lookin good. keep the pics coming.

Was wanting to finish up wiring the power today, and took a look at the 4Ga run I had. It was some cheap no-name cable, and was super light feeling so I decided while I don't want to change the gauge for weight/hiding a huge wire reasons, I was gonna switch the cable out. Ordered 30' of KnuKonceptz Colossus Kandy 4 Ga wire for the new power runs/grounds.
This is the 100% OFC stuff, not the CCA. They oversize everything too, and best of all - it's lime green! Lol.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...HL._SX425_.jpg

Another pic of the interior gutted while I clean up cabling:

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...4d2255bec5.jpg

:p:leghump:

Finally made some more progress now that most of the items have arrived and I've had some time to work on it again. I thought customs would never release my sound deadener :ugh2:

I got the MS8 mounted and all wired up, changed out the old 4GA run for the Knu cable, ran RCA's. At this point 95% of the wiring is done, which is nice. Just waiting on one RCA to arrive for the sub feed.

I put most of the doors back together and got the glass back in and adjusted. It was certainly a bit of a PITA but not too complicated.

Next step, possibly tomorrow, is to start on the sound deadening for the trunk. Doing that and the doors with the MLV/CCF will likely be a bit tedious going around all the different contours, wires, etc. I'm sure it will pay off in the end though! Also I will need to make the MDF speaker baffles for the XL's. Originally I was thinking 1" but I don't need near that much clearance after doing a test fit. Probably going to use 1/4", possibly 3/8".

I need to investigate the possibility of water entering the door and hitting the back side of the speaker as well. It looks like the factory ones are protected by the plastic adapter which I am reusing but the new speakers are a fair bit deeper.

Pics:

http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...ms8-wiring.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...657-wiring.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...t-complete.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...-deadening.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...53-hv165xl.jpg

Updates? This looks like a serious project! Great work.

Great work Ed! Cant wait to hear it this summer.

Sorry guys, I've been doing some training in the mountains the last couple weeks, lots of updates to follow later this week!

Updates:

The Hertz 165's are installed with custom MDF adaptors while still utilizing the factory adaptor brackets.

http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...-installed.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...id-adapter.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...-installed.jpg

I also got the floor deadened in the section under the seats and rearward. Closed Cell Foam (CCF) and Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) sheets is what I used here. The forward section of the floor has some factory vibration dampener and the floormats actually act as a sound deadener on their own as well so no need to do more there.

Before:
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...loor-stock.jpg

After:
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...r-deadened.jpg

I finished the door sound deadening which included CCF/MLF sheeting between the door card and the inner skin as well as some 3M Thinsulate Acoustic foam on the door card itself. I also utilized the Thinsulate Acoustic on pretty near every interior trim panel that had large air gaps behind it that could lead to buzzing sounds with bass and allow road noise in. This stuff is super light and extremely easy to work with. It also eliminates any chance of panel vibration from contact with other panels. It is actually used from the factory on several of the panels in small quantities and a thinner grade.

CCF Test fit:
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...-placement.jpg

Thinsulate Acoustic:
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...ustic-foam.jpg

MLV hung on door:
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...r-door-mlv.jpg

Thinsulate Acoustic on trunk and interior panels:

http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...deadened-4.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...f-deadened.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...deadened-2.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...m-deadened.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...m-deadened.jpg

I got the trunk finished up with CCF/MLF sheeting in the worst sections (bottom floor and back flat section).

http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...lv-trunk-1.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...lv-trunk-2.jpg

Finally, I did some more work on my new Radar Detectors and other countermeasures installation which included a fused distribution block in the back for all my CM related accessories. The mounting platform I used for the MS8 provided a great spot for it.

http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...se-block-1.jpg

Next steps:
The Tweeters have FINALLY shipped so once I get those and the Solen 91uF capacitors in (used to protect the tweeters from DC and any turn on pops, etc) then I can get them installed. The rear speakers (now going with the 3.5" DCX 87.3's) are still on back order, so it could be a while longer until those are done. My main gauge cluster hat is wrapped and on the way back so I can hopefully get that all back together soon at least.

A couple smaller items that need to be done are installing the time delay relay to turn on my CM board, finishing up some of the wiring for my new radar detectors and wiring in permanent USB charging/audio cables for the phones that I'll have in the car. Hoping to have everything finished up on spring break!

Updates:

Got the rear speakers installed in the trim panels, some minor dremel work was required but it was a good last minute decision to go back to the 3.5's. Anything else would have required serious work as the clearance for these bad boys is TIGHT as is.

http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...led-trim-1.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...led-trim-2.jpg

Clearance with panel installed:
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...rance-body.jpg

I also got some more of the wiring cleaned up, and more of my radar installation done which is happening simultaneously. Finally, I got the tweeters installed using some adaptor brackets I got online. The Hertz tweeters sit fairly high with the protecting cover over them however so the factory covers needed to be modified to fit back on. This left things looking pretty weird so I decided to wrap the factory covers with speaker grill fabric. It turned out pretty well in the end, I actually think it looks better than the cheap plastic factory ones.

http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...-bracket-1.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...-bracket-2.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...test-fit-1.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...test-fit-2.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...ped-bottom.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...rapped-top.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...nstalled-2.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...nstalled-2.jpg

Next step, install the capacitors and then mount and wire the amps. Getting closer and closer to testing/calibrating day! I'm hoping to be finished up by the end of spring break :driving:

Well, it's done! Impressions - incredible.

The JBL MS8 would be a bargain at twice the price. Not only does it provide a completely clean signal from the factory Navi head unit, but what it does for the staging and vehicle space correction truly has to be heard to be believed. If you were to sit in the car with your eyes closed and listen to the music, you would be blown away by how well the center speaker conveys a sense of space and accurately places the musicians and instruments. Only there is no center speaker. Turning the logic 7/processing on the MS8 off then on again is a revelation. With it off, you have what sounds like a clean, good set of speakers playing music in a car, it sound like most better car audio systems I have heard. With it on, it sounds like you are at a live performance. There is no sense that the sound is coming from any specific speaker, rather it is coming from exactly where you would expect if you were at a show.

I could go on about the MS8, but I think that conveys the idea. Without this piece, you truly aren't utilizing the potential of any aftermarket system. (IMO) Also, it's worth noting I haven't even touched the 31 band EQ yet, I'm sure there is even more to be had out of this thing.

I am very happy with how the amp placement worked out in the end. I was worried that the seats may not go back far enough but it's not a problem, at most you lose an inch on the passenger one. (I drive with my seat well forward enough that it's a non-issue on the drivers side). The MS8 and power board mounting location was great too, lots of clearance even with the Nismo brace re-installed.

I have yet to put the car back on the road and do some driving and listening so I can truly gauge how well the sound deadening efforts quiet down the road and exhaust noise, but I can say for sure that there is absolutely no panel rattle/vibration inside or outside the car even with the levels fairly high. In a bold move, I rebuilt the car completely before testing any of the wiring or connections. Everything said and done, I ended up having to swap out one bad cable (iPhone connection) and a bad relay. Everything else worked flawlessly the first time.

This was my biggest undertaking yet out of probably 10 different audio installs in various cars for myself and friends, but it has paid off beautifully. Some pics of the final stages of the build:

Capacitors for Tweeter protection:
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...capacitors.jpg

Installed:
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...-installed.jpg

MS8 fitment with brace reinstalled:
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...ismo-brace.jpg

New WickedCAS corner box installed:
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...nstalled-1.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...nstalled-2.jpg

MS8 controller and various other switches for goodies in armrest:
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...-armrest-1.jpg

Wiring finished up front:
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...wer-wiring.jpg

Grommet sealed up again:
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...met-sealed.jpg

XD400/4 installed:
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...nstalled-1.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...nstalled-2.jpg

HD900/5 Installed:
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...nstalled-1.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/edcon...nstalled-2.jpg

Awesome! Glad everything worked out well......

I really like the tweeter grills covered with speaker mesh. Any concerns with showing dirt / dust and being hard to keep clean?

Thanks! I was happy with them too.
No problems yet of course I just did them. Maintenance should be a non issue too, they pop out in 5 seconds and I could lightly vacuum them.

were you able to fit the rear speakers fine and tune them so they sound good.

Those rear speakers fit perfectly with only minor modification to the mounting point on those panels.

And the MS8 is able to do all things - You don't hear any sound coming from the back, you simply here perfectly placed instruments, vocals, and bass staged right over the dash.