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Hey everyone. Been glued to researching dads car. Just found out ill get it on the 4th. So super excited. I thought I'd get your opinion on this. It has the factory 2 **** stereo. I'm a loud music lover and was considering upgrading the stereo system but in order to do a decent head unit i have to cut the trim panel so a rectangular stereo will fit. It was my dads car so I can't ever forsee selling it. So what do you all think? Cut it and put in a stereo that ill enjoy or keep it orig? Other question I've been told the elect systems in the c3 can be corkey, any experience with issues with electric related to stereo upgrades? Thanks a
lot everyone.
I would suggest, once you get it running and have put some miles on it, revisit the sound system.
There is often be a fair bit of noise in a Vette that fights your sound system for the front seat :-)
If you decide you want to upgrade there are aftermarket centre gauge panels that can accept a new style stereo as well as some nice retro units that will fit into the existing bezel, look classic but have all the bells and whistles your possibly after.
There is also speaker location limits like the dash pad speakers and the kick panels.
Your not going to get really good Bass out of them.
You can build a good system but it takes a bit of work and as I started will always be fighting the other sounds.
I recently upgraded the system in my '70 convertible and changed out the gauge bezel as Craig suggested above.
[The previous owner did a crap job of cutting the original trim to fit an aftermarket stereo].
I installed an Alpine double din system, they are not expensive at all. Since I need to change my cracked dash pad, I installed new Infinity 4x6" speakers in the original place by the windshield, but they do not put out much good sound. I then added two 6x9" Infinity's in boxes in the cargo area behind the seats.
The sound now is very good but still not loud enough above 40 mph when I want to rock out. I bought an amp and will be installing it soon.
Some guys may recommend Custom Autosound, my buddy has one, it is crap, dont waste your money.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Kidding here.....what's with the young guys and their stereos????
1. FIX EVERYTHING ELSE FIRST...then think about the stereo.
2. It's going to be pretty embarrassing sitting there with a bad master cylinder, but the stereo works! (Example)
3. You have one of the best sounding cars on the planet....spend the money on SIDE EXHAUSTS! (what stereo! who cares!)
I figure your I-pod and some earbuds and your DONE!
Kidding here.....what's with the young guys and their stereos????
1. FIX EVERYTHING ELSE FIRST...then think about the stereo.
2. It's going to be pretty embarrassing sitting there with a bad master cylinder, but the stereo works! (Example)
3. You have one of the best sounding cars on the planet....spend the money on SIDE EXHAUSTS! (what stereo! who cares!)
I figure your I-pod and some earbuds and your DONE!
Enjoy your nice car!
Unkahal
Im starting to realize there is quite a consensus on the stereo debacle. I think Ill follow your suggestions and stick with the orig ps...somewhere my dad is laughing because the stereo argument has been happening since I was 15 in every car Ive ever owned. He was definitely not a fan of my need for crazy loud stereos.
Really depends on what you want to do with your car. If you are in to parking at the car shows and playing some cool music then upgrading is a good option. It is true that on the road the stereo is hard to hear especially if you have an aftermarket exhaust system. I put a media player (USB, phone and music bluetooth/ no CD player) in my car and upgraded the front speakers and also added a pair of good box speakers in the back and it really sounds good if you are not driving. I can hear it driving with my turbo exhaust but leaves something to be desired. Wire the system to the fuse block directly and you should not have issues unless you are putting in a power amp.
Redvette2
Last edited by Redvette2; 03-29-2019 at 05:28 PM.
Reason: Kan't spel...
I have a stereo issue as well in my new 79, it has the AM/FM/CB which I don't want to take out. Anyone have a suggestion for a remote unit?
I installed a Kenwood Kac-M1824BT as suggested from another user. its pretty good hooked up to 2 4x6 in dash and 4x6 in kickpanels. and can switch back to am/fm 8 track.
Just leave the stock stereo where it is, and put a Bluetooth amp where your jack would go. Here's an example. Please don't cut up your dash, or if you do, get a replacement piece as suggested. You'll want to run new speaker wire anyway, and feed it 12 V right from the battery, so why not just put the amp next to the battery?
But seriously, get everything else to work first. My wife's 79 has a cut dash and stupid 1 DIN unit put in by the PO. I never listen to it. My 80 has no sound system at all. For long road trips, a small bluetooth speaker is enough.
If Dad spent years trying to maintain the stock configuration, why not honor his wishes and keep it that way? Are loud tunes more important than keeping his dream as it is?
The previous owner installed a kickass stereo system in my Corvette... to bad you can't really hear it over the headers, exhaust, engine and road noise.
I wish it had the crappy stock AM-FM so at least it would look like the stereo in a classic car should since you really can't hear it anyway.
Heres mine. https://streamable.com/59u9q
i got the idea from a member here. thanks! the vid was my first time trying it out. But i can flip on bluetooth to my phone, and control spotify. and switch back to the regular radio. I put the controller where the ashtray goes, and the amp behind the map pocket on top of heater stuff. power to the bluetooth with key in and oem radio on.
I have aftermarket speakers rockford fostgate punch.
If I live to be 100, I will never understand why some owners insist on keeping a 8-track or a cassette. Lets face it. Those were cool, now they're crap. I took my Vette to a stereo shop and weighed my options. Pioneer AM/FM XM compatible, CD player with more amps and two new speakers. WOW, what an upgrade!
The idea of carrying a huge speaker in the rear compartment is not for me. I would rather have room for the T-Tops. Never get caught in the rain without them!
But anyway, live for today, enjoy a modern stereo and don't worry about the C3 purist opinions while they try to play their low quality tapes.
I am gonna be 56 this year and the first thing I did once the car was road worthy was tear out the interior and fix what the original owners installed. I had to re-glass the back wall (that's where the 6x9's where cut into). The original 8 track deck went right into the garbage, it wouldn't even turn on.
If you are saying that you can't hear the radio over the exhaust anyways, then you did the sound system upgrade wrong.
I installed and new head unit after cutting the original dash panel, mine was all banged up anyways. You can always find an original to put it back in if you really want to, but unless you are going NCRS, why would you? the extra space the add on plate gave me helped installing the new deck.
Today I have the following installed and you can't see anything unless you put your head inside the car and look around.:
Sony CD head unit with blue tooth (it was free with my sony points, and I do not use the built in amp).
Kicker 4x6's in the dash with a 300 ohm capacitor to filter out the low frequencies.
Kicker 4x6's in the kick plate (these could be better with 6" rounds, but I did not want anyone seeing my upgrades).
Kicker 3.5" in the Fiero seat headrests (the original seats are total crap and needed to be replaced anyways with Mr. Mikes help).
8" Infinity sub in a custom built box where the jack used to be. It was gone anyways
A Pair of 600 watt 4 channel sony amp's mounted on a false back wall (leaves the entire cargo area free for t-roofs). Again free with points.
I can here everything when I play music with the roof off and I do have headers.
Side pipes are on the wish list.
One thing to keep in mind. DO NOT attach the stereo's light/dimmer wire to to the C3 dash lights. You will pop the fuse the first time you turn on the lights.
Run a new red power wire to your amp(s).
Here are some picks, more in my profile.
Ken
PS.Welcome the the C3 Club.
Home made plate behind foot wells to hide the speakers Back area with the sub and 2 x 600 watt amps mounted. Sony blue tooth deck installed. Sub box installed before carpeting.
[QUOTE=NONN37;1599110174]Heres mine. https://streamable.com/59u9q
i got the idea from a member here. thanks! the vid was my first time trying it out. But i can flip on bluetooth to my phone, and control spotify. and switch back to the regular radio. I put the controller where the ashtray goes, and the amp behind the map pocket on top of heater stuff. power to the bluetooth with key in and oem radio on.
I have aftermarket speakers rockford fostgate punch.
Nonn37 I really like your stealth aporoach. Can you share what controller and remote you’re using. Is it hardwired, IR, or RF?
Thanks much. Dave
I am gonna be 56 this year and the first thing I did once the car was road worthy was tear out the interior and fix what the original owners installed. I had to re-glass the back wall (that's where the 6x9's where cut into). The original 8 track deck went right into the garbage, it wouldn't even turn on.
That's the way to do it. Get the car running first, and go drive it. The OP's car needs a brake job, at least.
The 1 DIN radios look horribly out of place in these cars. So the suggestion to leave the stock radio is just for looks. A Bluetooth amp will play from your phone, and doesn't need a head unit, or you can mount a small remote somewhere. And take the antenna off while you are at it. You'll never use it. a USB stick of music, and streaming from your phone, is all you will ever need.
I hope the OP drives and enjoys the car. If you go full restomod with new gauges, new center console, 2 DIN screen, custom door panels and seats, great! In the meantime, piecemeal replacement of stock parts will diminish the car and look awful. You can get the sound you want without tearing up the car, or even seeing any of the improvements.
03-25-2019, 05:13 PM
Sound system upgrade.
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