Stereos...

[slade]

...anyone done anything novel? I've seen the danchuck in dash units, glovebox, trunk mounted changers etc.... not too impressed with any of those options. Currently have a crappy radio shack casette deck plugging the hole while I change out some tubes on the original pushbutton...

I'm not talking about anything too fancy, but I do want to be able to listen to CDs/FM radio... wondering if anyone here has any better ideas to implement that than me :D

(A bigger problem will be hearing things on the inside :p )

[Twin Blown 57]

Probably the cleanest I've seen so far is the stereo from danchuck with an optional disc changer if you want to keep your dash looking stock yet still be able to listen to cd's and fm radio, they are a bit on the spendy side for what you get though.
Personally my favorite channel is FM that's short for FlowMaster LOL music to my ears.

Dave Twin Blown 57 :D

[PaPa Mike]

Probably the cleanest I've seen so far is the stereo from danchuck with an optional disc changer if you want to keep your dash looking stock yet still be able to listen to cd's and fm radio, they are a bit on the spendy side for what you get though.
Personally my favorite channel is FM that's short for FlowMaster LOL music to my ears.

Dave Twin Blown 57 :D

I kinda like the SBC station myself.:D

[Belairmark]

Mine had a repo unit fitted, but over here the bands are evens, .2.4.6.8 etc, where as in US it is .1.3.5.7! So I took the repo out (It didn't fit well!) and put in a late head unit with a 10 stack in the boot. Are you looking for 'originality'?

[slade]

hehe... no clue about the stations being different between the UK/US lol :D Good stuff... Anyway, not really concerned with originality... I'd just prefer being able to keep my glovebox stuffed full of napkins etc. rather than putting a CD player in it or having to deal with a disc changer that's miles away... I'm thinking about suspending it under the dash, like the tissue dispenser (like I said, I have a glove box for that ;)) Just seeing if anyone here is an innovator, lol.

Or possibly find a way to get it under the seat somehow even... even though you wouldn't be able to see the display... But that has an upside, as you won't be able to see it much at all and most CD decks are ugly as hell nowadays... look like an alien popping out of the dashboard.

Not that the rest of my interior is currently that original (or good looking). as you can see, anything will look better than the awful deck in it now, and the stuck-on-with magnet speakers :eek: still got the original speaker behind the grille. Probably the kick panels from danchuck with the speakers are in (to replace the ratty ones seen below) and I'd prefer to leave the original radio plugging the hole...

Heh... as for the SBC station, I agree :D but when I'm uhh relaxing in a traffic jam and merely idling for half an hour, I need something else to calm my nerves lol.

observe the ugliest bowtie applique ever.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v499/dwbenn/DSCN1820.jpg

[MikeKy55]

I put a AM FM C.D. under the front seat on my side and a 10 disc changer in the trunk. I can reach the radio by just leaning forward a little. I learned by touch where the 'next track' next disc' and volume buttons are. I never listen to radio in the 55. Heck seldom listen to anything. I'm still listening to every little sound looking for possible problems. The car just has about 700 miles since finished.

[slade]

that's exactly what I was thinking... actually, I was thinking in the middle of the bench, so the passenger could deal with it... or is that a bad thing lol.

If I can't listen to music, ROAD RAGE :D

[MikeKy55]

I have road rage when I'm listening to music and when I'm not listening to music :eek:

[chevman57]

Slade talking about the under dash tissue dispenser, i saw somewhere were they used one of those dispensers and mounted the stereo in it. Just a thought.
Terry

[Frisco 57]

I've got both radio delete and clock delete plates in place with the cd / fm mounted under the dash. I'd really like to ditch the stereo in the glove box so nothing's in view but that big beautiful steel dash with hardly any trim, 150 style...a mile of painted dash. Gotta love it!

[Late 55]

The wife's 55 has an in-dash unit from Danchuk in place but it's a tape deck.I am planning to mount a CD player under the seat,a stack in the trunk and run it with a remote.All that is seen under the dash is the "Electronic Eye".....no fiddling around trying to hit the buttons under the seat....just throw the remote in the glovebox and everything looks pretty stock while parked.You can eliminate the "Eye" but then the remote must be pointed directly at the unit....still probably safer than trying to find the correct button under the seat at 100mph :D

[Frisco 57]

The wife's 55 has an in-dash unit from Danchuk in place but it's a tape deck.I am planning to mount a CD player under the seat,a stack in the trunk and run it with a remote.All that is seen under the dash is the "Electronic Eye".....no fiddling around trying to hit the buttons under the seat....just throw the remote in the glovebox and everything looks pretty stock while parked.You can eliminate the "Eye" but then the remote must be pointed directly at the unit....still probably safer than trying to find the correct button under the seat at 100mph :D


Late 55,
I'm really interested in the install you discribed. Is the electronic eye under the dash hard wired to the player under the seat? Who's the manufacturer of the stereo? Keep us posted on this install, it sounds like a great idea. I would like to have a kickin' stereo that's not visible. Sounds great...where is it?

[Twin Blown 57]

Slade,
If you're not worried about originality, I would go gonzo and put a Nav screen stereo that is mp3 compatible and satellite ready and graft it into the stock stereo location, there are alot of cool stereos out there that will work in a single din location.

BelairMark,
I would think that being in England that you would want to listen to BBC instead of the radio. hehehe BBC Big Block Chevy... sorry guy I couldn't resist the coincidence.

Dave Twin Blown 57:D

[Late 55]

It will be much later into late Winter before I begin the stereo install.The company that makes the equipment I am looking at is "Custom Auto Sound".They make lot's of in-dash stuff that fits the original openings,I have thier tape deck in the 55 now and it works great....The wife just wants a multi CD deck. They make a system called "Secret Audio"....It consists of a tuner/amp,6 or 10 CD changer,an LED readout and a RF remote.The tuner,CD changer can be mounted anywhere such as trunk or under the seat.They are operated by the RF(radio frequency) remote so they can be operated up to 40 feet away.The LED display can be mounted anywhere or doesn't have to be used at all....it simply lets you know the station,CD playing etc.It is hard wired.The other system they have uses the IR (Infra Red) remote,It also consists of the tuner/amp,CD changer,remote and the display....the differance is that the IR remote works the same as your TV remote and it must be pointed at the LED display to make the tuner/CD function.Again,the LED is hardwired,it comes with an 8 or 9 foot lead.You can check them out at www.casmfg.com .I see this system often on eBay for around $400. Good Luck.....Hope this helps!!.........Daryle

[Frisco 57]

Daryle,
Thanks for the info. That stuff looks pretty good.

[Belairmark]

BelairMark,
I would think that being in England that you would want to listen to BBC instead of the radio. hehehe BBC Big Block Chevy... sorry guy I couldn't resist the coincidence.

He he he!! Yer right Dave, but sadly, I have a small block only! Mind, I know of a Marine 545 sitting in my mate's drive under a tarp, been doing nothing for a few years!:rolleyes:

[55fazzi]

Slade,
I have the in-dash FM/CD changer unit from Danchuk. I love the matching pattern of the dash stainless. The CD changer is mounted under the passenger side seat. Not very convienient! The PO installed an in-dash speaker (garbage!) and two 6X9's in the package tray. The overall sound is crap!!! I will upgrade the entire system someday with a trunk mounted changer and quality speakers and amps. As of now I intend to make everything as invisable as possible....though I know a lot of people like their equipment to be seen as well as heard. I think the sound difference to an audiofile, such as yourself, between the "Custom Auto Sound" in-dash head unit and a decent Pioneer, Alpine, JVC, Sony, Rockford Fosgate, Kicker etc...is like the difference between a Pignose amp and a Marshall stack!!!! Happy Hunting! Happy Holidays!!!!!

Tom

[Late 55]

I would have to agree that the sound quality from the Custom Autosound stuff is not quite as clear/concise as the higher dollar systems available.....To an old timer who still enjoys the crackle of a good LP,who remembers when the only thing available was AM and has been around for the evolution of the 8-track and then the cassette.....It's not too bad :D I am certainly not an "audiofile"....Is that illegal :eek: .....I'm much more likely to be listening to a sportstalk show or a football game as music.

[NomadJack]

I didn’t like the look of the after market in-dash units and I wanted a CD player. So I cleaned up the original radio’s face plate and knobs and that is what is in the dash. In the glove box I have a Bluapunk (sp?) hidden audio unit. With the glove box open, there is complete access to the controls as well as the CD player. Mounted down below the dash on the very bottom of the heater floor duct is the hidden “Eye” that allows the remote to work with the glove box closed. I then modified a steering wheel remote and mounted it to the center cover of the stock wheel so I have control while driving and the passengers can use the other hand held remote from anywhere else.
Jack

[Superluminal]

Here's what I plan to do with mine. I've got a radio with an AUX input I'm going to stick under the seat (if it doesn't fit in the glove box), and run an iPod into that. I'll stick the iPod in the glove box or on the seat, and BAM! Stock radio still in the dash and all the music in the world at my fingertips. :D

That's tonight's project. Hopefully all goes as planned (yeah, right :p).

[briarpatch]

I put a Pioneer AM/FM/CD into the glove box, leaving the stock radio inop in the dash for appearance. I mounted two small two-way bookshelf speakers high on the firewall, sounds pretty good and can't be seen. But what I want to recommend is a Sirius or XM add-on. I have XM tuned to channel 5. FIFTY's music 24/7/365 with no real commercials! THANKS - Stan

[Superluminal]

I put a Pioneer AM/FM/CD into the glove box, leaving the stock radio inop in the dash for appearance. I mounted two small two-way bookshelf speakers high on the firewall, sounds pretty good and can't be seen. But what I want to recommend is a Sirius or XM add-on. I have XM tuned to channel 5. FIFTY's music 24/7/365 with no real commercials! THANKS - Stan

Nice! I put about the same thing in mine last night. AM/FM/CD with auxiliary input for the iPod in the glove box. Speakers are just zip-tied up under the dash. I may go to kick panels in the future.

The iPod is on six feet of cable, so I just put it on the seat next to me and use it for volume, etc. I've got plenty of rockabilly and '50s tunes on it. There's nothing quite like cruising listening to some Reverend Horton Heat and the like. :D

As a bonus, although I pulled the radio lead off the fuse box to power this setup, it still lights up at night with the headlights so it looks like the tunes are coming from there. :eek:

Very, very cool. :cool:

[55ls1]

Slade, where'd you get your steering wheel? very nice...

[55mike]

Custom Auto Sound is not a good choice.. I had one of their units in the stock dash holes at one time, and not only did it just sound bad, the actual machine was below K-Mart quality.

Going for the "clean" look either in the glove box or under the seat with a better quality system will give you much better "long term" satisfaction.
I ended up with a Pioneer head unit (AM/FM/CD), JL Audio 10" sub (in the trunk behind the back seat), Alpine amp(in the trunk next to the sub), and 4 speakers (2 in the front doors/2 on the back tray). I "hid" the speakers by installing them behind the door panels and back tray shelf panel, but I used a factory style waffle pattern to let the sound through. No ugly speaker grills! The entire system is hidden. The only thing I wish I would've done was go with a remote control head unit. As it is now I have to open the glove compartment door to make adjustments. I use the head unit to power the 4 interior speakers, and the amp to power the sub.. all in all it sounds pretty good..

As for the dash, I installed a Gene Smith one piece 55-bowtie panel between the speedo and stock speaker V's and it transformed my dash into a very slick look. A picture can be seen in "garage" under 55 mike
55 Mike

[Randy 57]

I agree with Superluminal, just get a setup with an AUX or XM input and run an iPod to it, thats what I do and have 5,000 songs at my finger tips. Even better I have a playlist with just the songs I like while cruising around, you know Beach Boys, Jan and Dean and of course some Beatles:cool:


My goal is to get an old laptop and touch screen to run iTunes through:eek:

[fivefivechevy]

I've got a 2003 Tahoe for a driver, love the controls for radio system on steering wheel, the 6 pack CD in dash, and Bose speakers. Has anyone tried to adapt this in a Tri-five?

[Superluminal]

I agree with Superluminal, just get a setup with an AUX or XM input and run an iPod to it, thats what I do and have 5,000 songs at my finger tips. Even better I have a playlist with just the songs I like while cruising around, you know Beach Boys, Jan and Dean and of course some Beatles:cool:


My goal is to get an old laptop and touch screen to run iTunes through:eek:

I've thought about going that route, too. A touch screen in the glove box would be very cool.

Everything you want to know about "carputers" is here: http://mp3car.com/