Cars and other things
Well let me start by saying, I am feeling 100% better than I did a couple of days ago. Things that seemed to be impossible to achieve were always in my grasp even though I could not see it. Since the Valdoxan I have been able to get back into the swing of things. The stress about being late with work for school was all over worked in my head. In fact I had completely gotten the week wrong that the first major assignment was due, its not due till midnight Sunday night. So I have been able to catch up on the required reading and have most of the answers formulating in my head. What would Freud say about that :)
Anyway to keep my sanity while studying I only sit down for 30 minute sessions, this enables my brain to get a rest and well thats a good thing :). So I try take about 15 to 20 minutes off between sessions and do things that really don't require to much brain power.
I think I mentioned on one of my many blog posts that the car stereo in my car is pretty in adequate and phases out really easily. While right now I don't have enough money for a head unit and to install a couple of amps, I do have a set of speakers that I can upgrade the front pair with.
Firstly let me say anything on a modern car is never as easy as it should be. First step I did a couple days ago I took off the speaker grill and measured the existing speaker inside. It measures 5 and 1/4 inches, which is well how can I say this... wimpy... Below is a photo of the speaker I removed from the hole. Note it has a paper cone and there is basically no magnet on the back.
In the shot below is a section of door I had to cut away to get the new speakers to fit. The door trim had a support made of plastic as you can see. I started cutting it away with a Dremel tool, but found the plastic to be fairly soft so finished up with a knife. (yeah look out crazy man with sharp instruments)
You will note on the image below that the existing speaker has one of those stupid European connector plugs that they get all so excited about. To be honest I simply cut the plug off the loom and solder on new connectors for the new speakers. Note in second image the difference in the connection.
The new speaker which you have seen the back of above is a great improvement over the one I removed. the magnet and non paper cone give it far better response and output. Now note these are not permanent, but a temporary solution for me. When I upgrade the head unit and install a couple of amps I will upgrade these to a lot higher rating.
The image below is the existing grill, removed from the car, you will note it has a stupid tab on one side. Now I have no idea why the hell you would even bother with it, Renault in their great wisdom thought it was a great idea. It has caused me all sorts of cuss words and swearing even...
Below is a shot of the new speaker in the door, note that without the grill the space just looks ugly making it impossible to increase speaker size without some major work. Also note that most of the plastic area to the right of the speaker is covering the side intrusion bars, so no way of expanding really.
Last but not least what a door looks like altogether, with grill back on etc.
Now this is not the end of the story by a long shot, I would like to make a custom shelf like we did for the Scenic and maybe get a sub box for the rear cargo area. All in all a lot of stuffing around just so I can look like a 20 year old dick at the traffic lights with more power in his stereo than his engine. LOL
But seriously its all a lot of fun for me out there thinking in a logical reasoned way, and working out things as I go without getting all stressed if it decides it isnt going to work. One of the great things I find about working on my own car is that if it goes wrong im not letting anyone else down.
Should get to finish the speaker upgrade tomorrow some time as long as I can find the butane to refill my soldering iron.. ahh the joys of shifting never end.
Anyway to keep my sanity while studying I only sit down for 30 minute sessions, this enables my brain to get a rest and well thats a good thing :). So I try take about 15 to 20 minutes off between sessions and do things that really don't require to much brain power.
I think I mentioned on one of my many blog posts that the car stereo in my car is pretty in adequate and phases out really easily. While right now I don't have enough money for a head unit and to install a couple of amps, I do have a set of speakers that I can upgrade the front pair with.
Firstly let me say anything on a modern car is never as easy as it should be. First step I did a couple days ago I took off the speaker grill and measured the existing speaker inside. It measures 5 and 1/4 inches, which is well how can I say this... wimpy... Below is a photo of the speaker I removed from the hole. Note it has a paper cone and there is basically no magnet on the back.
In the shot below is a section of door I had to cut away to get the new speakers to fit. The door trim had a support made of plastic as you can see. I started cutting it away with a Dremel tool, but found the plastic to be fairly soft so finished up with a knife. (yeah look out crazy man with sharp instruments)
You will note on the image below that the existing speaker has one of those stupid European connector plugs that they get all so excited about. To be honest I simply cut the plug off the loom and solder on new connectors for the new speakers. Note in second image the difference in the connection.
The new speaker which you have seen the back of above is a great improvement over the one I removed. the magnet and non paper cone give it far better response and output. Now note these are not permanent, but a temporary solution for me. When I upgrade the head unit and install a couple of amps I will upgrade these to a lot higher rating.
The image below is the existing grill, removed from the car, you will note it has a stupid tab on one side. Now I have no idea why the hell you would even bother with it, Renault in their great wisdom thought it was a great idea. It has caused me all sorts of cuss words and swearing even...
Below is a shot of the new speaker in the door, note that without the grill the space just looks ugly making it impossible to increase speaker size without some major work. Also note that most of the plastic area to the right of the speaker is covering the side intrusion bars, so no way of expanding really.
 |
| These are second hand speakers and yes I have noted the cone is slightly distorted, however they are a great improvement over what I currently have and will do the trip to Brisbane brilliantly |
Last but not least what a door looks like altogether, with grill back on etc.
Now this is not the end of the story by a long shot, I would like to make a custom shelf like we did for the Scenic and maybe get a sub box for the rear cargo area. All in all a lot of stuffing around just so I can look like a 20 year old dick at the traffic lights with more power in his stereo than his engine. LOL
But seriously its all a lot of fun for me out there thinking in a logical reasoned way, and working out things as I go without getting all stressed if it decides it isnt going to work. One of the great things I find about working on my own car is that if it goes wrong im not letting anyone else down.
Should get to finish the speaker upgrade tomorrow some time as long as I can find the butane to refill my soldering iron.. ahh the joys of shifting never end.
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