Ls400 Rear Deck

[Supradave]

I have recently brought myself an early 1998 LS400 and the first thing that I want to do to it is upgrade the audio.

My plan is too replace the standard headunit with an Alpine Double Din headunit and then run seperate amps to the front components (which I intend to replace) and to the bass at the back.

I am not into Heavy bass but I do like the warmth that a good bass set up adds to the sound of the music. I am thinking of running two 8" bass speakers in the rear parcel shelf and using standard Lexus sub covers over the top of them to keep the setup looking reasonably standard. I think this may however mean cutting through the panel running under the parcel shelf. Does anyone know if that panel is structural and will cutting through it weaken the strength of the car?

Also does anyone know how much the standard Lexus sub cover costs from Lexus?

If the panel is structural then I would rather not cut through it and will just enlarge the exiting hole to acceot either a 10" or a 12" sub.