I mounted it the wife noticed it looked like a weathered starcraft conversion speaker... Damn if it doesn't!:eek1:
The front speaker mounted up fine depth wise. The raised tweeter was the problem. I want to lay the dash pad back down and the padded speaker grilles were so brittle the tweeters just popped right through. This was not much of a problem for me as I just received the new molded plastic dash cover from LMC truck and that gave us new speaker grilles.
the other thing I added was foam speaker baffles. this will help in sound immensely. They give a slight sealed box sound adding depth and more full sound to the music.
Installed the amp and new speakers, remounted the head unit and started tweaking the sound. The quality is awesome the sound is great very full and clear. I am running the gains at about 75% on the amp and the HPF is "off" on the fronts and set at 120hz on the rear HPF.
I will say this, if you go with USB flash drive for music get a low profile one like this Scosche. I almost snapped a regualr sized one off with my knee.
http://www.scosche.com/car-audio/4-gb-low-profile-usb-digital-media-drive
Custom Starcraft conversion right there!
Renntag
Adventurer
Nice stuff. I'll have pics of my stereo install soon. I kept the stock 4x10 since i got a good deal on a set of Kenwoods.
The head unit i chose had a rear usb that i will use for the "thumb drive jukebox". No worries of breaking it off. I had the same concern. Another reason i dont like the low mount for the radio. Rather have it over head.
Looking forward to more updates !!
The head unit i chose had a rear usb that i will use for the "thumb drive jukebox". No worries of breaking it off. I had the same concern. Another reason i dont like the low mount for the radio. Rather have it over head.
Looking forward to more updates !!