Following up with my original thread:

https://g35driver.com/forums/audio-v...ml#post3879679

Decided to make a new one in case anyone was searching for DD install...this one will be easier to find

Oh, and the issue I was asking about with my AC acting up turned out to be the temperature sensor under the steering column disconnected. Apparently this is a pretty common issue.

Anyway, here are the Pics, enjoy

Before I got started:



The goods:



Interior all taken apart:



Passenger door taken apart:



Rear Seat taken out:



Managed to cut a brake line while drilling through the firewall to route the amplifier power cable



My Pops stepped up big time and fixed my screw up for me. He handled the brake line so i could finish my install. Best - Dad - Ever! ......in case anyone else makes this mistake u need a 3/16 tubing union (steel or stainless only)



Wires under the back seat



More wires and crossovers under the back seat



Crossover mounted inside the front door shell



Front speaker mounted:




Rear speaker mounted:



DD Kit from crutchfield with Apline Nav/DVD unit installed:



Toggle switches so I can defeat the dvd and navi lock out....I'm not sure what the policy on posting "hack" style info here is so I'll just leave it at this, if you need specific instructions on how to do this then you probably shouldn't be doing it urself...that being said if u really just want to know what I did PM me and I'll tell u




Unit during installation:




Another:



Amp mounted on the back side of the back seat (in the trunk)....worked out really well, there is plenty slack in the wires to allow the seat to fold down, yet it all tucks away neatly enough (for me at least)....notice the extra pair of RCA cables for the sub which is in my near future



Front all back together:



Pulp fiction anyone?




This was easily the most involved car audio installation i have ever done, but it wasn't actually all that different than any other aftermarket stereo install. The biggest pain in the a** was just running all of the wires. The actual DD conversion part was easy as pie. The whole thing took me 3 FULL days of work (not including the day my Dad spent fixing the brake line while I continued to work). A couple of lessons learned on this one:

Don't use the aftermarket splice harness to ground your unit. Take the 10 minutes and ground it to to a screw somewhere. Took me damn near an hour to figure out why it wouldn't come on

It is basically impossible to route wire from inside the car into the front door for the front door speakers. I tapped into the existing speaker wiring on the inside of the vehicle then again on the inside of the door. i would have much preferred to fish my own wire through the door, but it's just not possible without drilling new holes....and THAT isn't possible without taking off the door. Screw that...

I'm not too thrilled with how cheap the new AC controller buttons look, but they look fine at night, so i guess I'll survive.

The new system sounds GREAT and it'll sound even better with a sub hooked up. I'm thinking a Bazooka powered 10" (I don't need to rattle quarters off of someones car, just set off the bass)

Well there ya go, I'm tired and I have to work tomorrow, so I'm out.

 

looks good but you shoudnt use the twist connectors, those are for home use

 

I know. I only used them to cap off the wires which originally went to the tweeters. All of the actual wiring was either butt spliced or solder/heat shrunk.

 

solder/heat shrink ftw!! butt connectors, twisty things FTMFL!!!!!! I'd also recommend trimming the wires in the door to length needed. that's WAY too much wire. - Personal opinion

 

The only thing I don't like about those DD kits is how the outsides of the trim pannel are silver. you have the silver center like stock, then a black vent, then that little silver strip...

Looks like a good setup you have, and lucky you have a Dad willing to help. Good Job.

 

^ ya Kuneff I was just looking at that also

 

How do u like the apline/GPS unit so far?

 

Yeah...Like I said, I'm not too thrilled about the buttons or that silver strip on either side of the AC vents, but I'll survive....The system is worth it

The apline unit is freakin awesome. Very attractive GUI as well as some very nice features. Sound is great, but that has as much to do with the amp/speakers as the head unit, if not more so. Wish it had a full graphic equalizer, but for the price I think it would be tough, if not impossible, to beat. This unit doesn't have "built in" gps navigation. It actually acts as a docking station for alpine's Blackbird II navigation unit. I like this because I can have in dash navi in my car, then take the Blackbird with me if I need it in some one else' car. I haven't purchased the Blackbird II yet, but I will eventually, so I can't comment on the GPS capabilities.... ....