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Jan 11, 2005 17:10:31 GMT
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Hi guys, I'm about to install a tape deck in the Amazon (I shall be plugging my mp3 discman into it using a tape adaptor), but as it's 37 years old, there's no stereo wiring  . I have 4 old tape decks to choose from (all came from a friend's fleet of trucks when CD players were fitted), and some have bits of rather complex wiring on the back, whilst others are bare units. Three look too modern, but an old (late 1980s / early 1990s?) chunky looking Blaupunkt rather appeals as it looks the least out of place, and I'm sure it's perfectly decent, but no one in their right mind would actually steal it!! ;D Unfortunately, I don't know much about vehicle wiring... Messing around with the electrics on something as simple as a Morris Minor, or an AH Sprite is one thing, but the Amazon is not only more complex, but also my everyday car, so I don't want to damage anything. What would be the best way of wiring it in? Fortunately, on the one I hope to use, the relevant plugs etc. are all labelled, but what sort of fusing would I need? Can I just wire it straight off the battery (obviously with a fuse) or should it be able to be switched off with the ignition (possibly tricky, as the Amazon's ignition switch wiring is inside an armoured casing)? What's the best way of hanging it under the dash (preferably set back, so it's hidden) or on the parcel shelf? As for speaker placement, I have no desire whatsoever to cut the door trims. Partly because It would ruin them, but mainly because I don't want anything to be visible! How are they supposed to be mounted - anything special or just as long as it won't fall off? To start with, the speakers are those that were in the Sprite when I bought it (it's far too loud for a stereo anyway, and with only a dynamo.....!). However, a set of very small speakers that could be just hung from the underside of the dash would be ideal - can anyone recommend anything? Any help would be most appreciated, especially basic wiring diagrams!  |
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Jan 11, 2005 17:17:54 GMT
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A 5amp fuse should cover you, put it directly behind the headunit, so its in the line of the headunit & feed.
Try to find somewhere in the fusebox or a 12vDC live coming out of the fusebox as the headunit feed, wiring direct from the battery could be a pain.
If you want it to turn on & off with the ignition, find a 12vDC feed that is live only when the ignition is on. If its a perminant live then the stero will stay on with the keys out (asking for a flat battery if you accidently leave it on).
As for the speakers, if you have somewhere to put it, build yourself a speaker box (or even a couple of small ones).
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"Living on dreams & Custard Creams"
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Jan 11, 2005 17:54:43 GMT
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Good point - hadn't thought of the fusebox  ;D To start with, the speakers will probobly just be resting in the door pockets until I decide where I'm going to put them, but is the rest really that simple? (I must confess that I'm not that familiar with the Amazon as I don't do much work on it, beyond very basic stuff, since there's an excellent classic Volvo specialist about 1/2 an hour away from me). Many thanks - will try to sort something at the weekend! |
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Installing a stereoBenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
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Jan 11, 2005 18:33:17 GMT
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Yeah it should be quite straightforward if they're basic stereos. One positive (fused) - I used the interior light door switch but the cigarette lighter is also a good one as it's easy to get at. The negative lead just needs to be earthed somewhere (bulkhead usually does the trick). The rest should be speaker wires.
As for speaker mounting, I was in the same position as you- I didn't want to hack up my door cards on the Merc! Under my dash there were sort of fibre board panels hiding all the wiring etc. I just took these out and made hardboard copies (as they will be strong enough to support speakers), cut holes in to fit the speakers, covered the boards in some "leatherette" fabric (very seventies!), and screwed them under the dash again. Took about a weekend to get them bang on but the work a treat! Maybe the Amazon has a similar thing under the dash?
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Jan 11, 2005 19:43:49 GMT
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it is quite simple isnt it.  the dynamo should be ok.my bus has a one and at one point she had a fair bit of i.c.e in har.never had a problem.  good luck (tough you wont need it) ;D ;D ;D |
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Jarvis
Part of things
I WISH
Posts: 183
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Jan 11, 2005 20:24:53 GMT
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if it is so easy to fit a car stereo then how did i - a qualified electrician- manage to blow a fuse for the rear lights of my bosses micra without even noticing first time the poor sod had ever been pulled by the plod there is one explaination - i am an  !!! |
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Kris
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,631
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Jan 12, 2005 12:49:29 GMT
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Cheers guys! There's no paneling under / behind the Amazon's dash (just heater, wiring, wiper motor etc and sound deadening on the bulkhead). Under there would definately be the best location though! Not sure that I want to run it off the ciggie lighter, as that will be also powering the MP3 discman - won't it overload it? No dynamo on the Tank - alternator luckily! Is there any specific way in which it need to be mounted - is a proper mounting cage really necessary? I'd like to be able to remove it easily when I'm not using the car (backups are a complete pull-out unit or a face off unit, but these are too modern looking). Looks like on the parcel shelf for the stereo itself, & maybe also the LH speaker. RH isn't so easy, but I'll find a way! Rear speakers are easy, as (somewhere...) I have a pair of boot side panels with speakers already fitted. These are also about the same colour as the trim, so not too noticable |
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Last Edit: Jan 12, 2005 12:51:17 GMT by Paul H
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GJM
Posted a lot
Alloy engines; like communism- great in theory.
Posts: 1,393
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Jan 12, 2005 13:39:55 GMT
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out of interest where do ya think you stick a sub in an Imp? ;D
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Jan 12, 2005 13:50:54 GMT
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I'd say you could put a sub (in sized/ported box) behind the rear seats, that's what is going to happen in my Coupe as there is a shelf with 9x6s there already so I don't use it for luggage. Amps under the rear seats (possibly a cooling issue) or I have heard of someone bolting them to the inside of the front bulkhead (Tim I think did this but couldn't swear to it), apparently provides good extra heating in winter.
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GJM
Posted a lot
Alloy engines; like communism- great in theory.
Posts: 1,393
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Jan 12, 2005 13:53:51 GMT
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The volume never drops below 10 in an Imp then I take it? lol
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Jan 12, 2005 15:22:51 GMT
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The volume never drops below 10 in an Imp then I take it? lol Nah, you always hear the engine on them, but I kind of like it, and you get used to it after a while! |
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"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
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Jan 12, 2005 17:32:10 GMT
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AmazonSprite I'm in the process of doing exactly the same with the Derby - including using an MP3 player.
Like you I didn't want to cut the door cards or fit the modern head unit in view where the rather funky original Philips MW/LW radio sits.
I'm in the process of building, in MDF, some speaker mounts which sit in the footwells, and a box which simply rests in the glovebox to carry the new cassette unit.
Perhaps you could do something similar?
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Jan 12, 2005 17:49:37 GMT
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That sounds like what I have in mind. The problem is that an Amazon doesn't have a glovebox (just a parcel shelf on the passenger side) otherwise the stereo unit would definately be fitted in there.
I'm guessing that your speaker boxes are going on top of the wheel arch intrusion (ie boxing it off) - I would do something similar, but there is no wheel arch intrusion in the footwells, and under the footwell mats is a large moulded rubber floor covering.
Can you get small, 'pod like' speakers (ie just need one fixing / mounting) for not much money? These would be the ideal thing to hang under the dash.
Acoustically, how critical is the placement of the speakers, or is it just common sense?
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Last Edit: Jan 12, 2005 17:53:04 GMT by Paul H
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Jan 12, 2005 18:05:56 GMT
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The volume never drops below 10 in an Imp then I take it? lol "Turn it up to 11!" Hrm mine is reasonable for noise levels even with my Janspeed rally exhaust but then we changed the heater hoses we did find an obscene amount of sound proofing in the rear wings. I think you can get pre-built "boom boxes" that will fit in an Imp's rear load space as well. |
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Jan 13, 2005 11:00:19 GMT
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Took some pics, which show where I hope to install ebverything:  Unit on the parcel shelf (can be covered easily) and LH speaker behind the grille in the rear face of the shelf. No space in the middle for a centre console - gear stick comes out right behind the heater unit. (The panel just to the right of the passenger grab handle is where the radio would go, but to fit a modern stereo, I'd have to hack the dash, and it would be very visible.) Also clearly visible are the door pockets, which is where I'm very tempted to just rest the speakers until everything is finalised. The main issue is how to mount the other speaker here:  Minimal space (if any) behind the footwell side trims, so needs to go under the dash, but well away from the pedal box & my knees!! Hoping to be able to mount it above the bonnet pull, possibly on the bulkhead itself. Any suggestions as to how? I have minimal workshop facilities! What's the betting that engine noise will drown out any music anyway?  ;D |
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Last Edit: Jan 13, 2005 11:03:47 GMT by Paul H
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Jan 13, 2005 11:17:54 GMT
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I'm guessing that your speaker boxes are going on top of the wheel arch intrusion (ie boxing it off) - I would do something similar, but there is no wheel arch intrusion in the footwells, and under the footwell mats is a large moulded rubber floor covering. Urrm kind of - the shape of the Derby's footwells means I can 'fillet' in from the back of the wheelarch intrusion to the front of the door opening - where the carpet is removed in this picture....  The speaker 'pods' will be held on with aluminium split battern section. I know what you mean by the pod speakers which you could hang from under the parcel shelf - they used to use this type for the loudspeaker on handsfree kits for mobile phones in cars. They are somewhat dated & don't sound great - but its probably worth seeing if your local cheepo motor factors has anything suitable? As for mounting the head unit itself - you can buy a neat black plastic box from Halfords for mounting the unit in & has fixing holes to allow surface fixing - you could mount the box either on top or suspended underneath the parcel shelf using perhaps 'wing nuts' to enable quick removal if required? Ideal acoustic positioning of speakers in a car is nigh on impossible but generally for a pair of speakers (Left & Right) They need to be mounted equi-distant from the occupants, as far apart from each other (to maximise the stereo imaging) And ideally face the cone of the speakers towards the occupant's heads - being that you can carry more than one person means you have to generalise. |
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. I have 4 old tape decks to choose from (all came from a friend's fleet of trucks when CD players were fitted), and some have bits of rather complex wiring on the back, whilst others are bare units. Three look too modern, but an old (late 1980s / early 1990s?) chunky looking Blaupunkt rather appeals as it looks the least out of place, and I'm sure it's perfectly decent, but no one in their right mind would actually steal it!! ;D
;D
;D