Leave original radio in dash and mount a new one elsewhere?

[M491Cabriolet]

I was wondering if anyone has installed a new radio in an invisible or stealthy location while leaving the original radio in its place in the dash on a longhood 911? I am thinking of places like under the seat, in the glove compartment, under the dash, or elsewhere. Has anyone done this? If so, where and how? I really do not want to remove the original mono radio from my 1972 dash, but I'd like to have some deent sound (other than the engine exhaust note). Any information including pictures would be highly appreciated. Thanks.

[porsche930dude]

I know someone who has done this in their 66 mustang. I think the only real problem he had was he had to make a dual input adapter for the antenna. Thats if you want the original to work at all. As for the hidden part. There are limitless options to hide it. The hot rod guys have all kinds of stuff for that

[dorschman]

you could also search for a company that will basically convert a classic face to modern standards by adapting the buttons to new functions with new inner parts. I hear they are expensive but might be another option. I cannot remember the name of the company unfortunately.

erik

[JohnJL]

I kept the original radio in the dash (1971 Targa) and kept the power hooked up so it is illuminated but replaced the entire system "stealth-style." Alpine head unit with remote and ipod in the glove compartment, amp under passenger seat, powered sub under driver's seat. 6.5" kenwoods in the doors (black grill, no logos)

[porsche930dude]

also if you have an amp and an ipod you can run it straight through that without any head unit with an av cable. I read it could be done never actually tried it

[Joe Bob]

Get a stock looking one redone, get the IPOD and XM upgrade.....

Look for "Woody's" on eBay.....

[Sporttracguy]

I did this in my ford sport trac. Turns a lot of heads. I remote wired an aftermarket head unit my soldering each individual contact on the HU using cat5 cable and then hardwired it to the faceplate

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/car-audio/32881-remote-faceplate-turned-out-really-nice-check-out.html

Although i removed my factory stereo to place a touchscreen the theory works the same with the factory radio and you can relocate that faceplate anywhere you want, even in your visor

Ryan

[signature65]

I have an iPod that runs directly into the amp. Sounds great but no radio with the iPod. The Microsoft Zune has a built in radio tho. Its easy and can be removed at anytime without any modifications

[Hugh R]

Originally Posted by signature65

I have an iPod that runs directly into the amp. Sounds great but no radio with the iPod. The Microsoft Zune has a built in radio tho. Its easy and can be removed at anytime without any modifications

I've seen a set of IPOD ear buds that are FM receivers and the IPOD sees them as such.

[Peterfrans]

Originally Posted by Sporttracguy

I did this in my ford sport trac. Turns a lot of heads. I remote wired an aftermarket head unit my soldering each individual contact on the HU using cat5 cable and then hardwired it to the faceplate

This is exactly what I did also. The faceplate is between my seats, the head unit is in the trunk.

[tharbert]

I saw this post and thought you might like to see a p car alternative radio placement in a in action. Although you can't tell at first, he plaing AD DC's "Highway to hell"

Radio in glove compartment

[f3nr15]

Another option:

The Blaupunkt GTA series of in-car amplifiers have a Direct Aux input which allows you to connect an iPod etc directly to the amp - you don't even need a head unit!

This way you could mount the amp under one of the seats and use your iPod to supply the tunes, leaving your original head unit untouched in the dash.



Links:

Blaupunkt GTA 280

Blaupunkt GTA 480

[signature65]

Hey Peter, you can run any iPod directly into an amp. All you need is a cable that has the headphone plug on one side and converts to the RCA cable(red and white connectin) on the other end. They sell them at any Best Buy, Circuit City and so on. I did the same thing in my Speedster replica to I didnt have some ugly head unit.

Hugh- I am going to have to look into those ear buds

[M491Cabriolet]

Interesting stuff. Thanks. I'm leaning toward the iPod into the amp solution, but I'm intrigued by the faceplate anywhere solution too. How do you connect the faceplate so far from the head unit? I mean, I guess you are running wires between the head unit and face plate, but there must be some kind of trick to it... Super cool!

[kiwiokie]

Had anyone come across an amp or head unit that has a USB input rather than an analog phone jack?

[M491Cabriolet]

I just put a new Blaupunkt Brisbane, which is powerful, really plain looking, and has a USB and SD slot into my 1989 M491 Cabriolet. I cut no wires at all in rhe original wiring harness. This stereo has no CD, though. I added a $19 Blaupunkt iPod interface. I hope that's helpful.

[Kroggers]

Originally Posted by signature65

Hey Peter, you can run any iPod directly into an amp. All you need is a cable that has the headphone plug on one side and converts to the RCA cable(red and white connectin) on the other end.

I do not confess to be a car stereo expert, but I would do this with caution. Your amp RCA inputs are not designed to accept the pre-amp signal that your iPod supplies to the head phone. You might find that turning up the volume will blow the amp. Most modern amps will have additional inputs to support connecting from a car stereo speaker output, or have an additional AUX input.

[deshetlr]

A lot of top end hot rodders use Custom Auto Sounds Secretaudio:
http://www.casmfg.com/Secretaudio.htm

[naparsei]

Originally Posted by deshetlr

A lot of top end hot rodders use Custom Auto Sounds Secretaudio:
Secretaudio SST

Has anyone tried this? Does the info from the iPOD show up on the display? How is the quality?