Old gas tank for speaker mount

[Boise69]

Has anybody tried this? Someone mentioned it and it got me thinking, wow that could really work (i think) or someone should come up with a speaker box shaped like the old gas tank and oila a home based ready to order. Think about all the old gas tanks people are just willing to get rid of and then later you have to send your old one in to get a price cut on the new one all fabbed up with speakers of your choice. could work.

[Gray Ghost]

Only problem I see is that you'd be firing into the back of your seats unless you had buckets.

[wibilly]

not much of a sound guru but i think it would rattel like the tin can it is. not to mention take up more space that could be better used in my opinion

[Boise69]

lol yea but i dont really mean the can itself, but re-fabbed with sound insulation and mod in a way it wouldn't sound like a gas can. but i thought by posting that question someone would come forward with exactly that and it was actually done. When i take mine out i would trace the lines of the tank and make something to fit just like the tank.

[roj2323]

the only way it would work properly as a sound box is if it was rigid. there is also the anount of volume behind the speakers to contend with. in short the tank as is, is too flexable and far too large volume wise to get a good sounding system. you are much much better off making a box with the vloume you need out of MDF. it will work better and you will have room for extra stuff like the amp.

[Pl4yboy]

Originally Posted by roj2323

the only way it would work properly as a sound box is if it was rigid. there is also the anount of volume behind the speakers to contend with. in short the tank as is, is too flexable and far too large volume wise to get a good sounding system. you are much much better off making a box with the vloume you need out of MDF. it will work better and you will have room for extra stuff like the amp.

If you could find a way to fiberglass the inside of it... It would definately take out the flimsiness. Also, those gas tanks really AREN'T that big. Depending on the subs you get, it would probably be just enough volume after the sub displacement and fiberglass, especially if you stuck a few aero ports in it. My 12s call for 1.9 ft^3 each... Wouldn't even be enough room to fit them ported.

[greasemonkey]

Originally Posted by Boise69

someone should come up with a speaker box shaped like the old gas tank

That's kind of what I did, needed a little bass in the rig and added 2 fairly shallow 10s in an MDF box covered in suede. I even used the gas tank mounting holes with longer bolts. Nice back massage after a long day.

[lowrollin70gmc]

You can also fit 12's back there, and they fire into the back of the buckets, but she still sounds great. Here's mine, made a box the exact width of the cab (never will take it out, if I could) out of 3/4 MDF, covered with carpet, and bolted a panel on top to steady the box and help thwart theft.

[Tshort1]

I know this thread is Way old but am wondering if anyone has come up with any other ideas over the past few years. I am thinking about cutting an old tank in half lining the inside with sound deadener and bolting it back together.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Tshort1

I know this thread is Way old but am wondering if anyone has come up with any other ideas over the past few years. I am thinking about cutting an old tank in half lining the inside with sound deadener and bolting it back together.

Have you checked the "Truck Audio" forum? I would think there would be a lot of threads on this over there... Scroll down to the bottom of this page and you will see the "Forum Jump" box. Click on the little arrow on the right side of the box and a list of all the different Forums will come up. Scroll down to the "Truck Audio" forum and click on it.

LockDoc

[AirSpeed]

Originally Posted by Tshort1

I know this thread is Way old but am wondering if anyone has come up with any other ideas over the past few years. I am thinking about cutting an old tank in half lining the inside with sound deadener and bolting it back together.

It would sound horrible, subs produce an incredible amount of pressure, even with sound deadener the tank would flex and vibrate like crazy. It would be much better and far easier to build a cabinet out of MDF. If you build a sealed alignment you could make it much smaller and have room for other stuff.
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[Tshort1]

Thanks for the Info.

[68gmsee]

Many years ago I did some research about this subject. Even got a book about building speakers. They recommended a solid enclosure -preferably made out of 1/2"to 3/4" wood. Particle board was what they recommneded. Now MDF is a common material used for DIY.

If the fuel tank with the thin metal were used, the vibrations by the speakers would eventually loosen or crack any mounting a person could rig up. Probably would sound tinny as mentioned above. I guess a person could bolt a heavy board in front of it for stability but it probably would be easier to remove the tank an build a proper enclosure.

[sprint_9]

If you build a box to fit your specific location be sure to build it with the proper internal volume for the sub or speaker you are installing into it. This can make a huge difference in the overall outcome. I would also go with a sealed box, in a small cab like our trucks have I cant imagine you would need a ported box. Ported boxes are bigger and harder to get tuned properly, especially if you are limited in the dimensions that you have for your box.

This is a decent site for box calculating, as well as other car audio related topics. http://www.carstereo.com/help/articles.cfm?catid=1

[Tshort1]

Well I decided to try it out. I split the tank in half and cut out the peice I was going to use. I sanded it down and painted it, and then lined the inside with peal and seal. I then made 3/4 inch MDF sides, and a front. Before I attached them I used 3/4 inch weather strip and applied to all mounting spots. Then I screwed it all together. I used some duroglass filler to fill a few blemishes on the ends. I carpeted the whole thing. I will let you know how it sounds when I get ready to do the final install on it. If it sounds like crap I will start over and use all MDF. I'm hoping it works though and it fits in the cab perfectly using 3 upper, and two lower gas tank mounts.

[Tshort1]

I will be useing all polk audio speakers. 4 DB 6.5, 2 in the console and 2 in back coners where I made the MDF speaker holders. The sub will be 8" polk DB series also.

[Scott>72-GMC]

I like my gas tank one reason I like these trucks that good old gas cap on the cab
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