Q for those of you running subwoofers in old iron...

[PT Goat]

I'm up to the stereo install stage in my PT build, and I'm getting a lot of conflicting advice on my sub. I've got a Jl Audio 10W0 in a sealed box powered by a 120x1 RMS channel of a 5-channel apline amp. I've got tons of dynamat from under the dash up over the package tray, including the doors and rear panels. The trunk, however, is designed to look as stock as possible, so dynamatting back there (except maybe under the package tray) is out of the question.

First question is what are the chances of me getting decent sound out of my single 10", with the aforementioned power, in a restored trunk? I know I've got tons of things to rattle, and I don't have an atmosphere for good sound.

Second, for those of you running a sub or subs in the trunks of these older cars, did you vent the trunk into the passenger compartment, or leave it sealed? Getting conflicting advice on that as well.

Thanks for the help - I'm getting plenty of advice from car audio gurus, but none with experience in classic cars, a different animal for sure.

[gmachinz]

With a sealed box, there's no point venting into the cabin-save that for ported enclosures. Second, you will have license plate rattle noise, and you may/may not start blowing tail lightbulbs out from the bass. My advice on older stuff is to build a false floor vs. a box and secure it to the floor-this way, you give up less trunk room and you can feel the response a lot better when it travels through the car itself rather than in a seperate space, ie trunk. -Jabin

[TonyL]

you'll have distortion problems with the 6x9s in the package tray. the subwoofer will be pushing those around. they make nice drop in Isolator boxes for that. otherwise you should be fine. If dynamat is out of the question, go for rubberised undercoating.

[PT Goat]

Actually I ditched the idea of the 6x9s - I'm just doing a front stage and 10" sub. I have done both undercoating (whole car) and dynamat in the passenger compartment (lots). At this point, I think I'll just have to try it out. I can always vent it into the passenger compartment later, if I need to.