My Presentation during Competition:

Security System:

I am using a Clifford Intelliguard 600 for my vehicle security, with a Smart Windows module.

ALL entry points are protected, including the back doors.

My systems also has starter kill, proximity sensing, a impact sensor, a voice module, windows up/down/crack, door locking, truck release, dome light surveillance and custom mounted LED's in each front door.

Included in light flash when the alarm is tripped is the addition of the LED wing. These LED's are also activated with the dome light surveillance which helps to locate the vehicle without using the panic feature after dark. Another part of the alarm, when tripped, is the air horns that alternate with the system siren.

A second alarm system - a Clifford Ace II functioning off the same remote, controls the security of the audio system by disabling the motorization  that the alarm controls. With the system deactivated, the major components of the audio system are protected behind 1/2 to 3/4 birch doors.

Audio System:

At the beginning of the electrical system for both the vehicle and the audio system is an upgraded alternator (a receipt for this work is included in the presentation photo album).

 The system is feed by ALL Phoenix Gold Wiring, with Gold connectors and power distribution/fuse blocks. Within eighteen inches of the power source is a 100amp Phoenix Gold circuit breaker. This breaker and the main distribution block are feed by  Pro Series Inner Flow 4g/25mm wire.  The main feed to the primary distribution block runs inside the vehicle, down the passenger side of the console. Then the 4guage continues to the secondary distribution blocks. From the distributions blocks, all amplifiers, system motors and a component distribution power block are feed by 8.5mm Pro Series High Current Inner Flow wire.

The central ground is through a buss bar located at the rear of the amp rack, within inches of the amplifiers allowing for factory ground leads to reach this central point. From this point, a 4guage Pro Series ground wire is sent through a firewall grommet and bolted to the frame of the vehicle near the rear suspension.

The head unit is a Kenwood KDC - PS900 single disc CD player - CD/MD changer controller. This source unit is custom rear mounted in the factory mounting bracket. This gives the appearance of a factory unit as the faceplate has been drill to duplicates the release holes used by Ford and Kenwood.

All audio cables are Phoenix Gold Super Triple Shielded cables.

The Kenwood head unit feeds directly into a Linear PAII R Preamp  that is mounted in the center console of the vehicle. It is visable by opening the front console door. This unit is the MAIN volume control for the system and can be used to emphasize the four major audio sound fields (highs, mids, mid-bass and sub-bass frequencies).

Located in the rear deck hatch area is a PRECISION POWER DEQ-230 1/3 octave equalizer. The unit is processing in stereo and sends a balanced signal to the next processor. It doubles the input voltage which increases head room in the system.

After leaving this processor, the signal travels down the passengers side of the console through a set of audio cables directly to an Audio Control EQX II electronic cross-over/equalizer. 

The EQX II divides the signal path at 90hz and send a high pass signal for the front speaker system, a low pass signal for the sub-bass system and a full range signal to the rear fill. Each of these audio signals are fed into separate Precision Power Pro-Mos  amplifiers, two Pro Mos 50's(one for front - the second for subs  and a Pro Mos 25 for rear fill.

The High Pass signal, after passing through the amplifier, is then sent back to the front via Phoenix Gold Reference II 9guage speaker wire up each side of the vehicle. These wires meet a pair of M B Quart Competition 3-way Crossovers located inside the L/R doors respectively. From each crossover a separate signal is sent to a set of M B Quart 328 separates; with the tweet mounted in a custom pod in the A-pillar of each door, the four inch mid in the factory dash locations, and the six inch mid-bass in the factory door locations. Each door has been covered with DynaMat to lessen the impact of the mid driver in the door. Each driver is sealed into the door so as to make the door a box for the driver, increasing its mid-bass response.

The Low Pass signal is directed from the amplifier to a pair of J L Audio 10W5 dual voice coils sub-bass speakers.  These speakers are located in a custom built 3rd order vented box, firing to the rear, located over the amp rack and below the rear deck of the vehicle. The rear deck has been DynaMated to eliminate resonance.

The box has a Plexiglas front allowing one to view the interior of the box which has been customized with mirrors and the JL Audio logo.

The Full Output signal is directed to a pair of M B Quart Competition 2-way Crossovers. From this point the signal is split to a pair of M B Quart separates - a 6inch located in each factory rear speaker location and a tweet located in the top of each factory seat belt cover on the L/R side respectively of the rear deck. The 6inch speakers have 100ohm capacitors to block sub frequencies on each positive lead.

Great care has been taken to maintain a factory or STEALTH look to the system inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle. By rebuilding the alternator, even the under hood area is relatively factory in appearance.

The highlight of the system is the trunk compartment. This area contains the major parts of the system along with full motorization of each separate component. The system is controlled by a Clifford Ace II brain, with the outputs activating latching relays that open and close the EQXII's location, the amp rack (located under the 3rd order vented sub-bass box) and the Kenwood KDC-C803 CD Changer location. In the event that the brain fails, a backup switch for each set of relays is located behind the rear seat. 

There has been very little loss of space in the truck compartment. Under a circular cover is the factory spare and a cellular telephone transceiver.

The amplifier rack receives circulated air from two squirrel cage fans mounted on the lip of the amp box. These fans circulate air across the amplifiers toward the rear of the amp rack. The sub-bass box does not completely cover the amp rack because of the angle of the rear seat as it attaches to the vehicle. This space allows the fans to pull air in from the out edge of the rack and direct it down through the center. A smoking cigar demonstrates this movement very well.

The upper trim panel in the trunk compartment contains the displayed information on the system and the motorization. The left gauge is a digital volt meter. The switch, moving to the right, allows for the trunk light to be switched off while the system is being display to limit the drain on the battery. The next three LED's advise the status of the motorized system. The LED's relay multi information. When off they indicate either a blown fuse, defective relay (s) or a disabled motor. The next LED, continuing to move right, advises if the motorization system is activated. With the amount of relays used, an excessive loss of battery power is possible if the system is activated for an extended period. The last gauge on the right is a digital amp meter with a 100 amp capacity.

Not related to the audio system but part of the appeal of the vehicle is the fact that the complete interior is from a 1990 Ford Taurus. The digital dash with the automatic climate control required the creation of a new wiring harness to adapt the instruments to the 1987 vehicle it is installed in.  Ford did not make a Black on Black leather interior in 1987. But I had one!