Winter project: Replacing Bose system in '90
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From: Life's tough, wear a helmet.
Winter project: Replacing Bose system in '90
OK - I think I'm going to pull the Bose system out of my '90 (ZR1) this winter.
I'm not going to go high end audiophile stuff. Just a basic semi powerful head unit, not sure about an amp, and some decent speakers.
I'm going to make some speaker mounts for the front and rear (Nathon Plemons from the CF did a great job and I'm going to copy his idea :D). This way I can use the factory speaker locations and grills for a factory look.
Is it feasible to use the existing speaker wiring for the new speakers or should I just run my own new wiring? If I should run new, what is the route to take to get to the rears? Would it be along the door sills out to the back?
What else do I need to consider?
I'm not going to go high end audiophile stuff. Just a basic semi powerful head unit, not sure about an amp, and some decent speakers.
I'm going to make some speaker mounts for the front and rear (Nathon Plemons from the CF did a great job and I'm going to copy his idea :D). This way I can use the factory speaker locations and grills for a factory look.
Is it feasible to use the existing speaker wiring for the new speakers or should I just run my own new wiring? If I should run new, what is the route to take to get to the rears? Would it be along the door sills out to the back?
What else do I need to consider?
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 408
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From: Columbia Maryland
Re: Winter project: Replacing Bose system in '90 (Scoob)
I'm ignorant about any differences that may be in the Z, and in '90, I think you may have the new interior from my 1986, but I think I can answer some of your questions. You need new wiring. Not a big deal. Buy 30' of 14 gauge speaker wire at home depot (less than $10). Leave the bose wiring in there. Run your new wire from the head unit under the carpet and to the rear. To get under the carpet, you just unbolt the plastic door sills (again, if your 90 has a different method of securing the doorsill covers I apologize for my ignorance.) An amp complicates the installation because of having to deal with running the power wire, ground and mounting the amp. But it is way worth it if you can manage. When you're ready, post a budget and you'll get plenty of ideas about the best bang for your buck.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Columbia Maryland
Re: Winter project: Replacing Bose system in '90 (TGlovka)
I replace the bose in my 90 (not a ZR1) and use the speaker wire that was already there. Good Luck not a fun job.
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From: Life's tough, wear a helmet.
Re: Winter project: Replacing Bose system in '90 (Charlutz)
Thanks, Charlutz. While different I think the interiors of the '90 and '86 are similar enough that the running of new wires is probably very similar. And it doesn't look like that big a deal. It's just removing trim parts, running the wires, and replacing the trim parts.
So it sounds like you've done the replacement. What head unit and speakers did you go with? I'm not looking for audiophile quality stuff, just some basic good sounding stuff. Maybe even with the ability to play MP3 discs but that isn't a requirement.
So it sounds like you've done the replacement. What head unit and speakers did you go with? I'm not looking for audiophile quality stuff, just some basic good sounding stuff. Maybe even with the ability to play MP3 discs but that isn't a requirement.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 408
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From: Columbia Maryland
Re: Winter project: Replacing Bose system in '90 (Scoob)
I went with the pioneer p77-deh $205, pioneer 4 channel amp (x564, I think) $140, infinity kappa 5 1/4 components $150 up front and infinity kappa 6x9 3-ways $140 in the rear. The p77 is a din and a half sized unit. (Is your space double din?) It sounds very good, but I'm sure it could be better (though it sounds immeasurably better than the Bose.) The head unit matches the dash well and fits snugly, so snugly that the removable face plate won't release. No big deal. Either way, I'd recommend a single din and mounting kit unless you are hung up on filling the space (I was). If you have a budget in mind, post it and you'll get lots of good recommendations and advice. You can save a lot by doing the install yourself (but it can be frustrating). An amp complicates things, but the results are much better.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,178
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From: Windermere FL
Re: Winter project: Replacing Bose system in '90 (Charlutz)
Rewire the speakers with 14 gauge wire. You have a double din face. A din1.5 will not fill it. Get a single din and a kit. I like metra kits.
Alpine radio, or Pioneer. http://www.pricegrabber.com has good prices.
A decent 50x4 amp. Try JL Audio or Rockford Fosgate for a decent product at a decent price. http://www.mmxpress.com http://www.thezeb.com http://www.sounddomain.com have good amps. Avoid amps and speakers made by companies known for making head units. These include Pioneer, Sony, Kenwood, JVC, etc. They basically are just fillers so they makers can sell complete systems and not just head units. Good amps are made by amp companies and good speakers by speaker companies.
If you want to go low end, look at Polk and Infinity reference speakers on http://www.pricegrabber.com .
Mid level, look Boston Acoustics RX series at http://www.tms-electronics.com and high level look at Focal Utopia, Focal Polykevlar, A/D/S, Boston Pro, MB Quart QSD and QM, Dynaudio, and a few other high end makers. These would require you go to an amp that is at least 75x4 and maybe 100+x4 would be better.
Alpine radio, or Pioneer. http://www.pricegrabber.com has good prices.
A decent 50x4 amp. Try JL Audio or Rockford Fosgate for a decent product at a decent price. http://www.mmxpress.com http://www.thezeb.com http://www.sounddomain.com have good amps. Avoid amps and speakers made by companies known for making head units. These include Pioneer, Sony, Kenwood, JVC, etc. They basically are just fillers so they makers can sell complete systems and not just head units. Good amps are made by amp companies and good speakers by speaker companies.
If you want to go low end, look at Polk and Infinity reference speakers on http://www.pricegrabber.com .
Mid level, look Boston Acoustics RX series at http://www.tms-electronics.com and high level look at Focal Utopia, Focal Polykevlar, A/D/S, Boston Pro, MB Quart QSD and QM, Dynaudio, and a few other high end makers. These would require you go to an amp that is at least 75x4 and maybe 100+x4 would be better.
