Installing a stereo system in a c3
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
Likes: 657
From: Thunder Bay
I have pretty much that setup in my '79. Aftermarket 6x9's won't fit behind the stock grilles in the back. I made my own panels, covered them in some leftover carpet, and used the grilles that came with the speakers. Smaller speakers might fit and sound at least as good. There is a school of thought that says that round speakers produce better sound. I put aftermarket 4x6's in the dash. I use a Pioneer 10" sub that sits in the back compartment. The amps are located in front of the battery and under the storage compartment where the jack was. The jack is now stashed with the spare tire. The amp in front of the battery is for the sub. I found if I put the amp for the speakers there, I got noise. Doesn't seem to affect the sub though. I also had problems with the Pioneer head unit - I got a static 'crack' from time to time which I suspect was RF interference from the MSD ignition. Tried everything to get rid of it. Finally switched to a Sony head unit and had no more problem.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 15
My current system. I do not have a sub however. mike...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...o-upgrade.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...o-upgrade.html
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,518
Likes: 37
From: The Woodlands Texas
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
Likes: 657
From: Thunder Bay
OK here's my first attempt at posting pictures. Hope this works.
Here is the sub in the back of my '79:
And here is the amp under the storage compartment where the jack used to be:
And here is the amp for the sub behind the battery:
Here is the sub in the back of my '79:
And here is the amp under the storage compartment where the jack used to be:
And here is the amp for the sub behind the battery:
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 862
Likes: 9
From: Communist party of MD
If you get a 5 channel amp, it keeps things simple. Here's my custom stereo wall I put in my '69. It holds the amplifier and 6.5" speakers well. The 10" subwoofer is behind the passenger seat and sits in the jack storage compartment.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 590
Likes: 2
From: Fairfield CT
My current system. I do not have a sub however. mike...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...o-upgrade.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...o-upgrade.html
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,873
Likes: 134
From: Bushkill Twp. PA
St. Jude Donor '17
Anyone ever put the head unit in a box like this as well? I don't want to replace the stereo in the dash. Would there be interference or vibration issues with the receiver? I would love something standalone that I can take in and out of the back. It would be easy enough to run the ipod cord back to it also.
Battery is right there too.......
Battery is right there too.......
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 15
To me it sounds more than adequate. I listen to '70's and '80's rock. No heavy bass found in some of the modern urban songs. The 6X9's are mounted in MDF boxes. I plan to refine the rear speaker mounting this winter. mike...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,664
Likes: 162
From: columbia city in
i put in a new stereo a couple of years ago .i would like to see some new ideas on where to put the sub .http://1982corvette.shutterfly.com/pictures/69
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,364
Likes: 1,588
From: los altos hills california
Here's another alternative. This is a shelf which is installed in place of the rear window tray. Here it is on the workbench.
The dimensions are approximately 56-1/4" x 6-3/4" x 55-5/16" tapering toward the rear. Made out of 1/16" aluminum with the edges bent up. Two speakers are on board as well as a Blaupunkt amp and two courtesy lights from SuperBrightLEDS (the rectangular holes). I ditched the radio and glassed over the antenna hole. All the tunes come from my iPod. Have not figured out how to mount that yet and am looking for ideas.
And here it is installed. It is well up and out of the way.
You can see the courtesy lights in this picture. There's also a center brace that attaches to the shelf and to the two holes in the nut plate that would normally have the shelf latch. This stiffens the middle considerably.
Two lag screws through the inner fenderwell on each side attach to two tabs that are bent up at the either end of the shelf.
The rear window can still be removed and placed in the rear compartment.
There are also two smaller front speakers in the kick panels. A modest enough system but it suits my needs.
The dimensions are approximately 56-1/4" x 6-3/4" x 55-5/16" tapering toward the rear. Made out of 1/16" aluminum with the edges bent up. Two speakers are on board as well as a Blaupunkt amp and two courtesy lights from SuperBrightLEDS (the rectangular holes). I ditched the radio and glassed over the antenna hole. All the tunes come from my iPod. Have not figured out how to mount that yet and am looking for ideas.
And here it is installed. It is well up and out of the way.
You can see the courtesy lights in this picture. There's also a center brace that attaches to the shelf and to the two holes in the nut plate that would normally have the shelf latch. This stiffens the middle considerably.
Two lag screws through the inner fenderwell on each side attach to two tabs that are bent up at the either end of the shelf.
The rear window can still be removed and placed in the rear compartment.
There are also two smaller front speakers in the kick panels. A modest enough system but it suits my needs.