sounds hella good for ONE 12

Got a few updates for ya

Getting the windows tinted lit the fire under me to hurry up and get some rims. I had planned on ordering online but after searching for 3 weeks and coming up empty due to the rims I wanted either being discontinued or on backorder I decided to hit the local tire shops. That was quite the experience. The first place I hit up was right down the street from my house, they closed at the same time I get off work, 5pm, but the sales manager said he'd stay late for me so we could make this happen. Sweet! I quickly decided I wasn't going to give them my business when he was telling me I could fit 22 x 9 wheels with a +15 offset with no problem...but before that happened I did get a quote from him for the wheels and tires I wanted, grand total $1660.

Then I went to the place I got my first set of wheels (for my Civic back in the day) and picked out some sick 3 piece forged wheels and asked for a quote....the dude told me $1900 out the door. Before he finished saying "door" I had my credit card on the counter and pen in hand ready to sign the slip.....but he said he needed to call the distributor to check availability and would call me to let me know.....after 3 days go by I called him back and he still hadn't gotten my answer, I gave him two more days to get my answer and call me back and he never called me so I called him only to find out "they're on backorder". That'* a bunch of bs cause they aren't a stock item, they're custom made for every order/application. So they didn't get my business.

Then I went to the place I got my most recent set of tires from, asked about the same rims as above, was quoted $1650 out the door but again needed to wait for availability and their phone call with status. Waited a couple days and called them and was told they weren't available. They don't get my business either......this shop and the previous one seems they were just giving crazy low prices to get me to come back because the rims I picked out were easily 4k just for the rims only. I figured they would both tell me either the rim wans't available or was on backorder when they actually looked in to it and realized they quoted me the cost of 1 1/2 rims, haha.

Finally I went to a shop I had never been to before in the heart of the ghetto, got a quote on the same rims I asked about at the first shop, got quoted $300 cheaper with better tires and locks thrown in free, and the dude had excellent customer service. He didn't try to talk me in to anything, didn't blow smoke up my watoosie and didn't make me feel like I was bothering him, he went out of his way to accommodate me and in doing so earned my business. He had to order my rims and tires and had them in his possession the very next day and they were in my possession the day after that....here they are

20x8.5 Versante 223'*, 35 offset, with Goodyear Eagle GT tires






After seeing the rims on there and how nice it was looking, I decided to get the vinyl I needed so I could install my SLP grill. The vinyl was to apply behind the grill so the white from the bumper didn't shine through.



After driving around for a couple weeks on the new rims and tires I noticed I had a little rubbing issue in the back....it was only when going up or down steep driveways or on some decent dips in the road but I didn't want to damage my tires and/or fenders so I decided to roll the fenders to fix that. I took my car to Driven Authority tonight after work and they worked their magic, got my fender lip to roll all the way flush against the fender so now clearance is a non-issue! Even with such and extreme roll, I have no damage to the paint at all and my fenders have no buckles in them at all, can't even tell they're rolled unless you look up under the fender.




Next on the to do list is



Then suspension time

KYB AGX struts
Gen 2 SSC springs - already have
GMPP front/rear sway bars w/poly end links
Shorter dog bones
Poly bushings for dog bones
Anti-pogo washers for struts

Then the cherry will go on top by way of adding the Pace car spoiler and SLP lower grill and I'll be all done with it!

It looks great. Loving everything about it

Not sure if I mentioned it here but I've had some 11-ply birch cut to size for a custom box build for my Sundown Audio SA-12'* for about a year and a half now. I haven't been in a rush to get the box built cause the prefab I have them in currently sounds pretty damn good, I also have a DD 2512 in a custom box I built that sounds pretty good so the birch box just got put on the back burner. Well, for some reason I got the urge to get the thing built. I started on it today and it'* about halfway done, hopefully I'll get it finished up and playing tomorrow. Getting excited to see how it sounds.

Well, didn't get it playing the next day but it'* finally done. Here'* some pics of the build progress and the final product













After getting the box built and playing I decided I needed to invest in a tool that would allow me to very accurately set my gains so I could be sure i'm not sending a clipped or distorted signal to my speakers. After considering my options I ended up picking up an SMD/D'Amore Engineering DD-1.



This is a must have for anybody who runs an amplified stereo system or installs them. This thing basically allows you to set your gain on your amplifiers to match the level of the source units output, ensuring the most efficient setting for your amp and no distortion or clipping. It also allows you to find the point at which you head unit clips or distorts so you know not to go above that point. The process is very simple and takes just a few minutes.

After meeting up with one of the brains behind the product, Steve Meade, Saturday afternoon, I came home with my DD-1 and got my gains set but still had to tune the amp. I wasn't able to get that done right then cause it was late so I finished it up today. Here are the results:

http://youtu.be/D59NZ1x7EuA
http://youtu.be/lFr7ky5DTZY

Man you did it right. I'm needin a cig and a washcloth bout now.

great job.

LoL...Thanks for the kind words my friend, I appreciate it.