Aftermarket amplifier installation suggestions

[dyerkes]

I am in the process of installing a completely new stereo system in my 1986 911 Turbo, and am interested in any suggestions that you might have as to how and where to install the amplifier. Because of its size (a Precision Power PCX-480, dimesions: 2.375"H x 10"W x 18.5"L) I am looking to install it in the trunk. I am curious to hear from others what locations work the best, and if you have created any custom mounting devices. Any photos of your setup would be appreciated.

Thanks,
David

[Colby]

Do you have power seats? If you do, this may not work... but from a handling perspective you want to concentrate weight as low and close to the center as possible. I mounted my amp under the passenger seat. Another place is on the board that covers the A/C and venting in the trunk.

Colby

[Joe Bob]

I have two amps....both under the non-power passenger seat.

Second choice would be in the back seats....consider removing the stock seats and get the storage bins that the RS moel uses....

Third choice is the trunk......

[thabaer]

I put mine on boards under each seat, with a slot in the board that dropped over the handy factory metal tab coming up from the floorboard.

Makes it easy to pull them when you want to get rambunctious

[cab83_750]

I have a big sony xplod model. I had to mount it in the trunk vertically for cargo reasons. It is held by cheap brackets against the factory plastic unit that protects hoses, wires, wipers, etc.

I did not drill new holes.

[tiorio]

I've a 89 930 and it had the premium sound originally installed but remoeved by the PO. In this situ, the factory head unit had a custom cable that ran by the tunnel to the amp under the pass. seat (power in my case). The speaker wires all ran to the same under seat location and attached to the amp there. There was also a factory fused power lead from the main power dist. block that powered the amp.

Having said all that, when I replaced the PO's disc changer unit and amp, I routed the speaker wires to the new 52W head unit and said screw the amp. When the time comes for more power, the amp will go in the factory under-seat location for me, but I also have the wiring to do so.

I think it's a matter of personal preference, really!

Enjoy the tunes!

[Steve W]

That amp is too big to fit under the passenger seat. Max width under a non power seat should be 14 inches. You have no other choice really but the trunk. Check out my signature for my amp installs.

[KTL]

I have a big honkin' Denon DCA 800 6 ch. amp under the passenger power seat. I don't have the dimensions handy, but I know it was a really tight fit.

I did what thabaer said and used the threaded anchors already in place on the floor. Mounted my swiss cheesed (for light weight)and carpeted two-section piece of plywood to the anchors. Then mounted the amp to it the wood platform.

I knew ahead of time the clearance would be tight based on my rough measurements. Luckily I had a set of these spacer rails left over from my original non-sport seats:



These rails were underneath the original non-power passenger seat. So I used the rails under my new 4-way power RS America sport passenger seat and also filed down the loops on the seat frame to get the clearance I needed.

I was lucky to have those spacers or it would have never worked.

[troy]

I'm just finishing the rewiring of a Blaupuntk Manhatton and 60 Watt Blaupuntk amp in a '76 930. Where should I get the 12V for the amp? Does it need to be switched? A specific fuse I should splice off of?

[howie944]

Most pro installations I have seen use a fused, direct hot lead from the the battery. The amp is "switched" from the head unit. I have two amps and both are set up this way. Also and old installler tip. Run your power on one side of the car and your speaker leads on the other. Also find a good grounding point on that isn't susceptable to corosion. Center tunnel side is a good ground point.

[cab83_750]

Wiring the hot positive wire to the battery prevents (almost all) static interference. This is HIGHLY recommended.

BTW, the recommendation is based on my experience of having installed 40 units.

[cab83_750]

Wiring the hot positive wire to the battery prevents (almost all) static interference. This is HIGHLY recommended.

BTW, the recommendation is based on my experience of having installed 40 units.

[thabaer]

how'd you do that cab ?

how'd you do that cab ?


I concur, the battery is has a wonderful influence on noise. Running the grounds to a common point attached at a block then to battery (-) is also helpful; my favorite block is a square copper rod w/ threaded clamping screws for each connection.

BTW, these evil things also done on dozens of installs. There may be a convenient space for placing some of this mess under the passenger footboard, I put some passive crossover gear there in my '79, the active Xover was in the bottom of a custom console. This all fit very well when the amps were under the seats.

[Stuttgart951]

Under the passenger seat here.

[Texas Turbo]

I ended up putting mine up front. I am happy with the result.