Fiberglass 4 Sub Enclosures

Next in the series I give you Sub Enclosures. All subs need a required amount of space to perform optimally,that info is usually found on the packaging or with the warranty info.

We have all seen numerous store bought squares and rectangles with gray trunk carpet on them, how boring is that? Make yours stand out by custom forming something for your space or adding interesting shapes to your design.
Start by forming the frame as in the other tutorials 3/4" MDF works best for this. I used plywood to save weight and a lot of the strength of the piece is in the fiberglass anyway.



Next wrap the frame with polar fleece using the 3M adhesive spray on the bottom side of the piece to hold it tight. Add staples where necessary for more hold or to help with shaping.


Apply fiberglass resin with an old or inexpensive paintbrush to the polar fleece until it pools on the surface indicating the material is thoroughly soaked. Once dry sand it smoother and remove any gloss to the resin. cut out speaker holes at this time. Then apply body filler to the whole piece and sand smooth when it is hard.


Primer and paint,let dry and then add your components.








Kick back with a cold drink and admire your handy work then install in the vehicle.


For more details see the other blogs in the fiberglass series.I figured by #4 I could be more vague. Go build something cool and post it for all of us to see.

Fiberglass 3 Center Consoles

Next in the series I give you Center Consoles. Want something different from stock and draws attention and envy from everyone? Fabricate your own. Decide what you want in a center console, how it functions,storage needs, overall shape needed.




In this one I decided it was going to be used as an armrest, spot for the gauges and headunit as well as a heater/cooler that serves as a arm rest and remains removable.



Again wrap the framework in polar fleece by spraying the backside with a little 3M adhesive to hold it in place ,add a few staples where neccessary for more hold.



I use bondo brand fiberglass resin mixed with supplied hardener, have to work fast here as you only have 10 minutes tops to get it all applied before it starts gelling up.


Apply with a cheap paint brush brushing it on the polar fleece until it pools on the surface indicating the material is thoroughly soaked.
Once dry sand all of the fiberglass down to remove high spots and remove all the gloss. Skim it with body filler to smooth it all out more and sand smooth. Once you have it as smooth as you would like your ready for primer followed by a wet sand with fine grit paper then a top coat of paint.






You can rattle can it with great results with lots of wet sanding but doing it with a spray gun is so much nicer.



Next install all the components going into the center console before installing in the vehicle. Makes things so much easier working where you have room then in a confined area.


Enjoy the results and feeling of accomplishment when people compliment you on your one of a kind build . Chicks dig custom!


This is a great idea and addition to a classic vehicle because it avoids unwanted drilling in original parts, remains removable if you decide to sell and potential buyers want all original.Happy fiberglassing ,do your own project and share your results.

Fiberglass Part 2 /Speaker pods

Since I have had so many questions after doing the first fiberglassing bulletin I will add a part2 that everyone on here car do. Speaker pods....



I started by cutting out wood rings for the speaker mounts. I used the inside and outside of the grill covers as my template but most new speakers have a template right on the box they come in. Drill a hole and jigsaw out the inside opening first then the outside edge. If you have a router and know how to use it that will save a lot of work.



I then used pipe strapping to attach the rings together and attach them to the center console. I was lucky enough to have my grey console that I replaced sitting in the garage to use. If you work outside of the car it will save a ton of time masking things off.



Wrap it in polar fleece the same as the first bulletin I did and soak it with fiberglass resin. When hard cut out the speaker holes and can take a grinding wheel and sand the edges until it breaks free from whatever you attacked it too weather it's the center console ,door panel,piller pod,etc.



You can then sand your ass off and add body filler to smooth everything out a lil more then sand again getting to a finer and finer grit each time and primer. Wet sand when dried well.



Your then ready for paint,vinyl,leather, carpet,etc. I painted mine the same victory red as the rest of the stuff I made. If painting make sure to give it plenty of dry time and then clearcoat the hell out of it.



To make it pop even more I painted the speaker grills silver along with the mounting bolts.

I added a boost/vacuum gauge in my pillar pod so put the air /fuel gauge in the dash. I added a set of dome tweets on each door sail panel behind the mirror area.








I love it and is bad ass looking at night or day. The car is full of entertainment value and ready for a road trip to Wilmar for the car show on the 17th.
In closing if your going to bond your project to your door panels or right to the plastic parts body filler doesn't work. You need a rigid parts group product that is a liquid plastic that gets mixed just like body filler but bonds to the plastic. Hope this helps answer some of the questions people had for me and happy glassin!

Getting that..OHHHHHH so nice photo

There has been many bulletins lately on getting good photos or models with your ride. Some just have a nack for it and some need guidance and although I am still learning myself will create this basic guide for those who are clueless.

1) Wash the damn car! Scrub it up good and give your baby a coat of wax. Why post 20 pics of it after living on a dirt road and not washing it for a month? EWWWWWWW! Clean the interior detail under the hood. If you don't have the time or patience focus on one section at a time to take pics of such as interior or under the hood. People who say they will post better pics later rarely do. When hitting up sponsors and giving them links to your online car sites do you really want them seeing what a slob they are dealing with? When selling a car a highly detailed car brings in more of a sale price then a dirty uncared for car, same goes for votes in challenges and sweet 16.

2) Scenery! Nobody wants to see 20 pics of your driveway. Does it run? Is it really yours? Get out and show your online friends what it's like where you live. Not all of us live by a national monument or world recognized building or something but that doesn't mean where you live has nothing to offer. Go to the lake, woods, popular urban hang out.Give people an idea of what you see every day and what it's like where you live. Although not very ritzy your car parked and photographed by a cardboard village could make a powerful statement even if it's not glamourous for example.

3) Interesting angles and tilts make more interesting images then straight on front or side shots. Look at photos here ,in magazines and other online sources that you really like and try to copy it in your own environment.

4) what do you do with your car? daily driver? car shows? sound competitions? Take photos at events you particapate in and share the stories that go with them. Most best friends in the auto world met thru online sites, car shows or auto related events.

5) Lighting. Know what light your car looks best in and shoot on those days. If shooting in tight spots like your garage add a few light stands behind you in addition to the garage lights to get it bright and bounce light off of interesting points in the car body. A well cleaned well lit car will glow like heaven shining down on it better than a car with 6 months worth of dust in a dark pole barn.

6) last but not least is car models. Ads on craigslist in the talent and gigs section work well, ask friends and relatives if they will or know someone who will model. If you have a little money to spend ask a local professional photographer as they have access to models thru agencies and past experience that could be very helpful. If your ride is really nice might even be able to cut a deal with them if they use your ride in their portfolio or advertising purposes. You could post a want ad in a local shopper most times free of charge or post flyers up at grocery stores, laundry mats, college campus. It doesn't need to be difficult, you just need to be confident and brave enough to seriously look and ask for girls to help. Show examples of what your after so they don't think your trying to pick them up when you ask them to model or are talking about modeling nude. Take out any creepy factor in advance and your search will go much easier. Another good thing to practice when asking in person is to have a female with you that is comfortable with you and vouch for you that your not some psycopath.

Hope someone reads this and opens up some creative juices and has been a helpful guide. If you do read this and try out my ideas let me check out the results and let me know if you found this helpful. Happy shootin everybody.