So I figured I would start a thread on this for the few who asked about progress. I have been into car audio for years. Mildly competed. Few shows here and there. Got a good deal on this 1998 Chevy Astro van and figured I would do another build the way ive always wanted to do. Now one thing, This is not a daily driver. This is a audio competition specific vehicle. That being said there is around 1000lbs of concrete in the back. This build will have a 4th order bandpass enclosure housing 4 x 15 inch subwoofers in small sealed tube boxes within the outer shell. I will be running lithium batteries as my battery bank for the substage and running around 40'000 watts of power to the subs at minimum.
 
With that being said onto some pics. I first got the van I stripped the entire interior just about. Only thing left are the front door panels (which are going) and the dash (which is staying). I started by laying the frame work out for the concrete. I used fiber reinforced concrete to prevent cracking. Pretty strong stuff. It does not need to be perfect as I will be laying fiberglass over top of the concrete to seal it and reinforce it.
 

 

 
After The concrete was all poured out I started on the frame work of the box. The rough framing is all 2x4's. There will be around 120 of them making the shell. 2 layers all around cross layed and screwed every 3 inches.
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 
Now I started on the loading wall. At first I had the port at the center of the enclosure which I chose to change to drivers side port. This will yield better output. Now at this point most of this shell is framed out. Few minor spots to fill in and the shell will be finished and ready for plywood. Inside of this shell will be 2 layers of 3/4 birch plywood glued between the sheets and screwed every 3 inches throughout.
 

 

 
 
 
So at this point this is where I am at now. I will update when I get some more progress. Waiting for the subwoofer tubes to be made. Will update this when I get them in.

Violence...I... *walks away* 
 
 
Keep this updated man :D

As of this moment i will be running B2 audio lithium batteries, 4 x 15" Ampere audio 4.0 subwoofers and 4 Ampere audio 9.0 TFHE amplifiers. That is the game plan at this moment. Will run a pair of amps strapped per pair of subs. Should net me 40k watts at 14.4v or so easily. Alternators will come from Singer alternators. Mike is a good guy. I have dealt with him in the past

Will the glass stay in this thing at full tilt?? Does the concrete offer better sound production. I know nothing. Quite a project man.

Well it is Cool Looking so far and I will not have to worry about my Trunk being Bounced of the road at a Stop Light.
I cannot want to see how them Speakers are going to Mount.

RainStryke

Violence.
As of this moment i will be running B2 audio lithium batteries, 4 x 15" Ampere audio 4.0 subwoofers and 4 Ampere audio 9.0 TFHE amplifiers. That is the game plan at this moment. Will run a pair of amps strapped per pair of subs. Should net me 40k watts at 14.4v or so easily. Alternators will come from Singer alternators. Mike is a good guy. I have dealt with him in the past

Nice, that's some serious power. I've heard good things about Ampere audio stuff. A guy on the SMD forums runs 6 of the ampere 3800's on 6 crossfire 18's.

 
Ive known the owner of Ampere Audio for many years. Great guy. Those 3800's come to life on 18v I can say that lol. ive seen over 14k watts on a pair of those on 18v.

I remember Myth Busters "The glass should stay in it. Might crack but shouldn't blow out." Do this!
It was funning to watch, but they never could Blow out the Glass.

I feel for anyone that lives in a 3 block radius from you, once you get that system going. 
 
 

stalinx20

MSim
I feel for anyone that lives in a 3 block radius from you, once you get that system going. 
 
 

Couldn't agree more. With those kind of sound systems, I would be watching my "6" for people following me, and once they know where I live... unless you park in the garage, that's a different story, but they'll still know where you live. Keep your eyes open, and don't doubt me because there are people out there like that.

Already dealt with it. First person who thinks its a good idea to come onto my property uninvited is going to find out real fast. One neighbor already tried it. Did not work out good in his favor. But mine will be garage kept.

Edit: Double post...

Violence.
 
Already dealt with it. First person who thinks its a good idea to come onto my property uninvited is going to find out real fast. One neighbor already tried it. Did not work out good in his favor. But mine will be garage kept.

That is going to be are really Cool Garage Man Cave 

You know what they say, if the van's a rockin'...

Looks very DB Drag.  How long have you been doing it?  IASCA?  i had quite a good run back in the early turn of the century ;)
 
made it to DB DRAG world finals, and IASCA world finals.  
 
btw, NONE of your pics in the first page load for me.  thats sad.  The rings in this last update load.