New stereo in '73 Boattail

sicksteve

Active Member
This is not going to be an "all out sound" stereo, just a simple two speaker/amplifier/heaad unit install.

But it won't be stock.

the previous owner put an Alpine stereo where theoriginal am/fm stereo 8-track was. Unfortunately, he also wired the thing incorrecly; so I'm starting from scratch. He took out the ashtray because, according to him, the wiring wouldn't fit. B***S***!! In my '63 Riv, i installed a $2,200 Nakamichi CD700II head unit with many more cales, wires and harnesses, and was able to neatly tuck them in the space around the head unit, and still retain the ashtray in my '63 Riv.

I'm not going to go to the extremes of an install as i did with the '63 (gutting the whole interior, using DynaMat sound deadening on almost every surface, spending as much as I did on the '63). I'm just going to have a Nakamichi Tuner/deck1, a Soundstream D200 II, and a/d/s AL6 component speakers.

The first step was to replace the alternator with 94-amp 12-SI (delco's "old reliable" unit) and upgrade the power and ground wiring: 4 gauge wire from the alternator to the Optima Battery, 2/0 cable to the starter and junction block, 2/0 gauge wire grounding wire to the engine and a new ground strap from the engine to the car's body and chassis, and a little 8gauge wire from the battery'sneg post to the body.

Now, comes the planning.I'm thinking of a stealth install by hiding the new head unit in what used to be the ash tray and using the ash tray panel as a swinging cover.

The speakers will probably go on the lower front corner of the door frame, under the door panel, the lower part of which will be recovered with special carpet, matching the original, that will let sound through.

The amp can go anywhere, but I think I'll put in under the seat to avoid long signal/power/speaker cables.

It sounds simple enough, but like any other of my projects, it will probably cause some frustration. It took my YEARS to finish the '63 Riv install. So, wish me luck.

I'll post pic's as when I start.
 
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