Can you drill a hole through the shelf to the radio? - LotusTalk

darkSol · 03-05-2009, 11:12 PM

Hey - I'm finally installing my Kenwood subwoofer I bought off a fellow LT'er a year ago and was wondering if you could just remove the HVAC control module, drill a hole through the bottom of the aluminum dash shelf clear to the radio compartment?

Then it would be simple to route wires from the center spine?

Comments?

Thanks!

cory1000 · 03-05-2009, 11:30 PM

Yes, this is not part of the structure or frame. When I had the cage installed the whole shelf area was removed from the car...

Chris Mackey · 03-06-2009, 08:11 AM

Just take the entire dash out. Takes about an hour and then working in there is super easy. There might be room for a small amp in there, now that I think about it. I put my satellite radio receiver and iPod controller under the dash.

darkSol · 03-06-2009, 08:34 AM

Yeah I don't want to take the dash out - I've never had success with those fasteners.

It was hard enough pulling the cluster - ended up breaking the cowling in 3 places!

I'm thinking just a 1/2 drill bit straight up from the bottom to the space at the back of the radio - and have plastic wire sheathing around the wires popping through the new hole.

dma550 · 03-06-2009, 09:46 AM

I thought the same thing running signal wires, I'm not sure why there isn't a grommetted passthrough under there! If you make a hole post a pic so others can drill without drilling into something expensive

Chris Mackey · 03-06-2009, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dma550

I thought the same thing running signal wires, I'm not sure why there isn't a grommetted passthrough under there! If you make a hole post a pic so others can drill without drilling into something expensive

Yeah, be careful and go super slow. There are a lot of electrical items and vents in the dash.

jim-clayton · 03-06-2009, 02:18 PM

Drill baby drill.

I drilled mine 3 years ago. 3/4 unibit.

I removed the ac control panel and drilled the hole.

03-05-2009, 11:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
darkSol Meow!! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Leawood, KS Posts: 2,576	Can you drill a hole through the shelf to the radio? Hey - I'm finally installing my Kenwood subwoofer I bought off a fellow LT'er a year ago and was wondering if you could just remove the HVAC control module, drill a hole through the bottom of the aluminum dash shelf clear to the radio compartment? Then it would be simple to route wires from the center spine? Comments? Thanks! __________________ d.a..v...i....d David Thomas Stewart - davidtstewart@gmail.com TVS Supercharged 2005 Graphite Grey Lotus Elise: 286whp, 1781lbs. Lotus cars aren't made, they're hand built from dreams. If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before.

03-06-2009, 08:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
Chris Mackey Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,587	Just take the entire dash out. Takes about an hour and then working in there is super easy. There might be room for a small amp in there, now that I think about it. I put my satellite radio receiver and iPod controller under the dash. __________________ 2006 Elise, Ardent Red, Black Pack, LSS wheels, shocks and springs. ChuforiaGraffix.com SDD Lives On! SweetDaddyDelicious(at)hotmail(dot)com

03-06-2009, 08:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
darkSol Meow!! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Leawood, KS Posts: 2,576	Yeah I don't want to take the dash out - I've never had success with those fasteners. It was hard enough pulling the cluster - ended up breaking the cowling in 3 places! I'm thinking just a 1/2 drill bit straight up from the bottom to the space at the back of the radio - and have plastic wire sheathing around the wires popping through the new hole. __________________ d.a..v...i....d David Thomas Stewart - davidtstewart@gmail.com TVS Supercharged 2005 Graphite Grey Lotus Elise: 286whp, 1781lbs. Lotus cars aren't made, they're hand built from dreams. If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before.

03-06-2009, 09:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
dma550 Yahoo! Got my Rotus! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: CT, Shoreline area Posts: 1,188	I thought the same thing running signal wires, I'm not sure why there isn't a grommetted passthrough under there! If you make a hole post a pic so others can drill without drilling into something expensive __________________ David Avery 05 Lotus Elise ~ Arctic Silver ~ BWR SC ~ Gray RACs ~ Larini SE 08 BMW 135i Stock visit Spyderclub.com

03-06-2009, 02:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
jim-clayton Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Fort Lauderdale Florida Posts: 1,634	Drill baby drill. I drilled mine 3 years ago. 3/4 unibit. I removed the ac control panel and drilled the hole. __________________ 2005 Elise Storm Titanium

03-05-2009, 11:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
cory1000 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,925	Yes, this is not part of the structure or frame. When I had the cage installed the whole shelf area was removed from the car...

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