Vehicle Owner

Member ID: RedraifExtras

Location: Here, GA

Vehicle Info

1987 Pontiac Firebird

Bragging Rights

  • 1/4 Mile0 sec @ 80 mph
  • 0-600sec
  • Top Speed-1mph
  • HP134
  • Weight3755lbs

Major Upgrades

  • turbo
  • nitrous
  • bore increase
  • port and polish
  • supercharger
  • extrude honed
  • stroke increase
  • engine swap

Modifications

Performance Parts

Interior

Exterior Styling

Car Audio & Video

Ratings

    • Currently 2.7/5 Stars.
    • Currently 2.7/5 Stars.
    • Currently 2.7/5 Stars.
    • Currently 2.7/5 Stars.
    • Currently 2.7/5 Stars.
    • Currently 2.7/5 Stars.

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Last updated: May 23, 2009

Hits: 9,263

REDRAIF’s Pontiac Firebird
“RAIF'S HISTORY PAGE”

  • Currently 2.725 /5 Stars.
14 guestbook comments

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RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdSTEREO WIRING & OLD SUB BOXES: VERSION I & VERSION II
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I have recently upgraded my stereo system, so the pics of the old retired systems are being set up here...

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Wiring
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Now before the new black carpet was installed, I ran all my stereo wires for the subs and amps....

Power comes out from the Optima Red top battery. It travels down a 4 gauge power wire with built in fuse. I placed it w/in 12 inch of the battery, as I was taught.

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

Then it makes its way down the frame rail & goes into the body thru the firewall. From there the power is dispersed via a distribution block in my kick panel.

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

The block allows for a 4 gauge input, splitting it down into three 8 gauge outputs. 2 of the outputs I planned for the stereo, the 3rd, for my lighting accessories!
From the distribution block, my 2-8 gauge wires continued down the driver�s side rocker.

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

On the driver's side Transmission tunnel, I ran the turn on lead for the stereo components. Once you get multiple components, its a good idea to run a relay for your turn on lead. Most stereos can't handle the power load to turn on multiple components & can overload the turn on circuit.

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

The relay wiring is pretty basic...
Here is how!
Relay's wiring...
Standard relays have 4 prongs and are numbered as follows:
87: output to item
86: input (signal wire...turn on lead)
85: ground
30: power from battery

Back on track...

One 8 gauge power wire ran to my US Acoustic 50X4 watt amp.

The other 8 gauge wire is split b/w my Coustic 30X2 watt amp & my Panasonic 15X2 watt amp. They both were such small amps they really did not need much more. The relay also gets its power from this 8 gauge wire.

The signal wires (RCAs) I ran down the side of the transmission tunnel to the amps.

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

The wires just to the right of the RCAs are my power window switches.
The speaker wires made their trip to the speakers via the passenger side floor board & rocker.
Any contact made b/w the signal & power wires were brief.
Contact was only made at a 90 Degree angle.

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

This will reduce the chances of any signal transference that would cause distortion or whining.

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Now recently I had to change the unit I use to mount the aftermarket wiring to the battery. the old Gold side mount style was begining to strip and I was loosing contact. Then the car would not start. So here is my new set up!
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
This top mount style eliminates that problem.

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RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdOLD SUB BOXES: VERSION I & VERSION II
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So I have been thru a few versions... and there will be a few more yet! LOL!

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Version I
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Information on the rest of the stereo system, including the subwoofer wiring can be found here

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Boston
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At first, I got an 8in Boston sub in a Q logic Sub box. In the cargo hole the 8 went. Well it turned out it was not quite enough boom for me.

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird


Here are some pics of the boston from a recent tear down...
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
Out of the box...
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird


The Boston...
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

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Pioneer
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As luck would have it, Laurence had a set of old 12in Pioneer subs. Well somehow one of them blew and he decided he would just get new ones. He assumed both were bad. He wanted to throw them out in my trash. I asked if I could take the box and subs and see what I could do with them.

Well one sub was definitely fried. You could smell it. The other seemed fine. It sounded bad though. I checked out the box and found the problem. The box was separating at the seams. It had been the source of the other distortion.

So I took the box apart and decided to used it to make a smaller box for the single 12. Well I measured the odd shaped rear cargo hole. I got exact measurements and built the box. It was a bit shy of the cubic inches the sub called for, so I added the sub box poly fill. It would slow the waves just enough to make up the difference.
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

Well time came to install everything. Talk about a tight fit. I had to stand on the box and push the rear cargo panel down with it in unison to get it to fit. No one was going to walk away with this box. The 8 fit in right next to his big brother.

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

For a final touch...
All the speaker grills received red grill cloth....
Boston...
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
Pioneer...

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird


RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

Here's the bass makers: before the interior upgrade...

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

With the new interior...better day pics!

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

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Version II
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So my old set up was only supposed to be temporary, but the retrofit got put behind a long list of other things! Well finally I decided it was time to give the system a face lift more worthy of my new red & black show car interior!

For the time being, I'm sticking with my old 12 inch subs...I'm in the process of getting new ones, just don't have them yet and show season is underway! Have to have some kind of speakers in the new sub box!

Here are the Pioneers I'm using for the time being...

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

Now originally I wanted to have the subs facing normally. The more I looked at my cubic feet in the box, the more clear it was that I was cutting things close. I decided to invert the speakers for the time being. Heck they look just as plain up or down. Once I have time to go back and build the fiberglass top with the new subs, I will be able to dome their mounting point enough to make up the cubic space...

So here are subs mounted...
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
In the car...
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
Trimmed out for its first show... where I won BEST interior!
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

Details on building the following box can be found here!

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AMP INSTALLATION
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I decided to try go for a funtional way of storing my amps, versus a showy way...for now!

The Coustic & Panasonic are both tucked away inside my rear passenger side interior paneling. Since neither are high output amps they have plenty of air to stay cool inside the paneling.

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Coustic
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Here is the Coustic...mounted on wood to help with cooling and vibrations...
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

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Panasonic
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This little nook is where the Panasonic amp now lives since its home when to the new rear shoulder harness seatbelts...

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

Here is it in its hole...its hard to see with all the carpet and wiring...plus I can't seem to get the right amount of flash!

RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

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US Accoustic
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OK so this one was a bit more showy! LOL!
First way I mounted it was flat, but raised off the surface of the sub box so the wires could tuck under...
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
Here is the later version pic after I tweaked the amp stand a bit.
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac FirebirdRedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
Ran the wiring in a waterfall effect down and under the amp to a hole in the top. The wires tuck thru and follow the back lip over to the passenger side tire compartment panel.
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

OK so here is a pics of the sub box w/ the new amp mounting!
RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird

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RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
HOME PAGE

Follow this link to additional information on the car not found on this site!
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RedraifExtras's 1987 Pontiac Firebird
DIRECTORY FOR RAIF'S HISTORY SITE
01 Site Overview
02 (1987) Options and window sticker...
03 (1989) Stock pics...
04 (1990) Bottom Accent color changed to Black, Enkei rims, & Tint
05 (1992) Wreck & Added 2 amps
06 (1994) Changer, Alarm, Taillights painted red, Emblems Modified
07 (1998) Engine�s top end rebuilt
08 (1999) Major mods began...Misc. trim, exterior lights, & Alpine head unit
09 (2000) Journal of events
10 (pre July 2001) Journal of events
11 (post July 2001) Journal of events
12 (pre March 2002) Journal of events
13 (March 2002) Pensacola Fiasco
14 (post March 2002) Journal of events
15 Grey and Black Interior
16 Old Sub box <<<
17 Cop Stories
18 Old 2.25 Inch Exhaust
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Guestbook

Displaying entries 1-5 of 14

lurthehitman  

Posted by: lurthehitman

05/23/2009 07:45PM

Great work on your page and I think that you should have a better rating for as much work as you put into it. It's crazy how much one thing like tint can cause so much trouble. My Brother-in-law get pulled over all the time for his loud exhaust. mine is loud enough to set car alarms off but the funny thing is that I work for the count jail as a detention officer and know all the patrol offiers in the area. They just smile and wave.

jen07423  

Posted by: jen07423

09/21/2006 06:03PM

hey i love the car. Nice to see another girl on here. Def loved the cop stories. I sat here readin them all laughing. I would love to get to do what you did to the assholes. Great work on it!

jen07423  

Posted by: jen07423

09/21/2006 06:01PM

hey i love the car. Nice to see another girl on here. Def loved the cop stories. I sat here readin them all laughing. I would love to get to do what you did to the assholes. Great work on it!

herbikeandcars  

Posted by: herbikeandcars

04/29/2005 02:22PM

Congratulations, you're hard work has paid off. -Girl6

rhaltunen  

Posted by: rhaltunen

01/28/2005 10:34AM

Hey, sorry about not getting back to you in a while...I haven't checked this site since December. Feel free to use any interior pics you need. Unfortunately, the car is in my dad's storage garage 9 hours north of me and I won't see it until this summer. So I will not be able to take any additional pics at this time-sorry.

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Vehicle Owner

Member ID: RedraifExtras

Location: Here, GA