I'm building an autocross/CAM T, but very streetable Camaro.

Eliminating unnecessary weight and particularly weight that's up high or towards either end is the goal. "Unnecessary" is a VERY relative term though. I'm keeping A/C, some careful sound deadening, power windows and a stereo. Keeping the stereo lightweight requires some compromises though. No sub enclosures and no massive amps.

I'm considering a Pumpkin android head unit, but open to suggestions.
https://www.amazon.com/Pumpkin-Capac.../dp/B00P7G82TS

It's a 5 speed car, so kick panel speakers are out and the power windows creates another packaging issue.

Ideally, I'd like 6 1/2 separates up front and something in the sail panels with some bass. Maybe 8" mids with voice coils? If the 6 1/2's up front are enough, maybe a powered sub box down low in the rear seat area would be a better choice.

The car is a rear-seat delete, so I have room for an amp or powered sub, but again this is a lightweight build so I won't be using anything huge.

The goal is: minimize the equipment and have the ability to play some tunes with no expectation of rattling any windows. Just a decent, balanced sound.

 

For the amp i'd go with a rockford fosgate amp like a , R500X1D theyre small and put out good power. I'd get a quality 8" or 10" sub. I think a fiberglass box will make the biggest difference in weight though.

 

Crutchfield has a nice selection of mini-amps.

https://www.crutchfield.com/cpg/Mini-Amplifiers.html

I have the Clarion XC1410 myself. Tiny by 80s standards. There are a few install pics in my cars thread (see link in signature below).

Love your username, btw. Big Route 66 fan, and autocross as well.

 

Why don't you mount the amp to a sub box in the rear seat area. Then you could remove it at autocross events. You'd have to come up with some kind of disconnect for the amp power wire so you don't have a loose powered wire laying there after removal.

 

A mini-amp is definitely part of the equation.

I live right off Old Route 66, on a hill overlooking the highway.

 

A removable box is an option. Not my first choice, but something to consider.

 

I think the only real weight you have to worry about would be the sub box. Unless of course you got all hardcore, in which case the entire system would be too much! ...that being said, why not just get/build a box similar to what Battmann suggested, just mount the amp somewhere else? ...that way all you have to do is remove the speaker wiring to the box.

....I had one of those big ole Kenwood full range boxes with (x2) 10"s back in high school. Thing weighed like 50 pounds. I had it sitting in the storage well (like most of us, LOL) but it was easy to move/remove when necessary. Literally 10 seconds if that.

Edit: I know you mentioned a removable box isn't your first choice. I guess my thinking is that you've gotta make sacrifices to keep something that has weight, yet wanting light weight for performance. Removable seems like an easy fix.

 

Anyone have 6 1/2" separates up front run off the head unit with a sub (s) in the back? i.e. no speakers in the sail panels

Can 6 1/2" run off the 50W head unit by themselves keep up with a mild sub setup?

If just the 6 1/2 pair will do, then a removable box makes sense.

 

I have noticed some late model OEM speakers have plastic frames and neodymium magnets and are very light

 

I am also building a lighter weight system right now. The sub and box is the area that I am trying to save weight as everything else is pretty light or equivalent to stock. I am going with a single 8" Tang Band 8-1363SB subwoofer from parts express.

http://www.parts-express.com/tang-ba...oofer--264-833

Very light neodymium magnet sub (5.8lbs) with a long excursion and the ability to push a lot of air in a small (light) box. I have ordered the sub and built a small box that fits in the bottom of the well. I will update once it is hooked up if you like.

Tang Band is a woofer mfg that gets a ton of praise from the DIY hifi community but is still relatively unknown in mainstream audio. I have no experience with them yet but have expectations that it will not disappoint.

Another option would be to mount the sub in a tube - pretty light option compared to a MDF box.

 

Let me know how it turns out and what front speakers you use. I'm interested in how a single 8" works, it might not do much by itself.

 

This sub relies on having a long stroke rather than larger cone area. This is the same principle that the sunfire home theatre subs work on.

The box this sub is going in is barely the size of the bottom area of the well - outside dimensions 8" tall x 9.5" wide x 24.5" long. This translates to about .65 cuft which is pretty small really.

The front dash speakers I bought were these.
http://m.visions.ca/#/home-productde...48&sku=ENC46CV

Great deal on sale for $28!!!

 

The 8" sub is in the box - should have the amp wired up this weekend. I'll give it a review here after.

 

you could make a baffle board for the cargo area. ill take some pics in a bit of what I did. it has 2 6" component speakers (no tweeter). if I need the room I can just remove the whole board with speakers/ subs. I used 1/2" mdf, some 1/2" foam adhesive tape to seal edges, and some carpet. Whole thing is like 10lbs. Enough bass from those components. I might get some actual subs. probably do 2 6-8" subs.

 

Here it is

 

I turn the amp gain up slowly.

 

Hooked up the rest of the speakers and sub today. Sounds really good. The sub needed more power to give the punch I was looking for. I am powering it with a 100w x 2 old school Alphasonik in mono now and it is very smooth and punchy. Goes quite deep but stays very clean sounding. Still need to finish tuning and setting up the system completely but quite happy with the results so far.