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Even before I got my Landcruiser, I knew I would add a stereo system of some sort. After doing some research, I decided that I wanted to do a custom installation (not just an amp and a couple of subs in a prefabricated box). I started by removing the 3rd row of seats, and all of the trim and carpet in the back. I made a custom subwoofer box out of MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) that houses four 12 inch subs. Each subwoofer has its own chamber of 1.25 cubic feet. This box is trapezoidal and is flush with the backs of the 2nd row of seats. I fabricated new panels and flooring out of ¼ inch Masonite and charcoal-gray carpeting (the kind that is used to cover subwoofer boxes). The box, panels, and flooring required 5 yards of carpeting. Next, I linked the subs with 10 gauge wiring and gold spade terminals. |
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I removed the factory battery and replaced it with an Optima Red-Top battery. I also added a Wrangler battery isolator, and an Optima yellow-top battery dedicated to the stereo syetem. Since my local stereo shop had good deals on American Bass wiring products, I chose to use them. I bought and installed gold battery terminals, 20 feet of 2 AWG. wire, a 150 amp ANL fuse holder, a 150 amp fuse, and various gold plated terminals. I bought Lightning audio Strike Series distribution and ground blocks. Since the MTX 225HO could blow a single 60 amp fuse in the distribution block at ¾ volume, I had to join two outputs of the block in parallel using a Lightning Audio Strike Series unfused, 2-way distribution block (Click to see the wiring). This block's input was two 8 gauge wires, and the output was one 4 gauge wire, which goes to the capacitor, and then to the MTX 225HO. Next, I utilized the vehicles dummy switch panels by adding my own switches to control the two amplifiers, two pairs of foglights, the headlight and tailight strobes, the DVD player, and the Sony Playstation. |
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The most difficult part of the installation was mounting the amps, capacitor, distribution blocks, and Epicenter on the bottom half of the tailgate. I removed the carpet panel that covers the bottom half of the tailgate, and out of ¾" MDF, I constructed a new panel and covered it with charcoal-gray carpet. I mounted the amps, capacitor, etc., on this new panel before screwing it to the tailgate. Then, I drilled holes through the new panel and the underlying sheet metal for the wires to pass through. I made my own grommets out of hexagonal pipe-fittings for the wires to pass through. At this point, I wired everything up, including the amplifiers', capacitor's, and Epicenter's power and ground wires, a 2 gauge ground strap connecting the tailgate to the main body of the Landcruiser, RCA cables, and the speaker wires. I made sure to use gold plated terminals at every connection. |
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I installed the Clarion source unit and the Kenwood equalizer in the dash with the EQ on top. I opted to put the Clarion CD changer in the center console along with the 3-way video/audio switcher. The DC to AC converter went behind the glove box where the Sony Playstation 1 was installed. The DVD player was installed under the sub-box, and the remote infared pick-up was routed to the front of the vehicle. This allows the DVD player to be remotely controlled from the driver's seat even though the player is mounted in the back. This Emerson DVD player also plays MP3 CD's, and video CD's (VCD), which allows me to put around 12 hours of music on one CD, and to watch MPEG movies in VCD format. The outputs of the DVD player and the Playstation are routed to the video switcher, which is connected to the input of the Clarion source unit. This input wire must be purchased seperately from the source unit: the source unit did not have RCA audio/video inputs on it. This cable can be purchased directly from Clarion for $69.00, and the part number is ' CCA389 '. The third set of inputs on the switcher go to my laptop computer, Minidisc player, or any other accessory I choose. Next, I installed one of the 6 ½" Kenwood coaxials in each of the four doors. This required that I grind away some of the sheet metal of the doors, for the factory speakers were only 3 ½ inches. Then I replaced the factory 3 ½ inch speakers in the dash with the 4 inch driver of the Kenwood component set. I mounted the tweeters on the front doors, and the crossovers were placed behind the dash. |
Copyright 2002 - Nik Kazmers - All Rights Reserved