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This build is a 2018 F-150 XL. It started with a blown speaker in the front doors. I purchased some nice JBL coaxial speakers for front and back. Until after I installed them I didn’t realize that the front a-pillars had tweeters. It sounded great but I read that having multiple tweeters could interfere with each other.
I figured if I’m going to take it all apart again I’m going to do it right. After acquiring the FORScan reader I tried to enable the subwoofer wiring harness in the back. All I got to work right was the power and the remote wire, couldn’t get signal through the speaker wires. The project got out of hand from here.
Here’s a list of components I used (after trying out 5 other amps and other speakers and tweeters);
I ran speaker wires from the head unit back to the LOC and amp with 18 gauge wire. Everything was wrapped in Tessa tape. I mounted the crossover boxes behind the kick panels on each side for easy access. Since I was pushing 75watts RMS to the speakers I didn’t use any factory wiring and ran new wires through the harnesses that go between the body and the doors directly to all speakers. I used thread-serts to attach the panel to the door for easy removal. Stinger fast rings were also used. The butyl sound deadening was used inside of the outer door panels.
Metra speaker adapters front and back
gold terminal kits from Best Buy
18 gauge speaker wire
Various brands of sound deadening mats
Sound deadening foam mat
I added sound deadener everywhere you see black. The factory had a few pieces installed and I just layed over it. Also put it on the C-pillars. Side view of the PVC panel I made to cover the access hole for the door components. One layer of the foam deadener and on the other side it’s the butyl deadener mat. I traced the plastic cover that was factory installed over the hole in the door. A few pieces on the sails. With each piece of foam and mat I made a copy to use on the other door panel. This little kicker 6.75” sub is impressive. It’s more than enough bass for rock and probably plenty for rap unless you just like rattling other people’s windows. I couldn’t find anything else that would fit behind the seat. The grey panel is removable. I used thread-serts to attach the panel to the rear firewall and it is easily removable.
Last edited by Seasofcheese; 01-26-2020 at 10:43 PM.
Reason: Adding information
Use transfer tape to lay over panels so that you can mark our exactly where all holes and shapes need to be cut. Place the tape over your deadening mat and cut it precisely to fit. Makes installation much easier than forgetting to cut a hole to reinstall components. The clear transfer tape laid over so that holes can be marked out and cut perfectly on the deadening mat.
01-26-2020, 10:37 PM
2018 Sound system install
