Thought I'd post this and hopefully give someone else some ideas. I took the plastic tub out of the area behind the cab, carpeted the entire thing, and installed an 8" (unpowered) Bazzoka tube.
http://elcaminocentral.com/users/70elkyss/Sub3.jpg

I mounted a 250 watt mono amp to the bulhead and sealed the panel in the bed with plumber's putty and 4 extra bolts to hold it down.
http://elcaminocentral.com/users/70elkyss/Bed%20panel1.jpg

I found these great little bolts at Ace Hardware. They are stainless 1/4-20 flat hurricane head bolts that cover the large holes in the panel.
http://elcaminocentral.com/users/70elkyss/Screw1.jpg

I had heard powered Bazooka tubes before and was not too impressed. This one sounds really good though - amazing bass extension for an 8". It's really tight, hard-hitting bass too. :D :D

That's a pretty neat idea. Funny how they built it like that and didn't use it for anything from the factory. I have yet to pull the cover off of mine. Is that framing that runs down the center there original? Is it some sort of reinforcement?

The framing is original. I think it's there to keep the panel from collapsing if you carry something heavy over it.

I haven't tested the panel for water tightness yet - hope it doesn't leak!! :oops:

why did you cut up the bed? :? couldnt you have gone in through the interior?

why did you cut up the bed? :? couldnt you have gone in through the interior? The third gen. was built on a station wagon frame. The plate was used to cover the floor pan where the rear seat's passengers feet would have gone. :cool:

Thanks for covering me 87SS 8) . Obviously, I'm not concerned with absolute originality, but I would never have cut a huge hole in the bed :cry: .

You really do get a lot more room if you take out the plastic box. In addition to the sub, I store a scissor jack, tool kit, flashlight and fire extinguisher, and still have quite a bit of room left. This is my daily driver, so the stereo upgrade and extra storage make a lot of sense for me.

On an 85 you can fit a 12" back there possibly 2. The height on the hole is only 10 1/2 or 11 inches so it either has to face up or down. I put mine down. Widht and depth wise its over 14" of good flat space so there's
really not a problem. The best part is you can't see it with the carpet on. You can also pull it out if you ever decide to sell it. :-(

Thought I'd post this and hopefully give someone else some ideas. I think you did a great job, looks clean. But you know I just have to tease ya a little... :P

(from "The Love Below")
We tapping right into your memory banks (Thanks!)
So flickle the tickle lets see your seat belt fastened
Trunk rattlin’ like two midgets in the back seat wrasling
Speakerbox vibrate the tank, make it sound like aluminum cans in the back.
But I know ya’ll wanted that 808 can you feel that B-A-S-S, bass
But I know ya’ll wanted that 808 can you feel that B-A-S-S, bass

ahhh.. i see. i about had a heart attack when i first saw it! its like when this guy comes into our shop here, and he wanted this breather tube that goes on the sending unit of his truck. it turns out he melted the tube with a torch when he was cutting a piece of the frame off so he could get to the sending unit from the top rather than drop the tank!! how lazy and stupid is that!! :lol:

I've got a 10" Kenwood in a box in my smuggler's compartment in my '84. I would get another one if I didn't want to keep my spare tire. Any other ways to get more than one sub back there without sacrificing too much?

Kris

My thirg gen when I bought it had that same area and all that wasted space,I removed and discarded the plastic box then the entire section of metal under the back wall,The only place I could find a replacement rear seat pan was THE PADDOCK for $225,that hurt!! after welding it in I bolted the cover back into the bed and applied a spray in bedliner to keep that DAMN water out. Now all that wasted space holds my jack,toolbox and speakers. Now what to do with the rusted out rear window channel???

I've got a 10" Kenwood in a box in my smuggler's compartment in my '84. I would get another one if I didn't want to keep my spare tire. Any other ways to get more than one sub back there without sacrificing too much?

Kris

I've got two JL 10's in my '78 in separate boxes. I have the spare mounted in the bed with a 1/2' dia. piece of threaded rod and a wing nut.

I've been eyein' that void as well...thinkin' about the three 12W6 subs and a HiFonics Zeus that are sitting unused in the spare bedroom closet. :mrgreen:

after seeing this and knowing the bed is rusted in mne i went looking and to my surprise there is no smugglers compartment in mine its a 69 ss but i may build my own now thanks for the input

why did you cut up the bed? :? couldnt you have gone in through the interior? The third gen. was built on a station wagon frame. The plate was used to cover the floor pan where the rear seat's passengers feet would have gone. :cool:

(Actualy,It covers the area that the rear seat bolted to,the rear seat pan not rear toe pan) not harpin but keepin it real

I've been thinking of moving the battery into that space--spill-proof Optima, of course.

I am big on systems (heh, the only guy i have seen with 15's in a yugo).
I am considering buying this 87 choo choo in my aerea, but one of the things holdin me back is the lack of sub room. I have not had much time to look at the car-truck, or whatever its classifyd as, (im still new at elkys), But where is this compartment at? And is there any way to fit 8's anywhere else? like behind the seat? Thanks.