Time for a system in my 86. I am going to be running 1 amp to power 2 12" subs. Probably going to be close to 800 RMS. With my mods listed below and running a stock altenator, would you use a compasator, get a better battery like a red or yellow top, or get a aftermarket altenator? Would I be safe just running a compassator on my standard battery and 80 Amp alt? I will also be doing a totaly custom box for the back seats also. Should I go with plexi-glass or composit wood? Or should I just to with a fiberglass box, would that be good? Any help would be sweet and help make this project show car much better. I will be using a Pioneer head unit model # Dehp8400mp. I love the way that model looks.

 

I have an 110amp alt. and still need a cap when I'm idle with teh fans on. so what I'd do is get a cap and just use the 80amp till you burn it up. then get like a 140amp alt. the only other thing you'll need is some earmuffs. 2 12's hit HARD AS HELL!! also what kinda subs you getting?

Josh

 

87trans, have you upgraded the wiring under your hood yet? you probably wouldnt have dimming lights if ya did, because 110 should be more than enough (anyone lookin for a 100 alt? check my add in classifieds). if not, ok. one of the most beneficial things to do is upgrade the wires between the battery, alt, and ground. stock is usually 8ga, so it kinda bottlenecks you (4 ga for system, but only 8ga everywhere else). easiest would be just run the new 4ga along with the original wiring. i plan on doing this as soon as i get my 1/0 setup and swapping out the 4.

 

I found these subs
http://www.cardiscountstereos.com/Ca...+%23=ZX4712dvx
For $70 for each doesn't seem like a bad deal. Plus the color kind of matches my car. With red interior neons and underbody kit i'm gonna have a kick *** car. If you check that site and find anything that is better please let me know. I don't want to spend more then $115 per sub. and really want 12's or 4 10's but then I would need more power so just the 2 12's

 

it isn't bad dimming, like a tad. and I'm planning on running 4 g this summer. but like I said the ONLY time it'll even start to dim is with the headlights and fan running.

 

here are some pictures of my old 2 12 sub box i now have a 4 12 sub box i hope these might be helpfull

 

and the finished

 

You'll be fine. You'll blow those subs sky high long before you reach the limits of your stock alternator. I'm afraid to ask, but what kind of amp were you planning on to drive those subs?

 

Ince I am lookign to do a lot of shows with this car. Power Acoustik Area 51 amp. Model # Area1200x2. I just want enough to where it would sound good and if it needs i will get 2. I was also thinking about 2 15's in teh back seat but that is a lil to much. I can only aford $800 on a total system. So far this is what I got. headunit-pioneer-DEHP8400MP ($395.00), amp- Power Acoustik- AREA1200X2($200), subs-Power Acoustik-SQ12($105), and if need be capacitor-Fusion-Fcap10($110). that is roughly $900 including the capacitor. if I can do without i will. I am also moving so this will all be done by the end of June. I will eb psoting pics of the box and steup as it comes along. Damn the summertime makes me spend to mch money on my cars. oh well so far this year between my 2 3rd gens i have spent $4,500 on parts. Of well I need to go fast and have a 2nd reliable car and a nice system in the 86.

 

Your charging system will be fine. Your alternator won't even notice a $200 amp.

 

Thats the price I am getting it for maybe even cheaper. The amp itself is $400. it is a 1200 watt max output. i figured it should be enough for now. it looks awesome it glows blue and is in the shape of a UFO. its going in the middle of my box

 

I rest my point. Do yourself a HUGE favor and buy a Kicker ZR240 instead. It's only about $50-80 more, but it's actually worth the money, unlike that neon glowing UFO thing. That kicker is rated at 60x2 and I guarantee it'll pound the snot out of that 1,200 watt POS.

 

ditto to the kicker, they are extremly underrated. My ZR360 is rated @ 360x1@4ohm and 400x1@2ohm. My birthsheet shows 550x1@4ohm and when Car Sound tested a 360 they got 725rmsx1@2ohm.....on an amp thats 90x2.

The only downside to the ZR amps is that they are extremly inefficent, as in 33% efficient...so they are current hogs. But I love em anyways.

 

The Kicker amp sounds good but I really don'tneed to be worring about loss of current as mcss383 stated in his last post. I think I'm just going to stick with the Power Akustic amp for now. Hell if I don't like it I'll sell it. Also this might just be a temporary system till I get settled in my apartment. Times are going to be a lil hard with things I want to do to finish my car and move. Oh well I'm not complaining at all I havet o get out of my house and love my cars.

 

well, if you went with a zr240, then you wouldn't really have any worries. My 360 only causes a voltage drop when in drive at a stop light (if I have it cranked). The stock alt will easily supply the current needed for the 240...

 

Like everyone says the kicker amps are current hogs! Whatever you do, I would recomend running atleast 4ga power and ground wire keeping the ground as short as possible and both as far away from RCA cables as possible, atleast 1-1 farad cap, and also make sure that you have a 4ga ground going from your battery to the body.

 

can you do me a favor, I have been interested in those volfenhag subs for quite a while now, I think they may actually be pretty good. My friend told me they are like made in germany or something. Can you tell me how they sound, i might be interested in those. THANKS ALOT!!

 

Pyramid makes a sub that looks exactly like it. My money is on the fact they ARE identical.

I can't remember the company, but the is a very good company that makes a sub that looks really similar to those, so volf and pyramid rip off the 'look'.

Unless you can get them dirt cheap I would say look elsewhere....