Delusional Car Stereo Installer

[tonyfromjersey]

I took the mighty Fiat to a stereo guy I've used before. I already have an Eclipse receiver and ipod interface, need speakers and an install. He looked the car over and then told me he'd be happy to do it for 2,000 dollars. Wow! My 1200 dollar car is getting expensive. He told me he would custom mold kick panels and rear quarters to make it look "nice." I said thanks and left. I will shop this one around but if anyone knows a good stereo guy in the central NJ area please let me know.

As usual, I will probably end up doing it myself. I was going to put speakers in the kick panels and the rear quarters, nothing too cosmic.

[mbouse]

Tony,

if you look hard enough, those kick panels with 5 1/4" round holes already cut into them pop up for sale from time to time.

[tonyfromjersey]

I will look around, not gonna get to this project for a bit as we have vacation right after Easter. Probably get some speakers on ebay or from crutchfield and do it myself. How hard could it be? Also, was thinking about putting a couple of small speakers in the dash as well. I figure this is an all day deal to do it right. Maybe a full six-pack.

[So Cal Mark]

I predict it will take $2000 worth of beer

[Tappy]

its easy to relocate some map pockets that are still in one piece , i would just cut holes in the ones you have. Its not that harch , If you about spending the 2000$ anyway , buy me a retour ticket to the states and i will be happy to do it for you
(and your probably cheaper of)


behind the front map pockets there are already holes in the chassis to put in speakers , i believe even wiring is already forseen , same for the radio wiring , if not you can tap of the sigarette lighter

If you need help just post some pics of your radio , or web link and i would be happy to point out some things for you
i'm installing car sterios from age of 15 so i think i've seen a great deal of them by now

i bet it could be done in less then 2 hours ( 1hour accually , but there are always some unforseen things happening on a spider)

[Kevin1]

I figure this is an all day deal to do it right. Maybe a full six-pack.

Factoring in a six pack, that's a savings of $1,990. Just think what mods you can do with the change!

[speedracer]

For some reason, I usually don't listen to the radio when I'm in the Fiat. I guess I like the sound of the engine! But I did install a simple 45 watt stereo in the car and I put some nice speakers in the kick panels, but it really sounds tinny. I can't get any decent bass response from the system. It sounds like the AM radios in the cars of the seventies. Well, I guess it's period correct anyway!

I stuffed some towels behind the speakers and the bass improved abit, but thats not a good permanent anwer to the problem. Anybody else have this problem?

[kilrwail]

I replaced my rear seat cushion with a padded, upholstered particleboard platform, with two 6 x 9 speakers where the bums would otherwise go. I get pretty good bass and treble out of them, plus more treble for a pair of 5's in the doors. I still have the seat cushion and put it in for shows sometimes. Without seatbelts, no one is going to sit there anyway. I have a 200 watt JVC CD/radio, but I would rather listen to the engine too.

[manoa matt]

Tony,

I was planning on the same thing with custom fiberglass kick panels similar to this, just haven't got around to it yet: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigtimes_fiat/3410101355/

I think if you can get the speakers to angle more towards you it will sound better and louder than if they are just mounted in the side of the kick panels and directed at your feet.

I have two sets of kickpanels with speakers already installed if anyone is interested.

[azygoustoyou]

Tony,
I'm going to do the same to my car. It's not that hard. I wouldn't of paid him $200.oo If you need help. I live in Franklinville NJ

[fiatS2000]

This is what i did on my '68.

[azygoustoyou]

You did a good job!

[tonyfromjersey]

Brady,

I'll probably take you up on the offer, when I get back from vacation. I have too many work things to do before then. If someone would just pay me my full salary to stay home and work on the Fiat. I tried to convince my wife that I should quit my airline gig and just stay home and be a part-time military pilot. She accused me of wanting to play golf every day, and also questioned how I would afford all my toys.

I think she's being unreasonable about the whole thing.