2-2-2007
Well, a LOT has changed internally for the Eclipse in the past few months. I have not updated this page in a while...Sorry.
We now have a new set of wheels and tires. The Eclipse is now riding on 19" Momo FXL2 Wheels with Cooper Tires 245/35/19 Tires
The above pictures were taken in a parking lot in Las Vegas, just before I loaded the car for the 2006 SEMA show. Good times!
Interior wise, we have taken out the factory dash, and completely made one from scratch? Why? to get the new Hybrid Audio Technologies Legatia speakers in the best possible pace...its ALL about the sound!!!
Lets start with the mid-bass drivers. Hybrid Audio makes a kick arse set of 3-way component speakers, that have a tweeter, 3-inch mid-range, and a 7-inch mid-bass driver. For the best possible sound, we installed the 7-inchers in the kick panels. After a lot of sound damping, a layer of 1" MDF was secured to the car, and painted black. The Hybrid Audio mid-bass driver was then screwed in place with hex-head security screw (for good measure).
Once this was all done, we made grills from a piece of 1/2" MDF. This panel is covered in blac grill cloth. (pics to come later)
What had to be done? A LOT!!!
The above is what the car looks like without the dash. To get things where we wanted them, there was a bit of metal that had to be cut, about 60 hours worth of re-wiring (re-routed almost all the wires, and extended the ECU), as well as a few things that were no longer necessary...heat.
Once we had the wiring all fixed up, it was time to return to the speakers! We listened to the car for a long time, and came up with this configuration" mid-range WAY up against the firewall just under the windshield, and the tweeter next to them (on the same axis). The mid-range drivers are "vented" to the outside of the car through the wiper cowel. This was done by cutting a 2.5" hold behind the speaker enclosure that opens into the cowel. It makes for a VERy smooth sound...
Once the enclosures for the mid-range drivers were finished, we smoothed out the fiberglass with body-filler, and covered the whole dash in a layer of Stinger Roadkill.
For good measure, a second layer of Roadkill was added, and then everything was painted black to limit the reflections of light off the sound damping.
With the heater core removed, we had a large hole in the center of the dash. Im not saying what is or is not there....but some have asked if there is a 12" subwoofer up there. I am not saying!
So, whats the final product look like? Have a look.
Obviously, there are some behind-the-scenes picture of the dash framework that are missing, but I have to keep a few secrets...
We removed ALL the gauges (remember the 3-pod a-pillars on both sides?) in favor of a sleeker looking Dakota Digital package. Additionally, the lighting on the Clarion headunit matches the new gauges....its almost like we planned that!
