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So, I ran across a couple of amps I’ve had since the mid-late 90’s. A Soundstream Reference 300SX, I bought around 94-95, which was the first quality and new amp I ever bought. Also, a Soundstream Reference 200S that I bought in 99 when I put a nice system in my 93 Pontiac Grand Am GT. Had 3 JL Audio 12W6’s in a custom sealed box on an MTX Thunder amp, Infinity Kappa 6x9’s in the rear deck on the 200S and a set of MB Quart components in the doors on the 300SX.

Anyway, I held on to those Soundstreams, but had forgotten that I did. Until I opened an old box in the garage a few months ago. I hadn’t used them since probably around ‘01. Decided to put them to use in the Z28, after opening them up to look for any issues and replacing all the electrolytic capacitors. Powered them up on a 10A power supply on my workbench and tested them. Managed not to let any of the magic smoke out.

I made a new cargo area cover out of 1/2” thick plexiglass to mount the amps to the underside, leaving room for one more amp, whenever I manage to add a sub (or two). The stock cover piece that was in the car when I got it had two holes sloppily hacked out with a couple super ratty looking old factory type speakers sitting, unfastened and inoperative in them. Those speakers were tossed in a gas station garbage can, on my way home from buying the car. It had a couple of blown Memphis Audio coax in the doors. I replaced them with a set of Kicker CS 6 3/4” coax. Nothing special really, but rated at 100W RMS. Put a set of Polk Audio 5 1/4” coax in the back that I rescued out of a Jeep Cherokee I was scrapping.

I’ve got the 300 on the Kickers and the 200 on the Polks for now. Probably gonna have to put crossovers on the Kickers, but would rather get a decent component set with crossover and put that Reference 300SX to much better use on them. The Polk 5 1/4”s outplay the Kicker CS, but the CS series is one of Kicker’s lower tier lines, so...

I’m wanting to put a 10” sub in the cubby on the driver side of the cargo area, unless I give in to the urge to put a 10” on both sides. Right now, I’m thinking maybe a Rockford Fosgate Punch P2 with a 300-350 W RMS amp. I ran 4 gauge OFC power wire, with that plan in mind, to be enough to handle the additions in the future.

It’s not finished, even ignoring the future wants. But is any project? Ever? I still need to neaten up the wiring in the back and decide how I’m going to do the cargo cover. I’m leaning towards carpeting the top side like stock so everything is low key.

 

I would tint that plexiglass cover.... help keep people from scoping out your stuff through the biggggg rear window....and remember dont crank it around where you live.... easy to find where you park and plan a robbery of your toys

Best of luck, just a bit of advice is all...i got a bit of stereo crap collecting dust here too.... i am fine with my DD stock stereo....heck its stock tweeters aint even that bad....

 

The amps are mounted to the underside of the plexiglass, which for now, still has the brown paper, protective sheet stuck on both sides. So, as long as it’s flipped back, everything is hidden. That protective sheet doesn’t exactly match the gray carpet though.

I’ll probably cover the topside with carpet to match. I considered painting it, but it’s really hard to keep from having paint peel off plexiglass.

I’ll try to get some better pics tomorrow during the day. Those pics in the first post were taken last night, in the dark. I got most of the wiring tied up nice and neat today. Would’ve finished that, but it started raining.

 

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Some better pics.

 

thats cool i like it

 

Well, looks like I’ve got some amp troubleshooting to do. Shortly after taking those pics, I needed to run to the store. The right door speaker made several loud pops when I turned the ignition on. Head unit was on aux input to use my phone, but I hadn’t plugged my phone in yet. Turned the key off quickly and went to checking connections. Everything looked right so I unplugged the rca from the input on the 300SX and turned the ignition back on. This time the right door speaker popped loudly a couple more times then another loud pop and the cone pushed out hard and stayed. I wasn’t able to shut it off quickly enough and the magic smoke escaped the voice coil. So, that amp is pulled back out and is now sitting on my workbench opened up. Found it was putting about 9VDC to the right channel speaker terminals. Haven’t found the culprit yet, after a quick visual, but I’m figuring I’ll probably have a shorted output transistor.