Stereo Installation

cbeers · 09:26 AM

Well, after months of not having a working stereo, I finally decided to take a look and see how hard it would be to install. I was immediately stumped until I went to my computer and SEARCHED the BBS for tips. Sure enough, there was a posting about how to pull out an old deck using a special tool / or wires etc. Ah hah! So, I used four little screwdrivers and pulled it out. What I found was a maze of wires and several RCA cords, indicating that I had an amp

So, I traced them and found this under the passenger floor board.

Seems pretty crafty, though I would think heat would be a problem. Either way, old cheap component, so out it goes.

Then, it was time to figure out the wiring mess

After rewiring the new deck in place, I saved several feet of RCA cables, wires and an old amp, maybe about 3 pounds. Which as all of you know, means I can afford to have another cold one and still be lighter than when I started. New tunes and lighter too?

Cheap new deck in place

-Chris

84porsche · 84porsche's Garage

Nice work. What was the amp powering?? Did you replace the speakers as well? I still have to go through and rip out all my bad speaker wiring and rewire.

cbeers · 03-22-2005, 08:35 AM

The old deck ran through the amp for a whopping 25 watts per channel of distortion

Really, it didn't sound all that bad, but eventually the head unit took a crap and I was without tunes for a long time. Radio was low on the list as evidenced by the low cost Blaupunkt.

I have not done the speakers yet, but I will. They are old and tired too.

-Chris

MysticLlama · 03-22-2005, 08:43 AM

You'll be loving it once you get the new speakers in. It'll be nice to have it all fresh.

I'm kicking around doing mine right now.

I have all of the parts, and screwed myself by putting them on the scale the other night, lol. 28lbs. including all of the wire and packing material, so maybe about 20-22lbs. installed. It's a deck, amp, set of component 6.5" speakers + crossovers + tweeters, and all the wiring.

Seems like a lot except that there is a deck already there, so that cancels out with the new one, most of the wire cancels out, I removed the front speakers already and the new ones don't weigh much more, and the rear speakers and rear deck are coming out, so that will make up for the amp that wasn't there before.

My biggest problem right now is that I'm having a hard time with the thought of cutting up my brand new RSA door panels to put speakers in them.

I'm looking into kick panels, but I don't think they'll be very cost effective.

Mysterytrain · 03-22-2005, 09:51 AM

I love the fact that the amp lived on the cold air return side of the AC system..nice install.

Tim Hancock · 03-22-2005, 10:05 AM

I just installed a new Alpine stereo cd ($130 @ Circuit City) and two
6-1/2" Infinity speakers ($70 Circuit City) in my new RS door panels.

I eliminated an old cheap trunk amp, junk rear speakers, door mounted tweeters, floor board mounted crossovers, misc wiring and an old Kenwood cass. player.

It is cleaner, lighter and sounds great (even with no amp or rear speakers). I may think about a self powered sub-woofer to put in the trunk someday as the "no frills" Alpine does have one sub out rca jack.

It only cost me about $200, sounds great, is lightweight, quality name brand and does not look too comical.

bigrubberjeep · 03-22-2005, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 84porsche
Nice work. What was the amp powering?? Did you replace the speakers as well? I still have to go through and rip out all my bad speaker wiring and rewire.

Hey Chris, use your resources bro!

I used to be in the mobile audio industry for 5 years, you should listen to my car before you go do anything too crazy, I'll let you listen this weekend if I see you.

I can help you with the installation as well, I've done it many times.

bigrubberjeep · 03-22-2005, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MysticLlama
My biggest problem right now is that I'm having a hard time with the thought of cutting up my brand new RSA door panels to put speakers in them. I'm looking into kick panels, but I don't think they'll be very cost effective.

Well, kick panels might be alot more cost effective then trying to reverse the damage on the doors once you realize you gained little by cuting your original doors.

(not to mention kick panels give you better sound imaging then door speakers)

I'm guesing your reffering to cuting the metal, the door panels would not be too expensive to replace if that bacame an issue.

BigKenSteele · 03-22-2005, 12:08 PM

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that amp. I have the same exact amp mounted in the same exact place, and it looks to have been wired by the same guy. I was equally surprised when I pulled out my floorboard. I am leaving mine for now after just cleaning up the wiring.

Confession time - I occassionally listen to AM, but can't get anything but the static sound of my motor. '84 with a decent Blaupunkt, cheap antenna mounted in the trunk. Are my plug wires causing the problem, or just a bad install on the stereo?

cbeers · 03-22-2005, 12:21 PM

BKS,

I had heard of a factory amp option, but mine seemed like someone had added it to the factory set up. Did yours seem that way too? Either way, I was more than happy to toss the old amp.

I think when you have engine noise, it is most often due to a poor ground.

Others with more knowledge may correct me

-Chris

kjb · kjb's Garage

Chris,

You should see what my car looks like under the floorboards. Your mess is nothing compared to mine!

car audio experts: are these components worth keeping?

/ Johan

MysticLlama · 03-22-2005, 12:37 PM

bigrubberjeep-

I wouldn't actually modify the doors except for drilling four holes for solid mounts for the speakers. With a trim ring to space it a slight bit, the 6.5"s will fit into the factory holes.

It's just a matter of the look of the speakers in the door panels, which right now are nice and clean. They could always be replaced for $300 which would be cheaper than kick panels anyway, the question is would I like the way they looked or not.

I could always mount them in back somewhere for some sort of music, but it's a nice system with an Eclipse deck, an Alpine V12 Expert, and JL components, so that seems dumb.

bigrubberjeep · 03-22-2005, 12:46 PM

Look up speakerworks, they have kick panels for under $300 the set, fit 4 1/2 mid plus 1" tweeter, you can add a 6 1/2" midbase to the doors with little mods.

Other then that it sounds like you have the right plan.

BigKenSteele · 03-22-2005, 05:02 PM

Chris,
Coustic is aftermarket for sure, and not too great at that. Mine looks almost exactly like yours except it was not mounted to the firewall. It was just shoved behind the footboard along with the crossovers for the component speakers in the doors. I will eventually rewire/replace most of the system, but for now I just want to get it back together. But I would like to solve my AM problem first.
Good luck on yours,
Ken

cbeers · 03-24-2005, 08:55 AM

BKS,

Mine was not mounted either, just sitting there held in by the floor panel I guess. Interesting that you would have the exact same set up though. Maybe that was the only amp at the time that would fit? I agree about the brand quality (lack of), that's why out it went !

Today was fun having my car back on the road with tunes to boot

-Chris