Chithead's 2003 Corvette Z06

[chithead]

Well. Hello there. Welcome back, for another edition of... chithead starts a build log. You're all familiar with the show... so let's get started.

Here we have our latest acquisition - a 2003 Corvette Z06:

She's in pretty good shape for the year. My first Corvette, and am already in love with this black beauty. Definitely way more than I was expecting the car to be in every category. Let's take a look at some of the areas that need attention.

Doors:

Pillars:

Radio:

Trunk area:

And the empty passage from the trunk into the cabin area:

 

[chithead]

Did a little digging, and have discovered a few things. Such as this peeking out from the center console behind the passenger seat:

Pulled both wires out, looks to be a 2-channel RCA and possibly a remote turn-on wire - perhaps for a mono amp and subwoofer that are not in there anymore:

Found an awesome pattern to build a divider wall that helps reduce in cabin noise from the trunk area, might use this to start the subwoofer enclosure/amp rack:

She cleans up rather nice:

 

[chithead]

Did the first audio mod today: From, no antenna:

To... antenna!

Dash kit arrived today as well:

Requires relocating the temperature controls, and removing or cutting a bracket in the dash. At least they give you this nifty template for drilling:

Also scored a, "used" dash pad that looks to be brand new from a place I'm ordering parts on eBay:

My first time using a dash pad. Thought what the heck, price was good, and couldn't hurt to protect the dash.

 

[chithead]

Playing around with some speaker placement. Hoping to use a set of 8" subs for midbass, and single 12" sub for bass, or maybe use two in IB configuration by modifying that divider wall template just a bit? Definitely open to ideas/opinions regarding this:

Thinking a 8" behind each seat, over near where the factory 5.25" speakers are mounted:

An IDMAX 12 fits between the trunk cubby and the ledge rather easily:

This is where we're at so far. I like the idea of a ported enclosure with a single subwoofer for ease of installation and enjoyment, but have also considered doing a clamshell IB wall to fit two IDMAX 12's in the same middle spot there.

Head unit will most likely be the Alpine ILX-407 that I purchased for the Mustang before it went bye-bye. Pretty good source unit with everything I like to have on a daily basis. Plus, capability to utilize a front and rear camera.

Everything else is a toss up at this point.

 

[chithead]

Messed around with them in the rear, "cubbies" too:

Plenty of room in the two sides for the 8" subs:

And gobs of room in the middle for a single sealed IDMAX 12:

 

[SublimeZ]

I know for a fact these cars can sound good...

 

[Notloudenuf]

I feel somewhat responsible for this car. You have 2 months.

 

[chithead]

A little progress today. The Alpine iDA-X305S that was installed in the car, is out. And an iLX-407 with dash kit is in.

How it was starting out this morning:

Wasn't too terribly difficult removing the console, and nothing broke! Well, nothing I removed broke. Anywho, trim pieces removed:

Yucky chucky... oh and guess where the other end of that RCA cable went? Not to the head unit:

iDA-X305S removed, found where the remote turn on wire went:

Also found an ai-net connector and pink w/black stripe mute wire going to the driver side, guess maybe they had a Parrot Bluetooth at one point? Not in there now though:

And also some good news, had already assumed there was some sort of adapter to make the radio work in the car, and here it is:

Everything out! Now we MODIFY!!!

 

[chithead]

A lot of double din installs I've watched - they cut the brackets in the dash. I didn't like this. Not one bit. Pet peeve maybe? I dunno. Knew right from the beginning I'd be taking the harder path. Getting ready, to drill some rivets:

Two done, six more to go:

Took a break right here though to do the HVAC controls relocation using the supplied template:

Wasn't too difficult. Getting all eight rivets out though, was a pain in the boo-hiney. But it's done:

HVAC controls relocated perfectly:

Also took this opportunity to install a new key trim piece:

See the broken pieces:

And new one all clicked onto the switch:

 

[chithead]

The double din trim piece next to the OEM trim:

So the brackets in the kit work. But alignment, wasn't so great with these. Had to make two modifications on each one to get a much nicer fit into the new trim opening. Just clip here, and drill here:

Connected and modified the Axxess harness more to my particular liking:

And here is everything put back together:

And... it was at this point I realized, the antenna was connected, USB cable plugged in, fuel door switch, traction control, airbag light, all hooked back up. Except the radio harness. Forgot to plug in the frickin' radio harness. Oh well. Didn't take long to take everything back apart, plug it in, and here we go:

 

[Notloudenuf]

Did I train you? I've done several things like that on different projects.

 

[SublimeZ]

Nice work, looks great!

 

[chithead]

Replaced sparks plugs yesterday. Already did the wires after one fell apart. As I changed them, three disintegrated in my hands. Pretty sure they were the original wires. The plugs didn't look to be much newer:

I mean, GM platinum plugs look to have thinner electrodes, but these were almost wore down to the size of a needle:

All buttoned up and cleaned a little:

Or... so I thought. Took her for a spin, and there was definitely more power, but a hesitation and misfire now. Uh oh. Immediately remembered when tightening the furthest back plug on the driver's side, I heard a crack. Thought maybe the porcelain had cracked? At least it was worth checking out. Perhaps the crack was causing a jump from the plug over to the block? Yeah, was a bit more than that:

Replaced that plug, and geez Louise does this car haul the mail now. It's ridiculous what just plugs and wires did.

 

[Notloudenuf]

See if they will warranty that plug

 

[reithi]

Following.......great start.

 

[ttocs]

looks like it could be fun, gotta love ID

 

[chithead]

Started on some tweeter mounts. Look like crap so far, but just playing around with some ideas. Cut about an inch off of some PVC caps, and JB Welded the rear mount securement brackets for some Image Dynamics XS28 tweeters on there. They're definitely solid after the JB Weld cured. Should allow for some decent aiming once secured to the brackets I'm pondering on making for the doors:

Also drawing up some plans for a multi-piece baffle that will semi-seal the trunk area from the cabin. Effectively reducing some of the road noise these Z06 cars are known for, but also giving a 13" tall by 28" wide angled baffle for mounting two IB subwoofers. And also offering up room on each side for 1/2 cube enclosures to use for midbasses. Updates on this course of action should be arriving soon.

 

[chithead]

Started putting together a rough template of this multi-piece baffle idea. First step, cut to 17 inches:

Steps two through thirty-four were a bit more complicated:

And now after all that, have to calculate a 200 and 7/8" radius for the top. How in the... well. Easiest way I could come up with to do it, measure out 200 and 7/8 inches:

Got that top arc:

Transferred that final top measurement over to some super thin plywood to mess around with:

Annnddddddd... Chit. It don't fit:

Using the bottom part of this baffle though:

Determines we need to make some adjustments to the extended portion:

Will work on that more tomorrow. Getting dark out for tonight. But so far, I think this will work out.

 

[Salami]

Chit why not just make a cardboard template? Get some scissors and a pencil and go to town.

 

[chithead]

Chit why not just make a cardboard template? Get some scissors and a pencil and go to town.