What can I do for tunes that keeps / ties into the stock AM or AM/FM??

[Road_Runner]

I've picked up a really nice stock E-Body AM/FM radio to replace the dead aftermarket stereo that came in my 73 Barracuda.  What I'd like to do is add MP3, an add-on amp and better speakers to hopefully end up with something worth listening to.  I've got a link from here previously about a company that can add an MP3 input into the stock radio but I'd like to know what others have done here that retained the stock radio and ended up with a decent sounding sound system.  My Barracuda has the single speaker in the dash and the two rear speakers and I'd like to stay away with cutting interior panels, etc. 

Thanks in advance, Jim

[Chryco Psycho]

with an Ipod you can load 2000 + tunes & transmit on an FM fequency for the fm to pick up
I had no radio so I installed a mini amp 180 watt that the Ipod plugs into bypassing the enitre factory system

[BarracudaDave]

with an Ipod you can load 2000 + tunes & transmit on an FM fequency for the fm to pick up
I had no radio so I installed a mini amp 180 watt that the Ipod plugs into bypassing the enitre factory system

Could you please provide some more info on your mimi amp setup, brand, source, etc.  I assume you use your ipod to control volume?  What about bass, treble, balance, etc?   Thanks.

[Chryco Psycho]

I used a mini off Ebay for about $25 , the amp has Volume , bass & treble controls , Like this one

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hi-Fi-Tripath-Class-T-Amp-Mini-Stereo-Amplifier-25WX2-/280559862405?pt=Car_Amplifiers&hash=item4152abc285

[Road_Runner]

I used a mini off Ebay for about $25 , the amp has Volume , bass & treble controls , Like this one

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hi-Fi-Tripath-Class-T-Amp-Mini-Stereo-Amplifier-25WX2-/280559862405?pt=Car_Amplifiers&hash=item4152abc285

I must have missed your original reply.  This is a very cool idea!  Thanks for the link.

Jim

[Road_Runner]

OK, Same question but with a little more detail.  Chryco recommended a mini-amp which is a very cool idea.  My question now is exactly how can this tie into a stock am/fm radio and an MP3 player?  I know you can get an MP3 input added to the stock radio, but can an amp be put in-line with the radio & the speakers?  If so, how?  I noticed some a mono channel, others 2, and others 4.  So I'm assuming I could hook up 4 speakers to a 4ch unit so what I'd like to do is radio & mp3 player both into an amp and then 4 speakers out (2 front, 2 back).  Again, Its been a long time since I've wired in my last Pioneer 8 track deck so any detailed advice would be greatly appreciated including exactly what do I need to purchase and clear instructions on how I put all this together.

Thanks in advance, Jim

[Chryco Psycho]

I wouild talk to an audio specialist at a commercial shop that does Audio
I know the Ipods & some mini amps can pick up FM with built in tuners , I have no idea how incorperate the factory radio into a mini amp system though

[Bluemonster71RT]

Your best bet is to use a standalone system like CP if you don't want to touch your factory set up.  Even if you got a full amp you would have to tap into the speaker wires to make it work being that the older radios don't have the rca outputs for amp signal.

[Road_Runner]

Thanks for the info guys.  The other thing I thought was to have the stock radio work through the center front speaker only, leaving the two front outer speakers and the two back speakers for the amp/mp3 player.  That or get one of the special made modern Cuda radios or a hidden unit.  I like the idea of the mini amp a lot so having both working might be the best bet at this point since I already have a mint radio to put in, too.

Thanks again, Jim

[Tonefiend]

How about one of the new repros that have modern internals but look like a stock radio.  I believe they have a hidden input jack for an ipod.  Then you could hide an amp somewhere and maybe a remote CD changer in the trunk and have a really kickin setup.  This is what I think I am going to do. 

I used the fm tuners for years with my ipod.  They work ok but kinda suck. 

[Road_Runner]

How about one of the new repros that have modern internals but look like a stock radio.  I believe they have a hidden input jack for an ipod.  Then you could hide an amp somewhere and maybe a remote CD changer in the trunk and have a really kickin setup.  This is what I think I am going to do. 

I used the fm tuners for years with my ipod.  They work ok but kinda suck.

I've looked at that unit and its definitely in the running.  At roughly $600 you're paying for the custom Cuda/Challenger look, but that's probably fair given the low numbers they likely will sell and the effort involved to make it.  I'd love to tie something into the mint am/fm unit I've got, but I wouldn't be all that unhappy to just keep it as an original piece and go with the 'new' am/fm unit.  If anyone has one of these I'd love to hear how you like it.

Later, Jim

[70 383 SE]

I`m watching this with great interest too.  I have the original thumb-wheel in mine and it works but the speakers suck. I want to have the original radio to go into the new speakers but I would like to have the i-pod and maybe a satelite radio as well  People  I have talked to said I would probable need an amp, which is cool, but I don`t know how that will work with the original radio? I`ll be watching and listening!!!

[pywell]

Im not sure for amplifiers, but has anyone checked out the CD shuttles that plug into the rf input of the radio? You set the frequency on the control and tune in your analog radio to the frequency just like the ipod but you dont have any wireless interferance. 12 cd MP3/WMA player should be enough to put all your music on. They come with a little LCD screen that you can put up somewhere out of the way and you use a remote to control it. Oh the antenna is plugged into the system aswell so you dont lose your regular radio. We did this for a '70 911 Porsche and will be doing it to the 74 challenger here too, keep stock look and value without modifying anything.

[70 383 SE]

  That sounds interesting   I`m not much of an electronics person, heck I haven`t put in a car stereo in about 18 to 20 years so some of what your saying doesn`t really compute with me ...if you know what I mean, I  definately need more info, in lay-mans terms, but something like that where I can still use the oem radio is definately what I`m looking for. I have been looking at some different speakers and amps, and JBL has some descent speakers (P963 {6x9 3-way},P462 {4" 2-way} and an amp (GTO504 {280 watt 4 channel}) I called JBL and it is about what I`m looking for, but the only thing that could be a problem is that if the signal from the oem radio is not clean, no matter what amp and speakers you have the sound will still be poor. So I will still need a head unit I guess. .One that I can still plug in an i-pod into and small enough to hide away some where. Well that should be simple enough to find ....right      What ever happened to the old 8-tracks and 2 speaker days....I could do that  Any way, any help will be greatly appreciated.

[pywell]

the only thing that could be a problem is that if the signal from the oem radio is not clean, no matter what amp and speakers you have the sound will still be poor. So I will still need a head unit I guess. .One that I can still plug in an i-pod into and small enough to hide away some where.

I wouldnt say that your head unit is poor quality have you tried it yet?

How it works.
You put your head unit in, and instead of plugging in the antenna, you plugin the cd changer, and then you plug the antenna into the adapter on the cd changer. You mount up your 12 disc cd changer, which will play between 2000 - 7000 songs and it will play regular cds. Then you mount up the little LCD unit on the dash or center console area.

Here is a link to pics and more information.
http://www.jvc.ca/www/Mobile/products.aspx?h=D1_200