Started My Rav4 Upgrades!

[RAV-44]

I`ve had my new Rav4 a week now & today I started my upgrades.

My first mod was to remove the rear door opening bracket & fix in the 25mm longer version. I actually bought this on the day I ordered the Rav, there service department had one in stock: part no 68650-42040 cost £62.50

While the rear door panel was off I removed the plastic liner & fixed Wickes Hi Flashing across the door skin. This is a lot cheaper than Dyamat or equivalent. I will instal my Infinity Speakers next & do the insulation while those panels are off as well.

I`ll let you know how it goes

[sjrainsford]

You will notice quite a difference with the 'Wickes special sound proofing'! I've done all of the boot, half the floor and all the doors with it.

They would benefit more from foam style insulation though in certain areas, because there are a few large cavities in the boot like behind the wheel arches and the rear door itself. These could do with packing to decrease reverberation.

Are you replacing the existing Speakers? Or fitting new ones in different places? I was thinking of moving my rear Speakers out of the boot and into the rear doors. But haven't yet found a suitable pod to mount them in so they leave enough room for the window to open.

[RAV-44]

Hi Stuart

I am replacing all the Speakers with Infinity Kappa 652.5i Found them on e-bay.

The front Speakers may have to be installed with spacers, some of the people that have done this mod used the original speaker mount by cutting out all the existing cone etc. but you can buy the spacers.

The rear Speakers do not require spacers & I shall install those first as it`s slightly easy than the fronts.

I would like to keep the Head Unit as it is reported that it is quite a good one?

When I`ve completed the 4 speaker/door insulation. I shall then do the floor etc.

& then decide if the sound system is good enough.

[Sp33dy1969]

hmmm interesting....

How much is the wickes stuff compared to the real thing? does it make much difference? and any photo's of where you have stuck it :-)

[RAV-44]

Wickes do various size rolls. I bought the 220mm wide roll x 10meters long for £16.99. So far I`ve used 3 strips of 1metre long for the rear door leaving 7metres. Apparently it takes about 25sq ft for 5 doors. Dynamat extreme is £119.00 for 36sq ft (9 Sheets 18" x 32") so this can work out expensive if doing the whole car.

http://www.chimchim.net/rav4/main/modsmain.htm

Plenty of photo`s & info hear click on the stereo how to link & follow it down to the door/speaker mods. Yes it does make a difference, flick an empty can with your finger nail then hold the can in your hand & flick it again thats the sort of difference you would expect in your car.

[Uncle Bob]

Another little mod for you...

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.p...ing++indicators

[SilverWolf]

Did mine a couple of weeks back (ordered them off eBay for £16) it only took a minute per side. :D

Soooo much nicer!!

[RAV-44]

Got to get me some of those.

[ulysse]

I had big plans to mod when I got my RAV 4, I did a few little bits then the wife ran out!

[RAV-44]

This weekend I`m taking out one of the speaker enclosures so as to make speaker adaptors. Halfords & other car audio specialists do not stock them & can`t find a supplier. This makes the mod a little difficult.

I am an engineer by trade & I`m going to roll 4 speaker tubes using 3mm aluminium. I will then weld 4 lugs equally spaced on one end for the speaker & 3 lugs the other to match the door spacings. The tube will then have the Wickes high tech flashing wrapped around for deadening.

Give me a week & I`ll keep you posted.

[Uncle Bob]

This weekend I`m taking out one of the speaker enclosures so as to make speaker adaptors. Halfords & other car audio specialists do not stock them & can`t find a supplier. This makes the mod a little difficult.

I am an engineer by trade & I`m going to roll 4 speaker tubes using 3mm aluminium. I will then weld 4 lugs equally spaced on one end for the speaker & 3 lugs the other to match the door spacings. The tube will then have the Wickes high tech flashing wrapped around for deadening.

Give me a week & I`ll keep you posted.

←

If you find time ,can you take a few photo's of the job in progress .

[RAV-44]

If you find time ,can you take a few photo's of the job in progress .

←

Yes I`ll do some photo`s to show progress.

[RAV-44]

Well I`ve been at it all day!

Putting the Speakers in the car what do you think I ment?

I have installed all 4 Speakers & the good news is I used the original speaker housings, I just cut out all the old original speaker assy. This left a perfect adaptor/housing for my Infinity`s . Just dropped in the Infinity`s & drilled 4 x 4.2mm holes to match the spacings & nut & bolted together.

I cut the original plastic speaker connector off & connected female joining sleeves then connected these to the cross over units which I then velcroed to the inside door skin. I had time to fix the Wickes Hi Tech Flashing to the 2 front doors & replace the inside door trims. Still got the rears to finish with the sound deadening.

Now the sound I`m getting can not be compared to the original Rav Speakers. It is just jaw dropping the base is there because of sealing up the doors (acts like a speaker enclousre) the tweeters in the Infinity`s can be turned through 360 degrees to face any direction (I have them pointed up at the driver/passenger)

My wife & kids were well impressed. It will be even better when the rears are finished.

I don`t think a new Head Unit is needed to drive these speakers & it does a very good job at the moment.

If you want to do an upgrade for your RAV this is the one to do (after the rear door bracket of course)

I have taken pictures but don`t know how to upload them if I`m allowed at all, but I will be becoming a Gold Member soon to help pay for the Twin St/St Exhaust

[sjrainsford]

Hi mate.

If you go to www.photobucket.com you can upload your pictures there. You can also organise them into albums for your own benefit. Then, if you look at the pictures once uploaded they have links below them for you to just copy and paste into your forum messages. Then they'll appear in the message!!

[RAV-44]

Thanx for that sjrainsford I`ll give it a try.

[RAV-44]

Well I`ve finished the rear doors (sound deadening) all the inside trim is back & the system sounds awesome! You do not need a sub unit with the doors sealed there is plenty of base if you need it, just adjust the base/treble on the stock H/Unit. I will now sound deaden the rear floor panel & finish off the area around the 4 seats. It`s a very quite ride now.

I`ve posted some pics here

http://www.rav4world.com/

Look at my album XT4 Tinted

A mod worth doing

Regards