Yaris HB: A-Pillars Project

[TOLMACH]

Inspired by Derick and his mega-project ))

Yaris HB owners are blessed by huge A-pillars.. I am trying to have midranges and tweeters installed as first phase of my audio project.

Comments and suggestions highly welcome in this thread

Thanks

Pavel

[sqcomp]

Hey Derick,

Since you were named as the inspiration for his work, should I stay mute on this? There are some questions that I have on this before TOLMACH goes any farther...

Screw it, TOLMACH, thow us pics of the mids and tweets. Your baffles are WAY too big as I see the picture. Your pillars are going to be massive. We need to shrink this down a little. I'm betting the we can shrink the baffles down in thickness AND put the mounting of the speakers closer into the pillars.

http://i720.photobucket.com/albums/ww203/sqcomp/2007%20Toyota%20Yaris%20S/CIMG1738.jpg
^Think about different angles on the drivers.

http://i720.photobucket.com/albums/ww203/sqcomp/2007%20Toyota%20Yaris%20S/CIMG1757.jpg
^Keeping the tweeter and the midrange as close as possible reduces phasing issues.

http://i720.photobucket.com/albums/ww203/sqcomp/2007%20Toyota%20Yaris%20S/CIMG2068.jpg


Why was your tweeter separated so much from the midrange?

I wish we could have seen this BEFORE you cut the holes...

There are some other suggestions I have seeing as I've done this a few times myself...

[sqcomp]

All that being said...I'm doing another set of pillars over the next month. You could watch the progress on them if you'd like.

[yarisugi]

wow that looks awesome - like it came from factory!
how'd you get the fiberglass molded so smoothly?
Lots and lots of sanding I suppose?

[TOLMACH]

SQCOMP, Thanks for comments

I could easily make the pods less massive, however, in this case they would be poited towards each other which is not good (IMO of course). I want these guys be pointed at least somewhat towards the front listeners. Also, even for a three inch midrange some free space around would be nice. Anyways, my pods will not be very massive- should look ok.

Mids are "older brothers" of Derick's hertz hl70- Voce 3.0 (cheap ones, not thesis ones) - inexpensive but nice sounding speakers.

Tweeters will be pointing each .. I've got a couple tweeters for this project that have decent off - axis response.

[sqcomp]

I'm going to be a little pointed with my next comment, don't take offense...

What in the word does the size of the pods or the baffle have to do with aiming? I will agree with the idea that some space is nice...that being said as long as you've separated the front wave from the back wave, the Yaris's pillars "vent" down into the dash.

My comment was really based on the baffle I see in you picture. It looks uber thick. What is the thickness of the baffle?

Notice my pillars? I was able to win the Western Canadian IASCA finals with these. Look how they're aimed. Also note I have time alignment on the source and in my processor.

@Yarisugi -

Yes, lots of sanding! high build primer, texture coat, and paint...

[vten]

nice built Sqcomp. what drivers are those ?? any chance to make me those pillars ? :biggrin:

[TOLMACH]

ready for epoxy resin

[sqcomp]

Resin that $hit! Woot!

PM to you vten

[Emerge]

Tolmach could you post links to the speakers you are using?

[TOLMACH]

Tolmach could you post links to the speakers you are using?

Midranges
http://www.audison.eu/index_main.php?Section=VOCEAV30

Tweeters are sort of rare - something like 500 pairs were made by a Russia - based company. Inexpensive by decent tweeters. Some (far not all) of EOS stuff is sold in the USA under the RAMM AUDIO brand

http://photo.qip.ru/users/tolmach/95112742/124385896/

http://www.rammaudio.com/products-0.htm

I not sure this will help .. you can use lots of other speakers as well.

[derickveliz2]

Where the heck I was!
Irene was visiting me over the weekend

Yeah, Sqcomp is right, I know it's "too late" but...
you need to make all what's possible to keep your speakers as far from each other, he told me that before and I did. If I had to do them all over again I would try even harder. Now I understand a lot of things people talk about, advice or recommend me.

http://i634.photobucket.com/albums/uu61/derickveliz/A-Pillars%20v2/b9fd291e.jpg

http://i634.photobucket.com/albums/uu61/derickveliz/A-Pillars%20v2/d87c2345.jpg

http://i634.photobucket.com/albums/uu61/derickveliz/A-Pillars%20v2/c87e8f40.jpg

D.

[vten]

nice pods !! makes me wanna come back to the car audio world , but the time is changed :frown:

found this on the net ...

[sqcomp]

^That isn't a yaris though...

Still, There are many little tweaks that can be done.

Hey Vten, what source are you using?

[vten]

Its a vw ... Got the pics from diyma :)

[sqcomp]

What source are you using?

[TickleTimeTim]

those are all so sexy. keep up the good work...and sell some too.

[sqcomp]

I'd sell mine but they're made for specific speakers...

[vten]

maybe sell the pods with the speakers ? :biggrin:

ill be using a stock headunit with the mtx Re-q5 and 3 old school planet audio P502 amps , AVI sound 12" subwoofer ( forgot the model # ...it's the one with the yellow cone ) ...as for the speakers I have the beyma sets (1" tweets, 3" mids) , or vifa xt's or maybe pioneer ts-d1702c

Im not getting back into the crazy old day with car audio ...lol .

at some point, I had scan speaks revelators sets , seas xl , seas lotus , 3 tru tech c7's amps , 2 audison HR100 amps , mcintosh mc4000m and a bunch of others I couldn't even remember ..lol

[TOLMACH]

Where the heck I was!
Irene was visiting me over the weekend

Yeah, Sqcomp is right, I know it's "too late" but...
you need to make all what's possible to keep your speakers as far from each other, he told me that before and I did. If I had to do them all over again I would try even harder. Now I understand a lot of things people talk about, advice or recommend me.



D.

Thanks, Derick

I am afraid everything is not that simple (keep'em as far as possible) ((

[TOLMACH]

nice pods !! makes me wanna come back to the car audio world , but the time is changed :frown:

found this on the net ...

thanks for the pic .. these are beautiful pods.. and nice thesis speakers..

I am wondering what these guys used to cover the pods - is it vynil or cloth?

[TOLMACH]

maybe sell the pods with the speakers ? :biggrin:

ill be using a stock headunit with the mtx Re-q5 and 3 old school planet audio P502 amps , AVI sound 12" subwoofer ( forgot the model # ...it's the one with the yellow cone ) ...as for the speakers I have the beyma sets (1" tweets, 3" mids) , or vifa xt's or maybe pioneer ts-d1702c

Im not getting back into the crazy old day with car audio ...lol .

at some point, I had scan speaks revelators sets , seas xl , seas lotus , 3 tru tech c7's amps , 2 audison HR100 amps , mcintosh mc4000m and a bunch of others I couldn't even remember ..lol

My goal is simply to get a better sound in my car without spending lots of cash

I had a bunch of very nice components in my cars in the past and at one moment discovered that I do not need to have top level components to enjoy music.. that does not mean though I will tolerate bad stuff in my car

Pls keep us updated of your current project

[sqcomp]

@vten -

I could sell the loaded pods with techflexed and heatshrink on the cable leads...The thing is, MAN! Those are some 'spensive speakers.

I mean really, think about the cost to do pillars like that AND to replace the speakers at cost...that's somewhere near $1K, and that's not making profit considering the time put into the pillar construction.

figuring out my replacement costs, for the speakers and pillars, $800 is what those pillars would cost. That does NOT take into consideration for labor at all. That's simply the cost of the speakers and pillars.

[derickveliz2]

Another thing to consider looking at the VW a-pillars covered with speaker cloth, is that these it's our first a-pillar build, Sqcomp and me have never done it before.!

(o:

D.

[sqcomp]

I'm smiling right now. I'd like to take a look under the VW's cloth on the pillars. Betcha it's not as smooth as we'd like to think.

I'll try to get some pics of Keith McCumber's pillars from his Sentra up in BC. Suede stiched pillars that house L3SEs and L1 R2s.

Be ready for another set of pillars coming soon...tweeterless...those are going somewhere else for good reason.

[TOLMACH]

Another thing to consider looking at the VW a-pillars covered with speaker cloth, is that these it's our first a-pillar build, Sqcomp and me have never done it before.!

(o:

D.

Why so negative?

Those are awesome pillars based on what I saw over the past five years. Built quality is amazing... even better they managed to incorporate them so organically into the interior.

[derickveliz2]

Why so negative?

Those are awesome pillars based on what I saw over the past five years. Built quality is amazing... even better they managed to incorporate them so organically into the interior.


No, I didn't mean to sound negative, all the way around for Yaris owners that DIY that share experiences and knowledge in Yaris World.

I remember when you told me how should I glass my a-pillars.

All good.

D.

[TOLMACH]

No, I didn't mean to sound negative, all the way around for Yaris owners that DIY that share experiences and knowledge in Yaris World.

I remember when you told me how should I glass my a-pillars.

All good.

D.

My apologies to you, please. Wanted to quote SQCOMP on his post re finish qulity under the cloth (my bad).

Sorry about that.. and please, continue inforing us on your project with all pics and comments (learning a lot from your thread) ))

[TOLMACH]

pillars with the first layer of fabric

I forgot to buy measuring cup which resulted in incorrect amont of resin mixed with hardener.. as a result it took 3 days to cure instead of 7 hours.. i was still lucky it cured.. now bought a measuring cup - second layer should cure fast

[derickveliz2]

Looking good!

D.

[TOLMACH]

Thanks Derick!

Update: freshly painted (still wet).. Clear coat to come

[TOLMACH]

finished pillars.. had to repaint because it took me quite long to understand how to spray paint correctly

[derickveliz2]

Looking good!

D.

[TOLMACH]

Thanks, Derick!

Finished product below ))

[vten]

Good job Tolmach !!

now sell those pillars to me and start to build the second one ..lol

[deathwisher]

looks nice. Plans to paint some more of the interior to match the colour of the pillars?

[TOLMACH]

looks nice. Plans to paint some more of the interior to match the colour of the pillars?

Thanks

I was thinking t do so.. at least podiums for mid woofers will be in the same colour (next step of the project will be to build mid woofers pods)

[TOLMACH]

Good job Tolmach !!

now sell those pillars to me and start to build the second one ..lol

Thanks

I spent too much time with these pods to sell.. anyways will not sell cheap ))

You can also do the same yourself - it is time consuming but not extremely difficult

[mazilla]

Great job!


All these pillar projects are making it hard for me to pass up giving it a shot. Maybe I'll go to the local wrecker and pick up a practice set....

[TOLMACH]

Great job!


All these pillar projects are making it hard for me to pass up giving it a shot. Maybe I'll go to the local wrecker and pick up a practice set....

Thanks

I am wondering how much would it cost to order a pair from Toyota dealer..

[packetrace]

have you started mid woofer pods ? :O

[sqcomp]

Having just received a pair of A-pillars new...look to spend around $160 landed cost for A-pillars.

Haing received new pillars, look for another set coming from me as well.

[vten]

Is that $160 just for both original pillars or with the custom to order pods included?

[TOLMACH]

Having just received a pair of A-pillars new...look to spend around $160 landed cost for A-pillars.

Haing received new pillars, look for another set coming from me as well.

thanks for letting me know

[TOLMACH]

Is that $160 just for both original pillars or with the custom to order pods included?

kinda suspect the price is for new oem A-pillars

[packetrace]

how to you make the fabric hold on the back of the a-pillars ?

[sqcomp]

finishing staples

and yes the $160 price is for virgin OEM pillars. The nice thing is that they come with new rotating pop clips. I can take pics if you would like and include part numbers.

[TOLMACH]

how to you make the fabric hold on the back of the a-pillars ?

I used a needle and threads - bought a sewing kit for 5 bucks

once the epoxy resin is applied - it holds nice and strong by itself

[packetrace]

some one have picture of the needle holding the fabric ? I'm visual..:(