I'm getting my convertible ready for the Hot Rod Power Tour and need some music. I have a stock AM radio and a shredded speaker. I pulled them both out of the car. I'd like to put something back with good sound and an Ipod connection. I don't want to cut up the dash or rear seat panels. I'm considering putting the AM radio back in and just seat belting a boom box to the back seat. Does anybody have any better suggestions for getting good sound into a convertible (71 GS)? Thanks, Chris
Aware of the "usual suspects" in repo stereos? (Re: doing for stereo?) Dear Chris and V-8 Buick Audiophiles, There are two schools of thought when it comes to music: good music, authenticity be damned or Authenticity, good music be damned. Actually the choices aren't quite that stark, but it is a real trade-off. If you are more in the music versus authenticity category, have you considered the reproduction stereos that will fit in your dash offered by Custom Autosound, RetroSound, or Ken Harrison? I've had a Custom Autosound stereo in my trusty wagon for at least 15 years now. I've even added an iPod adapter and sounds great. The newer units sound better still. Not going to win any car show awards with it, but don't plan to either. The other mousetrap is hidden radios, but then the speakers cannot deliver better than what GM was providing in 71. That may or may not wet your whistle. Still, even a reproduction stereo is better than a boom box tossed in the back seat!! Cheers, Edouard :beer
I'm putting a Retrosound radio in the original dash of my GS convertible with kick panel speakers and an amp for extra oomph behind the back seat. The car's not on the road yet, but a guy I know has this same set up in his convertible and it sounds really good.
On my 76 I just mounted a CD player in the glove box, so there is an idea. I vote for using an i-pod adapter to feed music to a 200 watt 2 channel amplifier and using 2 6x9 speakers in boxes. You can mount the amp under the seat and stick the 6x9 boxes right in the foot wells of the back seat. I am assuming you are not carrying passengers on the trip. I like this route because you do not need a CD player or anything mounted in the dash. These days I only use the i-pod anyways though so I just use amps and speakers... In my truck I have 2 6x9s and two front 3x5 and those 4 speakers are run off a 200 watt amp and a 12" sub off a 300 watt amp. It sounds great and did not cost much to put together... Easy install just wire the amps in and connect the speakers then just connect the i-pod and done.
Thanks for the suggestions. Ken Harrison doesn't make a stereo for the 71 GS. I'll looked at the retrosound website. Looks like that may work. Dennis, do the kick panel speakers come with kick panels or will you cut the ones you have? My car has A/C and the right kick panel is different the a non A/C car. ---------- Post added at 10:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:09 PM ---------- Thanks Sean, I like you idea too. I could keep the car looking original this way. ---------- Post added at 10:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:14 PM ---------- Here's another option I will consider. Turnswitch can rebuild my AM radio with modern guts for AM/FM & Ipod. I came across this while searching for an original speaker in another thread. I think I'll still need an amp an figure out the speakers. http://www.turnswitch.com/radio1.htm
...with ragtop won't hear much with top down... I tend toward "authenticity" side, so...leave stock radio and put aftermarket with whatever options you want in glovebox (liner cheap to replace) or under ft seat (i know, harder to operate, but w/MP3 player can play for "days"). Use kicks w/speakers so can return to stock kicks when wanted. Optionally, to get more sound in your face, you can replace stock dashtop w/stereo speakers...OR...put effort into nice exhaust sound to listen to while cruising...:grin:
Chris - X2 on using Turnswitch. Though there's cheaper places out there for refurbishing your orginal radio with new electronics. That's what I had done on my am/fm. I used a guy in NJ that converted the am radio in my friend's '68 GTO. My radio, when returned, was set up for 2-channel with jacks for an external amp and also auxilary for an ipod. According to Turnswitche's website, they will do 4-channel. I did buy a new dual coil front speaker from Greg at Turnswitch. He was highly recommened based on my tread search. I haven't installed anything yet. Any new radio, included the refurbished ones, will require 4-ohm speakers. You won't be able to use your original speakers. Does your car have the single blue wire running to the rear speaker? If so, you'll probably need to run new speaker wire to use a new, modern rear speaker. I chose not to do that on mine - at least until the time I replace the interior/carpet etc. Danny
Danny, Thanks for the feedback. I ordered the dual cone front speaker from Greg (Turnswitch) this morning. I'm also looking at some kick panel speakers sets on ebay. One guy has a Pioneer 160 watt setup. I'm planning to have the radio rebuilt with modern components, but Turnswitch is running 9 weeks. I'll have to do something else temporarily for the Power Tour.
I'm going for a retro/conventional setup. I have two amplifiers installed under the front seat, and plan to run a pair of infinity 8" 3-way cones in the kick panels (spare set in which I will cut holes). I also have a JBL 12" sub in the trunk, which will get connected to the second amp which has a crossover. I'll be wiring both amps to single bluetooth stereo receiver under the seat so I can stream the sound from an ipod or other device. The dash will remain completely stock with the original radio. I've already changed the alternator to a 100 amp unit, and run the wiring with fuses to the amps and speaker connections.
I got mine from this ebay seller. They're complete with panels and specific for A/C cars. Also 160 watt pioneer speakers. I haven't installed them yet so don't know if there will be any problems with fit. I got them right away after ordering, so don't have any complaints.....yet. http://www.ebay.com/itm/68-69-70-71-72-Kick-panels-Speakers-Buick-Skylark-w-AC-/180303117725
I am at the point of installing a radio /mp3 in my 70 will a normal radio jst bolt into the old chrome bezel. Sorry for hi jacking but along the same idea.
Previous owner of my skylark un-hooked the AM radio from the speaker and antena (but left the power to it so it'll light up) and hooked up a modern CD player right underneath the bottom of the dash, it has and AUX input for MP3 hookup. http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd423/urbancowboy0307/102_1115.jpg there is a board member who modified the original dash speaker and was able to put two speakers in there for a stereo sound rather than mono. I've also seen people put semi-hidden speakers below the package tray, and I think even in the foot vents (all this on '67s at least)
Here's another angle.... i have a '64 Electra convertible and it has the factory wonder bar radio with the button on the floor and front/rear speakers. i wanted to keep it looking as stock as possible but still be able to have some music. This is an AM radio only and there are no AM stations anywhere near where I live. I found this on AACA and ordered it. It actually just arrive a couple of days ago so I haven't tried it out yet but I have heard good reviews. http://www.rediscoveradio.com/index.html It has a power and ground wire, a cable to plug into my iPhone and receptacles for the antenna. It will hide neatly behind the dash and all that will be showing is the cable for the iPhone/iPod :TU:
Here's an update on my stereo project. I've been using sources some of you recommended. I sent my radio off to John Cavanaugh (jc68gto4@verizon.net) to be rebuild as an AM/FM stereo with an Ipod input. He has good reviews on other threads. He'll have it turned around in two weeks. I bought a dual front speaker from Electro-Tech (turnswitch.com). I used the bracket from my existing speaker on the new speaker and it went in perfectly. I bought the kick panel speakers on ebay (160 watt Pioneers). They come in black so I painted them to match the interior. Those also fit right in. The amp is installed (from my garage shelf) and everything's wired up. When I get the stereo back, I just need put it in the dash and plug it in. When I get it back, I'll let you know how everything sounds. Thanks for everybody's input.
Chris - my am/fm radio was also done by John. You'll be happy when it gets back to you - he makes it look brand new. I haven't installed mine yet (I'm a few projects behind schedule). I also have the same front speaker from Turnswitch. Glad to know it goes right in with the original bracket. Question - did John set up your radio for 4-channels? Mine only has two. It can either be left/right or front/rear. Just wondering how you wired up your kick panel speakers with the new front speaker. Are you doing anything in the rear? I may do kick panel speakers one day. Danny
Here's a new idea too for you. I have a seperate boom box in the back with two 6X9 3 way speakers that has integrated amp(I put it in the box). They are behind the back seat and I ran a 10 foot 3.5mm jack/RCA cord to the front where it comes out of the dash(discriminately) into the portable XM radio. The antenna cord runs in the same path as the RCA cord and mounts on the trunk(it's thin enough to pinch between the trunk weatherstripping and sit right on the edge of the the front of the trunk lid. My XM lasts about 5 hours on battery, or 8 hours if I do pre-recorded programming. I ran a 12vdc source to the box in the back that powers up with "ignition on". The nice thing is that the XM radio disconnects easily from its cradle and is no bigger than my Droid Bionic. I put in the backpack and go. You can find a nice one used on Ebay and the subscription is like $13 monthly...and you don't have to chop up your dash or listen to annoying talk shows or commercials if you don't want to. My cradle uses two sided tape and there is plenty of sheet metal below the dash to mount it. It even came with a remote. People will think you still run stock radio, the only giveaway is the little black tab antenna on the trunk lid.
Danny, I didn't ask John if he could do a 4 channel. My amp is only two channel. I have everything wired to be right and left. If one set of speakers overpowers the others, I'll switch the wiring to control the sound between the front and the kick panels. Right now, I don't have anything in the rear. I don't want to cut anything, so the only place I can think of to put rear speakers is in the trunk. I don't think I would hear anything from there except a subwoofer. I'll let you know how it sounds when complete.
Hey Chris, Do you mind telling what the radio conversion cost? Can't wait to see the installed pictures, and hear your thoughts on the end results. Best Wishes,
John is charging $259 including return shipping. To me it seems pretty reasonable. It's about the same or less than the retro stereos, but you keep the original look. I'll post pictures when I get it back.
