Stereo Sugestions E body Convertible?

[Popeye]

Anyone have any good ideas for putting a stereo in an E body convertible. I'll be using a stock AM radio in the factory location probably connected to the center speaker. I have a 3 speaker dash, so I can put some 3 1/2" speakers in the dash for a separate system. Any other speaker locations? I don't want to cut any panels so options are limited. I'm looking for ideas concerning tuner/amp/CD player locations. Also, is Secret Audio any good? Any suggestions welcome.

[lemonboy69]

Popeye... I got a pair of Sony Explode 6x9's for a birthday present a year or 2 ago... want to know the ironic thing... they fit in the package tray holes like they were made for it!!!! Granted, this is on my '69 Cuda... don't know if the tray is similar or not for yours... but there's one idea for ya!! DOH... just remembered... you've got a convertible...

LB

[4Cruizn]

Popeye I have the same problem with the convert.  I figure I'll do close to the hardtop setup with am/fm CD control receiver where the stock radio sat, put a 12 disk in the glove box (or trunk with remote)  mount the amp in the trunk and somehow put some boxes with multi speaker under the well liner!  I still need to measure it out!  If I can mount the sub woofer where the spare would go and possiblily a couple boxes angled toward the front and still make room for the top while down, I think even though the sound would be muffled slightly, the amp will make enough power to make up for it!  The only other deal I can think of is to put holes in the back panels and . . .  I refuse.  I can push enough amps to make it loud enough, even if I need to upgrade the alt. to cover it!  This is something I would like to hear other opinions on also!!  Thanks!

[lemonboy69]

I would personally love to put a system in my 'Cuda... but then again, I'm afraid of getting "labeled"...



I'm thinking of building a custom box out of the back seat supports... woofer in the middle, mid-ends and tweeters on the outsides... cover it in the same carpet stuff used on woofer boxes... I think it would look cool... along with it being unique!! If you want sound... GO FOR IT!!

LB

[GhettoPop]

all these stereo systems sure are getting heavy...........heh heh.......but i would go for it! probally gonna install a good cd player/amp/speaker setup at some point since the aftermarket system that was in my car when i bought it is still in there.  they didnt make good equilizers in the 80's!!!

[Pistol Gripper]

I'm going retro with an old Pioneer KP-500 underdash cassette / FM radio.  I'll hide a RF modulated CD changer and Amp in the trunk.  A set of vintage Pioneer wedge speakers setting on the sail panel and it'll look old and still sound good.

P.G.

[jterp]

I put a sony cd headunit in the stock location -- fit perfectly. I got two pioneer 4" speakers that came mounted in a black plastic case with a 45 degree angle and mounted them on the rear side panel facing front -- they work good enough for me --- With all the leftover money I had from 12 disc players and subwoofers and crossovers and amps I bought a good exhaust system --
it sounds better than any stereo could have!

[Robb_Scottsdale]

You can get a pair of old kick panels off of eBay, build them out with Fibreglass and wood, and mount a 6 inch (or 5 1/4) and a tweeter down by your feet.    Cover kickpanels with some kind of Fabric or even Vinyl to make it all look smooth.   Make a grill to cover the speakers and use acoustically transparent grill cloth for the grill.

The benefit is that you wont have as much PLD and your stereo will sound a lot better.   And you dont have to cut up expensive panels and look at ugly-arse speakers where there arent supposed to be any.

Besides when you go to a concert you FACE the music, you dont turn your back to it.  

 Human ears detect sounds left and right, but not up and down.  Therefore it doesnt matter that they are down by your feet, close your eyes and you cant tell. (unless your head is tilted sideways)

angle the speakers (mainly the tweeters) towards your "domelight" (obviously converts dont have one but pretend)  



heres the basics,

http://www.ritop.com/articles/csr9-98.htm


You can build a sub-box out of Fibreglass too(with MDF Braces). BUt it needs to be thick/rigid enough not to flex.  That is great in that you can maximize your use of space by closely conforming to the inside contours of your trunk to get the desired airspace behind your woofers.      

[budrinker]

why would you want to drown out the sweet music of a 340 going thru $1.85 a gallon american hitest anyway forget the radio.if ya get bored humm a tune

[Popeye]

LB, I don't know if we're thinking of the same idea or not. I spoke with a friend of mine on the West coast and he put a system in a Challenger convertible. It's a Secret Audio SS system with the 10 disc CD changer. I believe he mounted the tuner/amp in the trunk, but he may have put it somewhere else. I know he put the CD changer in the trunk. He put a dual voice coil Custom Auto Sound speaker in the dash. He doesn't have a 3 speaker dash, so he mounted 5 1/4" rounds under the dash firing down and out of sight. Now for the interesting part. The Secret Audio system is nice but perhaps a bit underpowered for a convertible, especially considering the rear speaker placement. So, he mounted 2 200 watt amplifiers somewhere between the trunk and the back seat...not exactly sure where. For rear speakers he used 6 x 9 3 ways and mounted them inside the rear seat back near the top outer corners. Apparently it sounds great. This guy is meticulous like me so I take him at his word that the system is good. He has a friend that does professional installs and this guy basically did it for him.  

[JS27N0B]

LB, I don't know if we're thinking of the same idea or not. I spoke with a friend of mine on the West coast and he put a system in a Challenger convertible. It's a Secret Audio SS system with the 10 disc CD changer. I believe he mounted the tuner/amp in the trunk, but he may have put it somewhere else. I know he put the CD changer in the trunk. He put a dual voice coil Custom Auto Sound speaker in the dash. He doesn't have a 3 speaker dash, so he mounted 5 1/4" rounds under the dash firing down and out of sight. Now for the interesting part. The Secret Audio system is nice but perhaps a bit underpowered for a convertible, especially considering the rear speaker placement. So, he mounted 2 200 watt amplifiers somewhere between the trunk and the back seat...not exactly sure where. For rear speakers he used 6 x 9 3 ways and mounted them inside the rear seat back near the top outer corners. Apparently it sounds great. This guy is meticulous like me so I take him at his word that the system is good. He has a friend that does professional installs and this guy basically did it for him.  

Any chance you could find some pics for it!! I was also considering the secret audio route.

[lemonboy69]

If you've got the latest Paddock cat... Page 4, left hand side, 3rd down...

LB

[JS27N0B]

I was reffering to the installation photos rather than what secret audio looks like.

[lemonboy69]

Whoops... sorry!

LB

[Moparmatt]

Theres a guy out there who does modern radios out of the old casings. You might be able to get a radio like that, get a stock 8-track player that has been modified for CDs and mount the "stereo kit" in the center speaker hole on the Mono dash... cover the rear speakers with the stock package tray/speaker grilles and you're good to go. However, the people who do  radio conversions like that usually want an arm and a leg...

My dad wanted to go that route with his 442, but decided to go with a stock AM/FM with the Jensen rear speakers already in th ecar covered by the dealership installed speaker grilles. Not sure about the Stereo conversion for the front though, so it will probably be a Mono stereo.