Hi guys, I'm also contemplating a sound upgrade in my newly acquired 62 Lancer. I absolutely will not remove the stock radio and don't want to see any signs of the stereo system in there. I'd love to find some kick panel adapters, but I would consider replacing the dash speaker with some smaller ones.

I'm just looking for ideas and pictures of what you guys have done. I know I can get the insides of my stock radio modified to play FM and include an RCA input so I could use an mp3 player, but since I have no decent mp3 player at the moment, that's about $800 to spend before i even have any speakers. =(

But I do want to preserve the stock look as much as possible.

You can also email pictures to me lancer.62@gmail.com

Thanks!

MJ

Zorg:
I was looking at your post regarding under seat mounting and thought that perhaps if one were to buy a stereo with a wireless remote (many come this way now) that it would be easier. Button memorization would no longer be required. It would be a simple point and click, my remote is strong enough to change volume and tracks and such through the back window while i'm sitting on the trunk enjoying the sun.

Anyone with a wireless remote can you comment on changing radio stations? That would be an interesting one. I have a pioneer player that had a remote, but I never used it and I'm not even sure where it is. It would be nice to mount it under the seat or even in the trunk, and then use the remote. I have my CD changer in another car mounted under the driver's seat which is much more convenient for changing the magazine than going to the trunk!

on the flip side, i dont want to spend too much time messing with the remote and crash the car

MJ

I don't know about the new radios on the market, but both my pioneer CD/mp3 players use infra-red remotes. Meaning, no line of sight = no remote control function. The tint on my rear window in the 2000 Ram is enough to make the remote not work.

Does the car have a bench seat or buckets? If buckets, you could build a custom consol that could house both the CD deck and some smaller speakers, cupholders, storage, etc.

For the rear deck I would look seriously into relocating the defroster blower motor. The sail panels will not be deep enough to mount a speaker worth listening to. Component speakers could be mounted in separate (small) boxes in the trunk, with the component tweeters on the sail panels so you could still hear higher frequencies, but every time I see a car with a setup like this the sound is still terribly muffled (by the rear seat) in my mind.

$0.02

-S/6

good point, IR would be a big problem Wired remote is probably a must.

Honestly I dont even know if I have a rear defroster--I've only had it at my house a few days and never even looked. I'm not going to invest a fortune in a sound system because my car has a *slight* amount of wind noise =)

I've got bench seats, so a console in the middle is pretty limited. I think under the seat or glovebox will be my most likely locations. Maybe with a remote you can unplug so its not always hanging out by a wire? Just thinking out loud.

But I'll have to crawl into the trunk the next time I go visit the car and see what I can find out. Its currently being stored in a friend's garage since I only have a 1 car garage and that place is taken by our new car

Anyone have a wired remote they actually like?

S/6

Something I had not noticed until a friend pointed it out this weekend is that the odd shaped defroster hole is large enough, is in the correct location, and already has screw holes located to double as another speaker hole. I guess cars with the optional defogger only had one, if any, rear speaker. Anyone care to share your 1st hand knowledge about this?

We just received a large box of parts today, including a brand new package tray. It has the slotted perforations cut out for both speaker locations. I'm seriously considering doing like you said and find a good way to relocate the defogger in the center between the two speakers. I'll have to make my own slots for the fan to draw air through.

Jerry

_________________
There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

Some receivers need to have a clear line-of-sight for the infrared (IR) remote to "see" it. Others operate on a radio frequency (RF) and don't need to "see" the deck, so they can be hidden from view. I have been researching a system that mounts a small thin LED display under the dash, in the ash tray, in the glove box, or any other inconspicuous place so you can see channel or track selections.

Check out this link:
[url]custom-autosound.com[/url]

Jerry

_________________
There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

Yeah I thought about the Secret Audio S-1 System with CD changer, but there's really no inconspiccous place that I can put the LCD screen that's not also hard for me to see (that I can think of). If I had a center console of some kind it could be housed in there, but then it would be cheaper just buy a standard stereo that has better specs for less money than these ones have.

That being said, some of the installs are pretty slick--LCD in the sun visor for example. The appeal of not taring I'd probably add an amp too as both of these decks are fairly underpowered (with no RMS listing either which kind of worries me) . The appeal of not tearing up the glove box is also tempting, regardless of if I can see the lcd. I need to have a little flip down panel or something for it, that would be nice

I'll keep looking and you guys keep posting ideas.

MJ

FWIW--the RMS wattage rating per channel on most CD decks (say, under $1000) is going to fall in the 10 watt to 25 watt range, with most being somewhere near the middle of that range (approx 15 watts).

How big are these remote-mounted LCD screens?

-S/6

Ah, I was basing it on my experience with my two newest decks, both made by pioneer. Their entire line uses the MOFSET 50 Watt amp which delivers 22 RMS. Here's the one I just installed in my neighbor's car and I think he paid about $100 for it. I know I just bought the 3600 on ebay for $60 with the same amp in it.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... pe=product

I'm no audiophile, I just thought they wanted a lot for what were relatively low amplifications compared to the other stuff I've seen.

The screens are pretty small.
LCD Display - 4 '/2" (W) X 1 '/2" (H) X 4/5" (D)

http://custom-autosound.com/secretaudio.php

pics of mounting: http://custom-autosound.com/secretaudioInstalls.php

MJ

In plotting and scheming a lengthy list of eventual upgrades for the soon-to-be-mine '71 Dart, I went digging just now for speaker-equipped kick panels I stumbled across a couple weeks ago while surfing late at night. Didn't find the page I'd originally seen, but I did come across Tayman Electrical's site. Didn't know he had a website (he does now!). This is the guy who, back in 1998 or so, installed an FM converter in my '62 Lancer's original AM radio. Turn the radio on, and it works as its normal AM self. Turn it off and then back on, and you've got FM. Tayman also did some custom work, adding a line-in jack and mode selector "switch on a string". The line-in jack runs via a patchcord to the glovebox, wherein is also located the mode switch. Open the glovebox, hit the switch, plug a Discman (or MP3 player, though there was no such a thing in 1998) into the jack, raise the volume a little, and off you go. This guy is good!.

...and he seems to have an interesting variety of parts that can readily be used to upgrade our old sound systems. Those dual-voicecoil speakers look interesting, and seem to me as though they're probably a better solution than the "two small round speakers in place of one big oval one" idea. Speaker-equipped kick panels for '67-'76 A-bodies. '60s-'70s style speaker grilles for an original-equipmentlike look to the parcel shelf in the back. I'm sure a fair amount of what he offers can be had at similar prices elsewhere, but I try to patronise those who've demonstrated to me that they know what they're talking about (and doing), and Gary Tayman qualifies.

_________________
一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Are you going to get those kickpanel speakers? I'd really love to get some panels and not have to hack my orignals up. I'm eager to hear.

glad the dart is going to be yours

MJ

I've begun pinging on Tayman to see what the procedure might be to try and persuade the maker of those kick panels to introduce a new product (i.e., for a car not presently covered). This would solve two problems, if successful: Better sound and new kick panels for '60-'62 A-bodies! If I manage to get to the "How much interest is there?" stage, I'll let the idea loose on the Australian forums.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

ok keep me in the loop. and btw you never did say on the volvo parts deal.

Did so, in IM! The answer was "No thanks, not right now". (Now I'm wondering about doubling up on the other parts!)

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.