where to install head unit if using original radio in dash?

[RG5]

Hi all!

I am embarking on a project in the Carrera 3.2 in that I have acquired an original Blaupunkta Atlanta SQR22 tape deck and wish to install this in the original DIN location in the dash. This will feed into an Alpine amp to drive Focal 5.25" speakers. I chose the Focals in this size so I can use the speakers with the factory grills which I intend to mount behind the door panel.

I would also like to retain my current Alpine CD player as it has a ipod input via a conversion box that uses the CD changer port.

My question is where to install the CD player so that is out of view.

I started with the glovebox but that will not work as the depth of the player is too large for the glovebox depth and the door will not close with the faceplate attached. So I need another location for the deck.

The idea is that both the CD player and tape deck would feed into the amp and each can be selected using a toggle A/B RCA switch located under the dash.

Any advice or lateral thinking regarding where to install the CD player would be well received, particularly from those who have done a similar thing.

RG5

[Joe Bob]

I would consider a mod to the tape deck with an input for an IPOD. Lot's easier..... eliminate the CD player altogether. Woody's does the mod, they advertise and sell finished setups on eBay.

[A horse with no name]

+1...Hi - For what it's worth, here is a very, very easy fix-> Run your iPod /mp3 player directly off of your amp. My car is a '86 and there was no auxiliary out-put on the factory Blaupunkt and the radio shop wanted too much to install one. What I did was very simple, but you lose your radio but it is very easy to reconnect if you choose to.

1. I left the radio's power from the amp on so that when I turn the radio on (with the ignition on) it powers the amp.
2. I then unplugged my radio input RCA cable from the amp...
3. I ran a new 6' iPod gorilla cable from this input into the car via the wiring harness hole on the passenger side firewall; under the carpet up to my center console.

You now just have to plug in your iPod/mp3 player into the new cable; turn on the radio and turn up the sound!...The only drawback is that I have to adjust the volume from the iPod which hasn't been a problem.

My amp was installed right tight against the right inner fender well and to reconnect the radio it's just a matter of unplugging and replugging the RCA jack.If you use your radio a lot then this is of course not the way to go..But if you want 'instant' sound the above only takes a few minutes... Just the time to run the new cable to the console.
Cheers!
ps- If you go this route, have your iPod plugged in and your radio on before you start the car....If not, when you do turn the radio on you will get a loud 'pop' from the amp. It doesn't damage anything but your ears

[RG5]

Thanks for the replies!

I had considered going the ipod--> amp route, my only concern was sound quality. If going this route I would rather get a dedicated controller that accesses the digital port on the bottom of the ipod and not the headphone socket. This might offer a solution as well.

CL-RLC - Car Audio - OEM Interface - System Expansion - JL Audio

As for the connecting/disconnecting the rca jacks for deck/ipod, why not use something like this:



This would enable switching between sources.

I was planning on retaining the CD player as it already has a neat ipod connectivity and also the option of playing CDs as well. Also, this solution charges the ipod.

I figured using the above switch it would be easy to convert between the boxes. I also thought I could combine the remote wires from both the CD player/tape deck so the amp is powered up whichever is in use.

Perhaps all this sounds a bit more complicated than it needs to be; however the main issue is where to locate the CD player (my original question) as it will NOT fit into the glovebox.

RG5

[Canada Kev]

You could use one of the iPhone adapters that plug into the back of Becker radios and wire that into where an auxiliary port would go. That way you would use the 30 pin connector on your iphone/ipod and charge it at the same time. If they could wire in an aux jack, they could wire this in instead...

iPod/iPhone Adapter for CDR220 - SW Stereo Specialists

You can see that there are only five wires they'd have to hook up: two for power and the three for signal...