2009 Chevrolet Tahoe A/V System Install

As mentioned in the RAP module thread I'm doing a bunch of interior upgrades to the Tahoe. It was time to start this thread to document the build process as it progresses. What I am doing is this.
- Changing door speakers for 6.5" BA Pro 60's
- Changing D pillar speakers for 3.5" Infinity Reference
- Replacing stock sub woofer (that is no sub woofer) with a JL Stealthbox
- Installing sound deadening mat over the whole floor and rear wheel wells
- Adding 2 JL HD600 amps for new speakers and sub woofer
- Installing RF 3Sixty.2 DSP for integration with stock Bose amp
- Installing 2 Vizualogic 9" DVD headrests
- Lockpick gmx322 for use with the headrests and front nav screen display
- Peripheral Electronics Media Gateway for Ipod integration
- Escort 9500ci radar/laser detector system

The first think I wanted to do was to install the sound deadening mat. To do this it require of removing everthing from the interior.

Rear seats and mounting brackets. Basically, unplug electrical connectors and unbolt the seats and lift them out (they are heavy!)


Electrical connector for a rear seat. It just unplugs easily. There is one for each seat.


Electrical connector for driver's seat. Locking bracket lifts up and then the connector will disengage. It's the same type of connector for the passenger's seat. Undo the connectors, unbolt (2 nuts to remove) and unscrew (two bolts to remove) the seat then lift it out (same for passenger side. Make sure to raise the seats to their highest point first!


All seats removed.


Electrical connectors within the the storage console. To remove the console, follow the instructions that came with the StealthBox LINK


The StealthBox instructions did not cover the little speaker behind that little circular grill on the driver's side of the console. This is a picture of wires for it. You need to remove the mounting clips and then disconnect the connector. Only then can you remove the console.


A picture of the Bose lux amp and sub woofer.


The Bose lux amplifier.


A picture of the stock sub woofer. This is no subwoofer! A 5.5" speaker with an enclosure does not make a sub woofer!


Console removed.

Dash support bracket that needs to be removed so one can remove the carpet.


In order to really get all the carpet out and access everything, most of the interior panels and trim pieces need to be removed. In the back the are all interlinked, so to get one out you need to remove them all. The trim pieces are held on with annoying friction clips.


Getting the sound mat down in the front. I decided to work around the carpet pad and wires rather than take all that out.


Sound mat down in the back.


Power line for the amps in the engine bay.
<pic to come>

The next thing was to install the front components for the 9500ci system (radar detection module and 2 laser modules) as I wanted to run all the lines need from the engine bay at the same time. The laser modules need a clear view looking forward. So this required a bit of trimming to the grill.
<pic to come>

Then to mount the 3 modules I had to fabricate custom mounting brackets.
<pic to come as this is what I am working on at the moment>

Looking good so far.

Wow! That looks like a lot of work

I think if I did that, I'd have some pieces left over.

Great stuff. Keep us updated.

That's awesome Darin, very nice. I would have half of the stuff lost and dirty trying that.

Thanks guys.

I'll keep updating the thread as I progress. Hopefully I'll make some significant progress this weekend.

As for pieces left over. Well, we'll have to see when I go to put things back together.

Very cool, Darin!

Darin, I updated the thread title to help future members find it a little easier. I hope you don't mind.

No worries Tobias, I don't mind at all. A good change to make.