Anyone made a diy s13 rear hatch panel?

[konjiki7]

Thinking about doing this since local junk yard s13's look like picked corpses....


I want to use a composite material since it's shatter proof. There are a few variables I'm not sure about.

1. What material is the best bang for the buck lexan, plexi, abs etc

2. Thickness needed... perhaps metal reinforcement like the stock crap

Or should i use mdf or some type of ply wood?

The rear deck will be holding giant 8" 3 way speakers...

[Def]

Not the usual NRR topic...

But are you talking about a rear hatch parcel cover/privacy cover? If you're going to mount speakers with significant mid-bass then make sure it has mass and rigidity. I think something like plywood (1/2" thick) covered in fiberglass would give a great deal of stiffness. MDF would also work.

[konjiki7]

You are correct sir.

I built my car be an all around enjoyable daily. So this just one small step in that direction.


About the MDF wouldn't that stuff shatter? I just imaged half the rear panel flying toward the back of me head during emergency braking....

[Matt93SE]

Mdf is what most sub boxes are made from. If you track the car, I suggest making the mounts so the whole thing is easily removable at the track. My amp rack in my old maxima was held in with two hitch pins and all cables had quick connectors on them. I could pull the whole thing in 30sec and save 80lbs in the trunk.

Anyway, Mdf will be fine. Cheap, cuts easy, and strong. Cover it in vinyl or carpet and you're done.

[Bubba]

What Matt said. MDF is what I used for my sub boxes in highschool. 1200 watts on one sub isn't safe in any less than 3/4 - 1" MDF. Spray it in bedliner if you want a bulletproof panel, lol.

It is heavy when you get up to the thicker stuff, but for what you want you can use much thinner stuff than I did.

[Def]

Yea, MDF is fine, but I'd get the thickest stuff you can since it's going to be kinda flimsy in such a large span which is going to lead to it vibrating.

A little fiberglass over it will really up the stiffness and likely stop any chance it could vibrate.

[konjiki7]

I ended picking a left over piece of birch ply wood that someone was about to throw away. It was thinner and much stiffer then the mdf i was about to buy and free too

I've already cut the main half of the panel just working on the second half.

I wounder how i should go about measuring and cutting the round elevated edge. I know the length and width... I just need to figure out what formula to use to make the curve correctly.

Is they're a tool for this? A giant compass of sorts?

[Def]

String and a pencil?

[Matt93SE]

for compound curves or stuff on the car I can't measure easily, I just use cardboard or posterboard for a template and keep trimming until I have it fit perfectly.