about to have a new stereo and speakers installed

[penciltester]

I will be taking my car over to my buddies shop to have the wings a loft system installed and a new stereo and speakers. The instructions to the wings a loft system look pretty step by step but I had a few questions about the stereo installation end of things.

First, any good "how to" out there? I saw the one in the how to section, any others recommended?

Have any of you replaced the speaker wire? Does it require the removal of the carpeting?

Anything advice or odd things to watch out for?

He is great at his job but I would like to have as much info for him as possible.

Thanks

[Notifier]

If you still have the original speaker wiring, be in for a nice surprise. When I started ripping out the old speaker wiring, I thought I had walked into some amateur special. Thin gauge, zip wire, held in place with duct tape... If you pull in the right spot, you could probably pull the wire out from both ends! I removed the passenger seat and ran new wiring under the carpet between the seat and center console. Saved from having to shove more wires down through the center console with every other wire for the car. Removing the seat was easy. Four bolts and you're good.

[Jonathan]

Not sure which how to you meant. This one Shep made is a good place to start. Especially if your car doesn't have a DIN bracket already.

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?7688-How-to-install-a-new-radio-faceplate

Speaker wire is like Notifier said. And really easy honestly. The carpet comes up fairly easy, but like everything else, have some patience and go easy. If you feel like you need to force it, stop for a minute and find out why before you break something or snap a clip of some kind.

If doing new wiring (and the speakers themselves of course) you'll need to gain access to the rears behind the trim panels. You'll need a heat gun and that patience again to release the vinyl trim flap that becomes the seal over that portion of the door frame. Go quickly but don't rush with the heat gun (that makes sense even though it sounds silly). They come off pretty easy just give yourself time to do it properly. Box cutter accessed trim panels are no fun for you or any future owner.

The bonus with seats, carpet, trim panels and console removed is it's a great time to see what else is going on behind there and do some clean up or at least some inspection for any frayed wires or whatever.

Front speakers much easier to access (that is you don't need to remove any trim panels but you do need to sit upside down, lying on your back in the area where the seat was with your head looking up into the underside of the dash). If replacing with a newer style, you may need to overcome a slight gap with getting the speakers to reach the threaded posts. There are a couple different solutions for that.

Post questions here as you go and STOP IF UNSURE. Clarifying something you don't quite understand is better than buying replacement items that broke coming out the wrong way.

... for the Wings A Loft... no direct experience with this myself, yet I understand your door alignment and ease of opening needs to be pretty close to effortless or the door lock solenoids can burn themselves out trying to fire open a door that is stuck on the latch.

[David T]

When you see the old speakers you will be scratching your head wondering how they worked at all. The foam surrounds will be gone with nothing connecting the cone to the frame. On the front speakers, try to replace them with speakers that do not protrude. If you don't you will have to make up some kind of spacers. Taking the seats out makes the job easier.

[penciltester]

Thanks guys. I will make sure John takes a look at all this advice before hand.

Heh, well after further investigation my new front speakers protrude, Jl audio c2-350x . So I guess my options are brackets or couplers/extentions. I can't seem to find them on line, or maybe I just don't know what I am looking at. So, does anyone know where to purchase some M4 x 1.00 couplers?

Thanks again

[David T]

Thanks guys. I will make sure John takes a look at all this advice before hand.

Heh, well after further investigation my new front speakers protrude, Jl audio c2-350x . So I guess my options are brackets or couplers/extentions. I can't seem to find them on line, or maybe I just don't know what I am looking at. So, does anyone know where to purchase some M4 x 1.00 couplers?

Thanks again


One way to extend the studs is to take a bolt, cut the head off, and use a nut to "couple" the extra length to the stud. You need to make or buy a circular extension to go between the speaker frame and the underside of the dash. All of this is MUCH easier if you can exchange the speakers for a pair that doesn't protrude. Final option is to cut holes into the dash and use a grill.

[Notifier]

So, does anyone know where to purchase some M4 x 1.00 couplers?

Still have two sets left if interested! They are 0.7, not 1.0 however, according to the package.
http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?p=99494

And taking the seats out makes it a whole lot easier to get up under the dash to replace the front speakers. Take the glove box out too, may help.

[alexwolf1216]

Still have two sets left if interested! They are 0.7, not 1.0 however, according to the package.
http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?p=99494

And taking the seats out makes it a whole lot easier to get up under the dash to replace the front speakers. Take the glove box out too, may help.

I installed using these, worked great.

[penciltester]

Notifier, I sent you a private message.