my interior and audio (lost of pics)

Alex · Postby **Alex** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 5:57 am

my checkerplate is still going strong

also planning on doing a new install that will hopefully look like this

marcusus · Postby **marcusus** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 2:10 pm

Where'd you dig up this install anyway?

Alex · Postby **Alex** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 2:38 pm

marcusus wrote:Where'd you dig up this install anyway?

I just have way too much time on my hands LOL
work this morning was boring so I started searching the web

it's an install that was on the Miata.net forums in june last year not sure if it's still there now
instead of cutting into the parcel shelf there is a removeable piece of metal there that once removed opens up alot of free space

since it doesn't involve any permanent deformation of the parcel tray unlike the hakuna type installs you don't need to cut anything

I know someone is going to say this reduces the rigidity of the car but really I don't see how it would as it looks really thin and either way I have a rollbar

marcusus · Postby **marcusus** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 4:34 pm

I'm guessing they remove this piece of metal:

I wonder if that's a good idea? It actually looks rather chunky...

Alex · Postby **Alex** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 8:56 pm

that's why I haven't done it yet

so forumites out there what's the verdict

is this a structual member or just a cover to protect the fuel tank??
if it is a structual member would it make a large difference to the car if it was removed and the car had a BD rollbar fitted???

shelleriffic · Postby **shelleriffic** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 4:27 pm

SM wrote:my checkerplate is still going strong

Really? What stuff did you use? I had purchased the roll stuff from Autobarn, cut it all out, but it just died after a few months. Kinda gave up after that.

marcusus · Postby **marcusus** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 8:06 pm

If you're really keen SM, maybe just take the plate thingy up anyway? It looks like it's only bolted on, so a bit of effort with a ratchet set and you'll find out whether it does any bracing or not.

ZenArcher · Postby **ZenArcher** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 7:55 pm

I had a look at this plate on the weekend as I am now looking at a similar installation as pictured by SM's post. I just upgraded to NB8B seats and I miss the head rest speakers.

Anyway, taking the plate off is easy so an installation like this shouldn't be too hard. I'm certainly no expert, but I failed to see how this plate could be a structural piece as after I took the cover off, the plate wasn't that stiff and could easily be twisted or bent.

Before I put it back on though, as an initial experiment, I filled up that entire cavity with a light weight soundproofing material. The cavity is quite large and is U-shaped with a cavity behind both the passenger and driver that joins in the middle under the plate. BTW, the two side cavity areas go straight into the boot. Anyway, after filling up this whole area and going for a drive, I now can't hear my exhaust at all from inside the car with the windows up. This makes sense though as I read in an old Miata Magazine that the boot actually resonates the sound of the muffler because it has no sound proofing and the sound goes straight into the cabin. The sound proofing I put in obviously stopped this. But I think that after I install my rear speakers, if I use the idea of removing the panel, this will also stop the exhaust noise as well.

Alex · Postby **Alex** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:44 pm

sounds great, I haven't tried removing it yet since i'm back at uni and now I have some subs for the car to test out as well

but come July i'll be looking into it again

let us know how it all goes