Car Stereo Install Ooops

[twodko]

Thought I'd share what should have been an easy SecretAudio system install. I've been working on this the last few days and hoped to finish up today but noooo!
BananaDan offered a thread on this system recently and it is the system I was hoping to find. When I bought this sytem I'd also purchased a pair of Polk 6x9 triAxial speakers. When they arrived I took them out to the shop for install only to discover they were way too big for the package tray openings so back they went to be replaced by some Polk 5x7 CoAxials. Meanwhile I began running cables and wires, pulling seats out and generally hurting myself in places I didn't know I had. Some of you know what I mean......crawling inside the car on 57 year old hands and knees especially in the back seat area. Damn if there's not a bunch of sharp jabbing uneven surface stuff back there! I used the factory wire channels on both sides of the cabin and ran new wire to the door speakers. So far so good then the new speakers arrived yesterday. This morning I fortify myself with some oatmeal and coffee before heading out to the shop to drop in the new speakers. They should have just dropped in but, again, noooo. The factory openings required just a little shave so the speakers would just drop in. I drag out my angle grinder and attach a 60 grit flex disk to it. After carefully grinding off just enough metal for proper fitment, I'm happy with the way the speakers sit. Oh, I forgot to mention that its kinda tight back there between the package tray and glass. I'm holding onto that angle grinder as best I can but of course it jumps out a couple times and leaves some marks on me that prolly won't "buff right out". Being the manly man that I am where I laugh in the face of pain, where there is no hurdle to great, where "quit" is not in my vocabulary I push on. I again brave the uneven surfaces of backseat hell bringing my new speakers in for install. Its all working out pretty well with the first speaker. I'm crazy careful working on this car and putting in this sytsem when bad juju strikes. The pictures tell the story and I have another pair of speakers ordered. Just goes to show you, the best layed plans.........aren't.

[twodko]

The system is quite robust. It will control a CD changer, Sirius Radio, a USB device, an iPod, external amps and a sub woofer as well as its own AM/FM stereo radio. Drives 4 speakers @ 45 watts RMS which is more than enough to crank my oldies. The system also includes a wireless remote good to 40 feet and the face plate/screen is tiny - 1.5 x 4" approx. which is all that lives at the dash. Head end lives in the trunk because it turned out to be too big for the glove box or underneath any of the seats........gets too hot under there anyway. More pix

[twodko]

Here's the last of today's photo event. All it takes is one little slip with one little screwdriver and you're ordering new parts. I'll get the replacement set of speakers by Tuesday. My wife, Diane, tells me I can't play with my angle grinder for awhile.

It will be tits when its done..............freakin' better be.

By the way, I have a shiny new 5x7 speaker if anybody needs one.

[b5blue]

"When does the hurting stop?" (Quote from "Pinky and the Brain")   

[BananaDan]

Wow Tom, sorry to hear you've had such a hard time with the install.  I'm hoping mine goes ok... I'm a few weeks out, I'll let you know.

Dan

[twodko]

"When does the hurting stop?" (Quote from "Pinky and the Brain")   

Man, ain't that the truth!

[twodko]

Thanks Dan. Stuff happens even when careful. I was really stoked over those 6x9 triax but no way was I going to heavily modify the package tray to fit them. The 5x7's fit nicely.....err the one anyway. The hard part is over and the system will sound great once I install the last speaker. The wireless remote is slick, you'll like it. Soon I'll effort a pair of Polk 5.25's to replace the old chickenshack speaks in the doors. I'm jamming......our first show of the season is April 10th.

[tan top]

awww man  sorry to hear & see the pain  ouch  done a similar thing with a grinder slip  normally wear welding gloves but thought , only got to do a tiny bit  almost sliced through the  vein on the top of my hand  went about an 1/8" though the skin & the vein just started to seep blood in a couple of places luckily it was slowing down !!   that's a bummer on the speaker  , looking good though  

[twodko]

Wow, that was my same train of thought! "It'll only take me a sec....I can get it done without gloves". Hurt like hell yesterday but I milked some serious sympathy attention from the Mrs.

[HANDM]

Ouch!
That's why I have a dremmel 

[elacruze]

owwie.

Nice to see this install, I'm going with the same setup although I'll install a small amplifier, subwoofer, and battery-in-trunk (I think)

[TexasStroker]

Man, sorry to see that...I've been spending a little bit of free time researching systems for the Chally...thought it might be nice to upgrade the Charger as well.  Current set-up isn't much good once you hit 60 with the windows down...

Looking forward to seeing (and hearing if we are lucky and you make a vid) the finished product.  It is definitely a cramped work space with the glass in place.

[twodko]

A Dremel tool?............just like the one I have in a shop cabinet! Wish I woulda thought of that.

elacruze your system will sound awesome with an outboard amp and woof! How's the mill build going?

TexasStroker I've already fired the system up through just the door speakers and man does it sound great. I bought the system from John's Mustang/Texas and got it for $220 (about $40 less than other sources) and when I asked for free shipping they were happy to oblige.

I'll post a couple pix when its all done. Thanks guys

[elacruze]

elacruze your system will sound awesome with an outboard amp and woof! How's the mill build going?

I'll post a couple pix when its all done. Thanks guys

I stalled out for a few days, wife's been sick and it rained all day yesterday. I'm at the point of installing wiring, I have to measure for Firecore wires and the battery is in the mail. I'm considering installing battery-in-trunk and making some sort of nice-looking box to put the EFI boxes in place of the batter underhood.

[BananaDan]

Thanks Dan. Stuff happens even when careful. I was really stoked over those 6x9 triax but no way was I going to heavily modify the package tray to fit them. The 5x7's fit nicely.....err the one anyway. The hard part is over and the system will sound great once I install the last speaker. The wireless remote is slick, you'll like it. Soon I'll effort a pair of Polk 5.25's to replace the old chickenshack speaks in the doors. I'm jamming......our first show of the season is April 10th.

Tom,
I finally had the time to remove the speakers that were in my car and measure them against the Polks.  The ones that were in my car were 6x9's, so the Polks will fit fine for me.  I'm not sure why our packages trays are different, but my speaker holes are the same size.  It seems that a previous owner drilled holes for 6x9's in the package tray and put flat headed 3"-4" machine screws in the holes and they hang into the trunk area.  The speakers just slide up on those studs and get locked in with bolts, I'd say about 5/16"-3/8" in size.  From above, looking down at the package tray it looks completely stock-original.

Dan

[twodko]

Hi Dan,

That's the darnedest thing! If the speaker openings in your 70 appear stock
and haven't been enlarged it must be a 69 to 70 change. Its good news you'll be able to mount those Polk triaxials! So far I'm happy with the Polk 5x7 coaxials I put in. I'll change out the 5.5's in the doors with some Polks soon, the old old RadioShack Optimus speakers just don't cut it. FYI, what I did with the little LCD display was mount it to the bottom of the ashtray. There is a ledge on the bottom of it just wide enough for the display braket. The display is easily seen/operated from both driver and passenger side......worked out well. I don't smoke so I have no need to open the ash tray, wouldn't allow smoking in any of my cars anyway, but when it is open it simply tilts the display down. Thanks for the update. I wanted to ask you if you ever cruise the El Camino down on the peninsula around San Carlos. A buddy of mine, drives a sweet FireChicken 455, has gone a couple times and said its a blast. Its put on by a car club down there. We're going to try and attend at least once this summer. Anyway, that's it from here.

[BananaDan]

I don't have an El Camino, and I live in NJ.   

I'll take pictures of the speaker holes before I put the speakers in, I didn't take notice if they appeared modified or stock openings but the holes drilled for the studs to mount the speakers are likely not stock.  I'm hopefully just a week or two from wiring up the sound system.  I can't wait!

Dan

[twodko]

"I don't have an El Camino, and I live in NJ."

Pardon me, for some reason I got it into my addled orb you lived in the SF bay area.

[Brock Samson]

i've done that cruise... i'll find the link...

[BananaDan]

"I don't have an El Camino, and I live in NJ."

Pardon me, for some reason I got it into my addled orb you lived in the SF bay area.

No problem man...   

[Q-ship]

Here's the last of today's photo event. All it takes is one little slip with one little screwdriver and you're ordering new parts. I'll get the replacement set of speakers by Tuesday. My wife, Diane, tells me I can't play with my angle grinder for awhile.

You can easily repair that speaker with a couple of small bits of a "paper plate" (yes, food type paper plates), glued to each side. Not the thick plates, but the ultra cheap "wal mart" type plates. Just cut out a couple of "paper plate" circles about .75% larger than the hole, soak them in super glue for about a minute, apply them on each side, and you have a perfect, permanent repair that not even the most sensitive test equipment could measure any difference.

It's your choice, but I can assure you that I know what I'm talking about as I have done more high end audio research/installs in theses old cars than anyone, and (as far as I know) am the only person that has ever qualified, not only an old car, but a 69 Chrysler Convertible for the IASCA Finals (finished 10th against the factory teams with 12 man teams, computer profiled sound stages, late model "audio engineered" hard tops, and unlimited money). In fact, I believe that I am the only one to ever get a convertible into the nationals, certainly the only old car.

Though your choice of head unit and speakers would not be mine, I can guarantee you that you would not be giving up anything with a repaired speaker.

[twodko]

That is a fix that never crossed my mind. Where were you last week? Thanks for the info. 

[Roger 68 charger]

Here's the last of today's photo event. All it takes is one little slip with one little screwdriver and you're ordering new parts. I'll get the replacement set of speakers by Tuesday. My wife, Diane, tells me I can't play with my angle grinder for awhile.

You can easily repair that speaker with a couple of small bits of a "paper plate" (yes, food type paper plates), glued to each side. Not the thick plates, but the ultra cheap "wal mart" type plates. Just cut out a couple of "paper plate" circles about .75% larger than the hole, soak them in super glue for about a minute, apply them on each side, and you have a perfect, permanent repair that not even the most sensitive test equipment could measure any difference.

It's your choice, but I can assure you that I know what I'm talking about as I have done more high end audio research/installs in theses old cars than anyone, and (as far as I know) am the only person that has ever qualified, not only an old car, but a 69 Chrysler Convertible for the IASCA Finals (finished 10th against the factory teams with 12 man teams, computer profiled sound stages, late model "audio engineered" hard tops, and unlimited money). In fact, I believe that I am the only one to ever get a convertible into the nationals, certainly the only old car.

Though your choice of head unit and speakers would not be mine, I can guarantee you that you would not be giving up anything with a repaired speaker.

So what would your choice for a head unit and speakers be?