Basttion

There are already some great FOTKI's (what does that stand for anyway?)up here which helped me a lot in getting this thing installed, but something that no one seemed to elaborate on (well that I could find anyway) was the bracket modification. I just kept finding installs that said "with minor bracket modding..." or "I just had to change the bracket a little" or my favourite, "with a few zip cords the unit was insatlled." So, without further nonsense, here's what I did. This took about three to four hours today due to the "discovery" time it took me to realize what I had to do to make this work.


I removed the five bolts holding this black brace in place so I could have room to slide the bracket forward. There are two size 17mm and four T45s--one of which is pretty hard to get to. See pic:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/88983/brace.jpg">

Then I drilled two new holes and slid the whole bracket forward while still using the original forwardmost bracket hole on the top left in the pic. Notice I wrapped the entire surface of the bracket in electrical tape where it touches the Phatbox. I got this from the Phatnoise forum. Several folks reported this eliminated a buzzing sound that came over the speakers after an install without it. And I have no buzzing!!
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/88983/bracket.jpg">

This shows everything back in place. Notice the brace and the bracket are now touching. There is no more room to slide the bracket any further forward. It's a good thing since this is just the perfect distance for the DMS cartridge to line up with the factory CD changer opening in the interior trim.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/88983/bk2gthr.jpg">

These are the pieces left over after the install. Three of the original bracket screws, a clip that fell out (I have no idea where it goes since I still had the original seven in the trim piece), and the original CD changer trim piece that hid the unfinished metal and wires from view while the access door is open when you're changing CDs or DMS cartridges--this trim piece wouldn't fit over the Phatbox, so out it came. I also removed the foam piece that everyone else seems to be removing (the Phatbox cable requires this to be removed).
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/88983/spares.jpg">

And here is the finished install. The DMS cartridge is still kind of hard to get in and out since it's so tall and the Phatbox still sits almost straight up in the bracket. But it's good enough for me.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/88983/fin.jpg">

PITA level: I'd say a 3.5/10. I would say a 2.5, but my driver side back seat doesn't "seat" evenly with the passenger side back seat now, and that just bugs the **** out of me. I may try to correct it later, but not tonight.

Please feel free to ask me to elaborate if this isn't clear. And hopefully it will help someone else shave an hour or so off their install time.

See ya,
Mark

Blue TooTh Fan

about the "little modification" needed.

shifTT

good stuff

meem

to just velcro it to the carpet behind my seat.

Basttion

btdt?? I wanted a cleaner install, so I went this way.

meem

proved easier for day-to-day access (i often add and remove the cartridge) and looked better.

TwisTTer

mine will stay in the trunk though.
I can't imagine anywhere else I could put it in the roadster.

meem

velcro holds it very well. never had it come loose.

Basttion

I thought it fit nicely on the shelf behind the seat in a roadster?

Basttion

Ahh, well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I guess. Like my new sig for example: I LOVE it.