Project 160 is a Ford Escort van
with a sound system designed to
compete with the best.
The spec is massive and the
sensation you get when you
turn up all the dials whist playing
the bass mechanic can only be
described as having your very own
earth quake generator.

SPECIAL FEATURES

The whole sound system and all the various features are controlled mainly from the bank of switches in the centre console.
These include:

1) SPL Switches
2) SQ Switch
3) Rear Roof Lights
4) External speakers
5) Tunnel Neon Lights
6) Cooling fans
7) Sony Playstation
8) Valet Switch
9) Scrolling signs

Other features include:

1) Remote eye for DVD operation
2) Sony Playstation joy pad sockets behind the drivers seat
3) Digital amplifier temperature sensor with the ability to automatically switch cooling fans on when a set temperature is reached
4) External speakers mounted on stands for show use.
5) Second head unit mounted in external podium for show and competition use
6) Clamps on front doors and window bars for the window screen
7)
THE PODIUM

When competing at competitions no one is allowed to be inside the van, this means the sound system needs to be operated from outside the vehicle.
There are two ways of doing this,

Most modern high quality car stereos have the ability to be operated by an infrared remote control so by aiming the remote through a window at the stereo you can control various functions of the stereo like the volume, play/pause etc.

The second way is to have the stereo outside the vehicle mounted on a stand and connected to the van via a wire link lead.

I have opted for the second option as it is easier to operate the stereo without the remote control and by having it mounted outside there is less chance of the cd being played jumping due to the vibrations caused by the loud music.
I have constructed a podium that will hold the stereo, a voltmeter and a PLD1.
The stereo and volt meter will be mounted in the top section; the wires from these will run down to the base of the podium inside the large central aluminium tube so that no wires are visible.

The podium has its own PLD1 mounted in the base; this is because the one mounted in the van is being bypassed when the podium is connected.
To plug the podium into the van I remove the stainless steel screw cap mounted on the passenger side of the van at the back to reveal the wires to plug into the podium base.
The podium is on wheels so it can be moved easily if required.

CONTROLING THE VAN
Fitted to the dashboard are three switch panels.
To the right of the steering wheel is a panel with two rows of on/off toggle switches; these switches control the functions that would normally be operated by the stalks mounted to the steering column.

These include
1 Indicate left
2 Indicate right
3 Side lights
4 Dip beam
5 Main beam
6 Fog light
7 Heater
8 Wiper

(Note: the red push button switch operates the horn and the black push button switch operates the window washer, too
Operate the hazard lights both left and right indicator switches need to be on).

The panel to the left of the steering wheel operates the ignition and engine.

In the centre of the dash low down near the gear stick is a large switch panel, all the switches on this panel are related to the stereo and all special features.

These include
1 Front speakers (amplifiers 11, 12)
2 External speakers (amplifier 10)
3 2 subs (amplifier 1)
4 10 subs (amplifiers 2,3,5,6)
5 18 subs (amplifiers4, 7,8,9)
6 Processors (valet mode)
7 Playstation
8 Rear roof lights
9 Cooling fans (door 1)
10 Cooling fans (door 2)
11 Tunnel and battery tray neon’s
12 Scrolling signs

Each switch has a red LED to indicate if it is on or off.
There are also two knobs, one is connected to the EQ215X and can be used to control the volume of the bass without affecting the volume of the other speakers.
The second is connected to a processor called a ‘bass cube’
To operate the knob needs to be pulled out to turn on the ‘bass cube’ and then turned clockwise to increase the volume of the subs.
This device is useful when a particular song dose not have a lot of bass, but should be used with caution when a song already contains a lot of bass as switching it on in these circumstances could seriously damage the sub speakers.