Tiny Project - Big Benefit: Trunk CD player removal
 

While I love being able to listen to CDs on longer trips in the 911 (and the speakers blast it with great quality over the engine's music and even open windows), the rough ride almost always upsets the trunk-mounted 10-disc changer/player. Basically, it's useless. It's sitting on what was the best-available "shock proof" mounting system available when it was installed - but again, pretty useless. Not to mention that the player takes up prime real estate in the largest part of the tiny trunk, already compromised by the roll bar.

Before:

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A real pain to pack around:

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Bolted onto a base & plugged in like this:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/...6075d22fcb.jpg

Time for this to come out!

Voila!

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My concern was that, knowing nothing about electronics or setting up car audio, whether I would be able to remove this component while keeping the radio working. No problem. The components plug in separately to a, well I don't know what this is, power source? Relay? Anyway, unplugged it and the radio part still works so that's fine.

Here's the slot in the dashboard

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Back view of the plug-in in-dash stereo unit:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/...a0c8c414fe.jpg

Front view of the unit
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Slips right in

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/...cf91e41dd4.jpg

I'm hoping that I will find another in-dash player, perhaps with a built-in cd player, to replace the in-dash radio/cassette player. Perhaps the technology has improved. However this system is old enough that I have no clue whether I can find another type of component to just plug in where the Kenwood plugs into the dash now. Are these in-dash stereos pretty standard as far as connections?

Can I get something new today that will plug in where the old one sits?

Meh, get an iPod compatable H/U and have days, instead of hours, of music available.

You've gonna have to rewire it, or any new head unit. It's not that bad, really...and bypass the fader in the center console while you're at it.

Or pay a "professional" to do it, shouldn't be that expensive.

I'm pumping a whole 35 watts per speaker plus the Kenwood sub, and my car ROCKS on the inside.

Each situation will be a different so don't bank on "just plugging something in" and having it work,...even if this is JUST a CD changer. Have you an outboard amplifier within your car? Or, are you just using the head's power amps?

Best,

Doyle

As far as I can tell, no outboard amp. I need to take it to somebody who knows something to have a look and help me assess what I actually have, and advise me on updating.

In any event, I am glad to have the CD player out of the trunk. I don't know why I had not considered updating to iPod technology - DOH! Meantime, room in the trunk, and the radio still works for when I want a change from engine music, so all is well :)

Dude a PULLOUT RADIO.....HAHAHAHAHA Haven't seen one of those in forever

For real! I've been calling it "cheesy" and wondering how old it has to be before it's "classic" or "vintage" :cool:

For me I would rather go without a radio/CD than to let one of these paid monkeys get under the dash of my car. Most of these shops talk a good game, but their work is bad. In fact most of it is completed as "piece" work so Katy bar the door. The local shop here in town won't let you into the work area, insurance reasons...

With a little patience and reading the schematics you can do the work your self. Use Amp plugs instead of butt connectors and your work will be a 100% better than the local shop.

Speaking of ols school, I have the same pullout set up, but it's a pannasonic, no external amp, it does have ADS 300I's in the doors but 6" pannasonic round in the back. It basically doesn't have the correct power to drive the ADS's, it is a cab so I rarely turn it on, if I could find a juiced up model that would slide in where this one pulls out I would consider that option. I almost forgot the pannasonic does have a CD player in it though, it is an 8000 series I believe, just not into the rewire scene any more, even if it doesn't sound all that great at least it looks very neat and clean.

Older 911 are one of the most easiest cars to work on the stereo system. Call Crutchfield and they will help you out. New radios are inexpensive and you can buy one that completely operates your Ipod. Just keep it in the glove box. Myself, I listen to satellite music and again, they have radios that have this built in now. Cd changers (and even cd's now) are old history now since you can fit a carload of music on something the size of a deck of cards.

Check the passenger footwell underneath the carpet and below the plywood plate. If the car came with a factory radio, the amp for the factory radio was located here.

I have that same Kenwood unit w/ADS speakers, in my 77S. Must have been the setup back then. My unit has an integrated lock that locks the head unit into the dash when you shut the ignition off. I'm sure that was considered to be pretty trick in 77 or so.

Al

I went looking at car stereo stuff yesterday evening - and my first thought was, "NO WAY I'm leaving my car here for any installation work!" I know one of the guys who works in the back of another shop in town and I"ve heard the stories......

Getting a new cd/ipod setup is not a big deal for me. The CD player was kind of fun, I love cranking up Bush's MACHINEHEAD on a good drive :) But it was skippy as hell and took up so much room so deleting it was a bit of a priority. Replacing it is not. The radio will do me fine for now.

There is some great-looking stuff available, and prices seem reasonable. I have FINALLY made a few local wrenchy friends, one of whom is an electronics guy, so if I decide to put something else in there, I'll hope to buddy up with somebody for a hand with it. Hell, I have no clue about amp plugs vs. butt connectors!

You know, after posting here, I went thru the files my PO gave me with the car, and I'll be damned, there is a receipt and installation instructions in there for an amp. I'm taking the car out today for some "exercise" :) - I will dig around in there and see what I find. Actually I should probably just call the guy. We are still in touch.

You might be able to use the AUX channel of the unit you have that ran the CD changer to run your ipod. I tied into mine and run an ipod on my Pioneer old school unit. Ask questions/search on this site http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/.

A simple audio jack extension to the ipod headset (or any other mp3 player) runs it. So long CDs.

thx for posting the pics

- if you have some special CD's, almost any computer can rip them onto a music player type file

some formats, e.g. Apple Lossless, are very high quality and in distinguishable from a CD or SACD even on a quality home system -- you can set that in Options or Tools -- it will be fine for any car, much less the acoustically challenged 911

cheap used music players are available near any college - the students trade up all the time, and often get their heads under water and start selling off stuff they should not have bought in the first place...

I just ripped out all the stereo equipment from my 911 and had my Blaupunkt Reno repaired.

I did have a Blaupukt amp underneath the plywood as mentioned above but it was from the early 90's, not a factory Amp. BTW, I thought the factory amps were under the passenger seat?

The intall shop had cut off all the connectors from the factory harness and extended them with "stereo wire":(
Nothing was soldered, everything was poorly crimped and a million zipties were used, everything was concealed nicely but the amp being under the passenger plywood gave little legroom to taller friends and the giant CD changer in the trunk was terrible, maybe two grocery bags and thats it, was nice and never skipped otherwise...sony unit.

Then the aftermarket alarm, that is now gone forever, was diconnected and never worked.......

I am with some of the other guys, if you can get all the original connectors back on your factory harness, have your friend solder it all to factory spec and buy the $12.- adapter from Crutchfield and a nice new head unit, you'll be happier.

I love the added room in my car and under the dash/trunk, I probably took out close to 40lbs in aftermarket electronics:D

Whaddya know. Here's what I found under the plywood plate in the passenger footwell:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3144/...2ac235b867.jpg

Hmm. It says Alpine Mobile Security...

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Gah. I don't know what I have. A rat's nest, for sure, anyway!

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The paperwork does not match anything in the car. I have docs for a "Coustic" amp and speakers, and a JVC 12-disc changer. I took out of the car a Kenwood 10 disc changer, and I see 2 sets of speakers, Coustics on the rear ledge, and Boston Acoustics cut into the rear panel behind the seats (holding the seats in permanently folded-down position).

I'm guessing this Alpine thing is my alarm system (which I have only ever used by mistake). Perhaps I did not dig around well enough under there. I have to say, the way this is mounted, the wood floor panel fits perfectly flush and the installation of this Alpine unit does not appear to have interfered with footwell space at all.

I went back and tried to see what's under the passenger seat. This is the best photo I could get, and I have no clue what this is. From the front & back it appears to be a metal housing that's bolted down to hold whatever's inside there. Amp, perhaps? SHRUG.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3205/...62041514bb.jpg

Talked to the PO on the phone this afternoon. The amp IS under the seat. That metal piece is a housing he fabricated, one piece in front, one in back, to brace the amp in place. He said he was unable to remove the seat without drilling out the bolts, and this was his workaround.

I hate PO that that don't know what they are doing and just do a shoemaker repair because they are to CHEAP to bring it in to get it done right.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/...27d771c7ac.jpg

As for the Alpine Alarm that is in the passenger foot well, that alarm was standard on BMUU (BM double U) for their E32 and E34 series cars 5 Series and 7 series. I have the same unit in my Touring.

If the PO didn't give you the remote(s) to arm and disarm the alarm good luck with trying to locate one. They come up on eBay, but they are PRICEY. Then you will have to program the remote to work with the alarm. Some BMUU dealers will do it for FREE, but most will charge you a hour labor to program the remote.

If you need to program the remote(s) PM me.

Well I love the PO that did some hidden but harmless hackwork because things like this are the reason I got the price I did. I'm fine with the trade-off. So far, anyway!

Thanks for the info on the alarm. The PO did give me the remote and it works fine. I don't really use it often, and I guess I better check it when I go out to put the car in the garage to be sure I didn't rattle anything loose in there taking out the floor panel. If I need a hand programming I'll be in touch. Thanks for offering to help!

Hi VroomGrrl

There are two schools of thought on what you are trying to do.

Yes an MP3 player/ipod setup will save you a lot of room.

BUT you cannot compare an mp3 to a wave on playback. Close, yes, but not as good. There is nother wrong with a CD changer. The Kenwood you have is not the best quality. Alpine make some very nice units, they are quite small and can take a good jolt without skipping. Just about all indash CD payers will have an AUX in jack. You can connect an ipod/mp3 player through that. Since the car is already set up with a changer and an amp you should find yourself a higher end Alpine head unit and a changer. Connect it all up with the amp you have and if you have an mp3 player, you can use the AUX in jack in the head unit with that. You will have the best of both worlds. Quality with the head unit and changer and 1000's of (mp3 quality) songs at hand with the mp3 player.

Yes, I have done audio both of these ways........in a 911. It is all up to the customer.

MY $.02

PS: If you do want to go the ultra compact route, you can use one of these with an amp and plug it into an mp3 player. (these work great for the weight saving guys that still want audio in their cars)

http://www.starmarinedepot.com/Poly-Planar+IC-3.5PM+MP3+Adapter.html

I installed one these in a small boat. Works well.

The Alpine security system is also capable of locking and unlocking power door locks. I use mine to lock and unlock the doors on the BMUU. So much easier to push a button to unlock all the doors instead of inserting a key in the lock and then unlocking the remaining doors from the inside.

You can also add an eye pod to your existing stereo by buying an fm transimitter for the eye pod or any other portable mp3 player. I have a Porsche CD-2 player in my Targa which I use a fm transmitter to listen to music from my eye pod.

The security system did arm and disarm fine, so all's well there. I will have to play around with the remote and see if it's programmed to lock/unlock.

Boy there is some great car audio stuff out these days. Who knew? SmileWavy

I challenge anyone to distinguish any CD from a quality computer format file -- in fact, they can be the SAME bit stream

Seems like a lot of work :(

I would have tried a different mounting, say still vertical but facing forward. The other option would be to re-mount the changer under the drivers or passengers seat. There shoul be a 5 or 8 pin din connector that would extend in to the passenger cabin .
Try just running the cord loose( should be 16') and mount the changer horizontally facing forward. Also be careful to check the side mounting panels. On units like these
there was usually a spring loaded cam on each side that had to be re-oriented 90%
for either vertical or horizontal mounting.
As far as using a different CD changer with this unit you would have to use a Kenwood. Cd changers of this time (74 to 85) were only compatible with the same brand headunit. Yes i know some of them had the same pin confiquration but they were wired differently inside one end. This why an Alpine din doesn't work with Kenwood.

You probably have a bi-level deck which was 2x 18 watts front & per amp out in the back or if was 80's or later you might be lucky enough to have hi-power and dual low level output plugs so you could run a 4 -channel amp for front and rear speakers. The amp could be mouted under the passenger seat. The plugs are either 2 pairs of rcas or they are din plugs. If they are din and you don't use a Kenwood amp with dins you will need to look for a set of 5 or 8pin din-plug to rca out adapters. Try DLC David Levy Co. Or a stereo store that has sold Kenwood for awhile.

As far as someone else s comment about using an ipod because you get more songs
that's true but the digital sound sounds like crap compared to the digital CD.
Why? Because the sampling rate on the CD Is recorded at a much higher sampling rate then Ipods.

Factory amps were never under the seats They were mounted under the panel board on the front passengers side. Typical was an anemic Blaupunkt BPA 415 with 4x 15 watts.
Speakers in the rear were Blaupukt 4x6 and front 5", not 5-1/4 Blaupunkt.

Alpine 8000 alarm was aftermarket with on/off/panic remote, door,hood pins &shock detector.
Just saw updated picture of amp. If it was Japanese toss it They used ic's for power
If it is a Hifonics or PPI or American amp that uses transisters and still plays use it.