I’ve talked enough here about audio in the Mog, now the project has started!
This is a short update, I’m taking photos as I go and will post a filly illustrated “How to Fit Audio in a 2009 Morgan” when it is all finished!
What am I fitting?
1. An Alpine CDE 136BT head unit with CD, DAB/FM Radio, full iPod connectivity, Bluetooth and hands free operation and remote control.
2. Pioneer 10cm dual cone speakers
3. The standard Morgan external FM aerial, all £8.00 worth plus DAB powered splitter.
The parts, including Dynamat (£150 for 36 sq feet…!!), will have cost me about £400.
So, what have I done so far? 1. Stripped out the carpet from the passenger footwell where I found all the audio wires neatly stuffed into the nearside speaker fitting. That is a big win as I wasn't looking forward to having to do all the wiring.
2. Fitted Dynamat Sound Insulation, so the Audio doesn’t have so much competition from the engine. There is an added heat reduction benefit. I’ve covered the floor, transmission tunnel, Bulkhead including above the passengers legs and the outside skin of the footwell. I've also replaced all the non stainless screws with stainless.
This is a fun job…if you like contorting yourself deep into places no head normally goes.
3. Built a proper wooden speaker box rather than use the thin sheet of aluminium Morgan provide as a speaker mount. The box is screwed to the ash frames and glued together. I've lined it with Dynamat and filled with acoustic fibre, so it has the best possible chance of providing uncoloured sound and reasonable bass. The speaker is a 10cm Pioneer unit, fitting a larger unit would mean cutting the standard mount and space is very limited.
4. Re-fitted the carpets and speaker grill. The speaker looks inconspicius!
5. Lined the inside of the passenger door with Dynamat.
What’s next? 1. Repeat the above for the driver’s side…even less space, so I’ve taken the steering wheel off.
2. Fit the aerial, that means drilling holes in Aldermog (gulp)
3. Fit the radio and test.
4. Remove the seats and fit Dynamat on the floor and on the rear bulkhead behind the seats, remembering to leave access to the battery!
5. Line the parcel shelf, wheel arches and upper rear bulkhead.
6. Make a proper storage box under the parcel shelf as per DW's guide.
7. Re-fit the seats with hard wood spacers to raise them by 15mm.
I suspect I’ll need half a second box of Dynamat, so that makes about 27 sq feet of Dynamat and about 25kg weight. But I’ve got someone lined up to buy the unused material.
Results, so far. 1. The passenger side was noticeably cooler on over the “TOTH Weekend” and there is less noise coming through into the area.
2. The passenger door shuts with a “quality car thud”
Conclusion.Fitting sound insulation is worth it, even without fitting a radio!!
More next Sunday!
