Installing Mcintosh Amp in a 308 | FerrariChat

Installing Mcintosh Amp in a 308

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by TURBOQV, Sep 29, 2005.

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  1. TURBOQV

    TURBOQV Formula Junior

    Mar 6, 2003
    838
    NV and Utah
    Hi guys,

    Who here has put in a high end amp in their 308? My Mcintosh draws 5 amps to 20 amps at peak power. Will the stock 308 electrical system handle of this?

    Where is the best place to mount this?

    I was thinking in the spare tire well with some custom fabrication?

    Any pics of amp installation would greatly be appreciated.

    Thank you

    Paul
     
  2. enjoythemusic

    enjoythemusic F1 World Champ

    Apr 20, 2002
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    Steven
    Paul,

    Forget the stock fuse block, if it was me i'd run a fused near the battery 8 guage wire to the amplifier and ground at the main car's grounding (by driver side front bonnet in front of the tire). Mounting the amplifier on a custom mount in the spare tire well is probably best. This way the power and ground wires are short.
     
  3. spiderseeker

    spiderseeker Formula 3

    Jul 22, 2005
    1,718
    Colorado
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    Steve
    My 308qv has a high end Kenwood amp (by PO)- it is installed behind the seats (centered- between) if you give me your email address, I'll send you a picture of it. It is flat so the top still fits back there. (GTS)- I plan to wire it to my fuse block- I added an extra fuse holder just for the power amp.
    I think it is wired directly off the battery with an inline fuse. If I decide to keep it, I will probably move it to the area behind the passenger floor mat. I've only had the car 6 weeks, so I'm busy fixing and updating things right now- just finished a new fuse block (NAPA style) , replaced a broken drivers door edge lamp, wrong steering wheel etc.
    Steve
     
  4. Mike C

    Mike C F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Aug 3, 2002
    6,081
    Southeast USA
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    Mike Charness
    #4 Mike C, Sep 29, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  5. Dave

    Dave F1 Rookie

    Apr 15, 2001
    2,722
    Little Rock
    Full Name:
    David Jones
    Hi Paul,
    I installed a McIntosh head unit
    & mounted an Alpine amp behind the passenger seat.
    But then I have a GTB.
    As suggested, run a fused source from the battery and you should be fine.

    Good Luck!
     
  6. TURBOQV

    TURBOQV Formula Junior

    Mar 6, 2003
    838
    NV and Utah


    Thank you Steven,

    That was my thinking as well.

    Paul
     
  7. TURBOQV

    TURBOQV Formula Junior

    Mar 6, 2003
    838
    NV and Utah
  8. infraredline

    infraredline Formula 3

    Mar 15, 2004
    1,036
    San Francisco
    Full Name:
    John
    I'd like to add that the 20 amp current draw will not be a problem for the stock alt. Make sure you fuse it at the battery :)
     
  9. TURBOQV

    TURBOQV Formula Junior

    Mar 6, 2003
    838
    NV and Utah

    Hi Dave.


    Thank you for the help as well.

    I had the haltech computer behind me on the carpeted bulkhead and it was always in the way with the top off so I moved it to the rear trunk.

    I cannot wait to hear the sound of this Mcintosh in the small confines of a 308. Not a big amp but .005 THD @ rated power of 100 watts x 4.

    Paul
     
  10. Mike C

    Mike C F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Aug 3, 2002
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    Mike Charness
    Do you have a subwoofer installed already?
     
  11. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 4, 2001
    36,599
    Birmingham, AL
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    Tommy
    I have an 4CH 850 watt amp in my 308 up front like Charness'. It takes a 1 guage wire, though. It's bigger then a garden hose.
     
  12. TURBOQV

    TURBOQV Formula Junior

    Mar 6, 2003
    838
    NV and Utah

    not yet mike. Basically a good head unit and 6.5 inch door speakers sor far.

    Need to do
    1. Install Mcintosh amp
    2.. Subwoofer I like your sub install! Awesome!
    3. Rear speakers ( put in some shelve type cheapo speakers to do me until i found something better.

    any ideas on rear speakers?

    Thanks Mike
     
  13. TURBOQV

    TURBOQV Formula Junior

    Mar 6, 2003
    838
    NV and Utah

    wow 1 gauge wire!

    4 gauge wont work?

    pics?

    Thanks Dr. T

    Paul
     
  14. enjoythemusic

    enjoythemusic F1 World Champ

    Apr 20, 2002
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    #14 enjoythemusic, Sep 30, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    As an audiophile and ex-car audio installer and IASCA sound quality judge, i feel 8 gauge is fine for a single amplifier that needs a fuse up to 40, perhaps even 50 Amperes. Odds are the McIntosh needs only 40A max, but keep in mind it is a solid-state amplifier so will probably only need 5 to 20 Amperes MAX during normal to loud use on a standard pair of speakers (read: you are doing a std 4 Ohm load and not going down to 2 Ohms or less so current won't be at a high need per se). Besides, the protection fuse by the battery will blow first anyway and 8 gauge is fine.

    If you are really anal, use fire resistant loom over the wire and tie it closed every 2 inches or so. See pic of my race, lightweight Enersys battery install below.

    Hmm... i sounded very Electrical Engineer geeky there huh? DAMN! :)
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  15. mk e

    mk e F1 World Champ

    Oct 31, 2003
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    Strange. I've got 2 amps, 1 mounted behind each seat and have never found them in the way of the top at all.

    Now I'm considering moving my haltech and MSD box out of the rear trunk into the passenger compartment with the amps...I'm having some kind of heat-soak problem the best I can tell.
     
  16. dpospres

    dpospres Formula Junior

    Jun 29, 2005
    275
    There is also space behind the passenger footwell. My '82 had the amp mounted there and it did well. My '85 has the crossovers and other stuff there now.
     
  17. TURBOQV

    TURBOQV Formula Junior

    Mar 6, 2003
    838
    NV and Utah
    Hi Steve, I can be a lil anal! It can be a great trait :) Although my wife certainly does not think so!

    i love your install and info. I figured 8 gauge should be plenty. The Mcintosh MC 431 draws 20 amps @ peak power.

    I will keep you posted. The amp is too big to fit in the spare tire!

    Thanks guys,

    Paul
     
  18. TURBOQV

    TURBOQV Formula Junior

    Mar 6, 2003
    838
    NV and Utah
    Thanks for the tip Dave.

    Paul
     
  19. TURBOQV

    TURBOQV Formula Junior

    Mar 6, 2003
    838
    NV and Utah
    Mark,

    Why is that strange? My haltech was mounted on the Firewall and was getting hit everytime the top was off.

    I assume your mounting your amps on the floor?

    pics?

    Thanks
     
  20. floppy

    floppy Karting

    Sep 19, 2005
    53
    Buford, GA
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    Pat
    Don't mean to hijact, just have a quick question. I have some car audio stuff I'd like to sell, is there a market place around here?
     
  21. Mike C

    Mike C F1 Veteran
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    Aug 3, 2002
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    There's FerrariAds.com, but you have to be a subscriber here at FerrariChat to post there. Otherwise, there's always eBay...
     
  22. mk e

    mk e F1 World Champ

    Oct 31, 2003
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    I just meant strange that we're doing the same things, but exactly the opposite.

    My amps are right on the rear firewall. I positioned them so they sit centered side to side in the head area of the roof when it's behind the seat and it doesn't touch anything. I've never had a problem with the roof hitting them...I put the roof in so the outside faces the seats, maybe that's the difference?
     
  23. TURBOQV

    TURBOQV Formula Junior

    Mar 6, 2003
    838
    NV and Utah
    #23 TURBOQV, Sep 30, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I see your point Mark. I have had no issues with heat with the Haltech mounted in the left corner of the trunk. (yet) Although my car does not get exercised as much as yours perhaps?

    This Mcintosh amp is a monster. No way it could work on the firewall. Hers a pic.

    Thanks and happy Boost!
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  24. Dave

    Dave F1 Rookie

    Apr 15, 2001
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    #24 Dave, Sep 30, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  25. ALUMINUMYELLOW328

    ALUMINUMYELLOW328 Formula Junior

    May 30, 2004
    381
    Bergen County, NJ
    Full Name:
    Rhett R Arcilla
    Depending on the size of the amp, see if it will fit underneath the passenger seat, I placed my amp underneath the passenger seat. I also had a custom enclosure made for the subwoofer in the passenger side footwell. The woofer did take up a bit of space, but I hardly have a passenger anyway.
     

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