Tiny Project - Big Benefit: Trunk CD player removal

[VroomGrrl]

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:



A real pain to pack around:



Bolted onto a base & plugged in like this:



Time for this to come out!

Voila!



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



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



Front view of the unit


Slips right in



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?

[richde]

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.

[dshepp806]

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

[VroomGrrl]

Originally Posted by dshepp806

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

[signature65]

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

[VroomGrrl]

Originally Posted by signature65

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"

[Mitch Leland]

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.

[robert walsh]

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.

[89911]

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.

[ruf-porsche]

Originally Posted by VroomGrrl

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

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.

[al lkosmal]

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

[VroomGrrl]

Originally Posted by Mitch Leland

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.

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!

[VroomGrrl]

Originally Posted by ruf-porsche

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.

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.

[oneblueyedog]

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.

[RWebb]

thx for posting the pics

Originally Posted by 89911

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.

- 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...

[Vino]

Originally Posted by ruf-porsche

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 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

[VroomGrrl]

Originally Posted by ruf-porsche

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.

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



Hmm. It says Alpine Mobile Security...



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



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.

[VroomGrrl]

Originally Posted by ruf-porsche

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 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.

[VroomGrrl]

Originally Posted by VroomGrrl

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.

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.

[ruf-porsche]

Originally Posted by VroomGrrl

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.



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.