Hey DB;

I hear you're the guy when it comes to stereos...

Now I know about big rigs form my previous life as a nightclub desinger - but most of those enclosures were as big as a corvette and wouldn't fit in my dash!

I have a '75 with the stock radio in. I want to have a nice stereo in there sometime soon. I have had various thoughts, from a straight forward swap of old for new, and buying one of those 'new-but-look-old' kenwood affairs but have heard tell they sound like sh!te so I'm reluctant to go there... then there was the thought to build a box to wedge fit in the rear under the lamp to house two sub and an amp on the face with two drivers either in the dash or behind the lower panels in the feetwells...

I'd like the head unit iPOD ready, and I'd like to know if the electric-trickery wires already in there are sufficient for a new head unit.. basically how hard is the swap? This isn't a rush job but I just had a brain f@rt while cleaning up the day's oil stains....

Any ideas would be great. Thanks!

 

I am putting together a help paper on a cookie cutter style stereo system that can be adapted and installed into any C3.

You will for sure want to use a modern head unit, most are good, as they have a high quality line voltage signal to the amps. Definitely use an amp.

I would suggest a Kenwood Excelon, Pioneer Premier, or top end Alpine as your head unit. Most of those do come iPod ready and some even have USB and SD memory card slots.

I would also suggest a single amp mounted somewhere in the back. A 4 channel, with a built in cross over, stable down to at least 4 OHM, and 100 watts RMS per channel.

I'll suggest a good component set for you to mount in the front. You can get 6.5" speakers in the kicks fairly easily, and mount the tweeters in the dash firing up at the glass. The crossovers can be mounted behind the knee pad.

The component set will be channels 1 and 2, as the front left and front right.

Ideally, a 10" sub, mounted in the back, would be channels 3 and 4 bridged in parallel to create a single 200 watt RMS channel. Make sure you find a single voice coil sub, that's rated for 4 OHM.

The component set for the front will need to be about or under 100 watts RMS per channel.

The box can be sealed, and therefore small enough to fit in the back of the Vette firing either up at the deck or back at the bulkhead.

If this all sounds good, I will put together a list of head units, components, sub, box, amp, and wiring that you will need for this project, and walk you through as much of it as I can.

 

"...If this all sounds good, I will put together a list of head units, components, sub, box, amp, and wiring that you will need for this project, and walk you through as much of it as I can...."

Sounds good to me! Ever thought of writing a small paper on it? I'm sure other folk would be interested in having that as a reference.

 

Yeah, I'm putting the finishing touches on a paper now.

What's your budget for equipment? I want to suggest stuff in your price range.

 

I use the rule of thumb method for budgetary requirements... i figure what is the cheapest, then what is the most expensive, then see which is the best and buy the one that catches my eye from the top end of the line... so... I'd say not cheap but not massively expensive... if that makes it any clearer!! You know what it's like you sit down with a beer and flick through a catalogue and before you know it your order has gone into 4 figures without thinking!

 

It's been awhile since I've had big booming stereos i my cars - getting old, I guess. I understand how to get good, deep bass. I was wondering if anyone has listend to one of these: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-q4l7ZSj...KSCSW1&g=51000

I know it won't put out ground pounding bass, but I wonder if would help fill in the low end when used with 6.5" speakers at the corners, a good amp, and tweeters up front? It just caught my eye while flipping through an ad the other day.

 

Okay, sounds good. I will put together a list of items you would probably like following my recipe. I will use multiple items when I can so you can pick and choose which you like best. I hope you don't mind ordering from online distributors and Ebay.



Several members have bought that Kenwood unit and have been happy with it for mid bass. Also, it is a bad idea to put your mid range speakers in the back and the tweeters in the front.

 

Pics!!!

 

Probably should have been more specific - I'm thinking of putting in 4 6.5 inch speakers -2 in back and 2 in front. 2 tweeters in the dash. 1 4 channel amp in back (likely RF or Alpine), a good head unit, and that powered sub. Thanks for the feedback on the sub

 

:-) who wanted pics? Infinity kappa 4 channel amp 130watts rms@2 ohms powering 2 6x9 Infinity kappa in rear and 2 infinity kappa 4x6 in front. Alpine MP3 /ipod head unit with Monster cable RCA wires. Speaker wiring is 14ga w/ spacer in center for clearer signal. whole thing should run you about $600 if you know how to shop. Im runnin no cats and flowmaster 40s and have no problem hearing this! oh and btw with a sharkbar in the car there is still enough room for the tops in the back

 

Are those speakers 2 ohm, or are you running them mono-parallel

 

PiperVette - Here are a few items to put on watch and decide on, and maybe start ordering.

Head Unit: The Kenwood is iPod ready, and while it's ending soon he has 2 so he will sell if you email him even after the auction ends.
http://cgi.ebay.com/KENWOOD-KDC-X791...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/PIONEER-PREMIER-...QQcmdZViewItem

Component Set: This is a very important step. If you like mid-bass, stick with 6.5" speakers in the front. They come with a crossover you can unit under the knee pad on the passenger side and I would suggest the tweets either in the kicks with the mids or in the dash firing up at the glass.
http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=3059

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=1165

Amp: The keys here are RMS wattage, and impedance.
http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=4204

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=5283

Sub - This is more up to you than anything. The things you want to watch for is size of the box, but remember to stay in the area of 200 watts RMS at 2 OHM.
http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=2846

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=4940