Tunes for my '31 project car

[IC2]

I've backed myself into the proverbial corner (again) when I decided to remove the a/c and install a heater as well as cruise. This means that I can no longer use that nice console that I built for my various controls and stereo. The controls - those got hidden under the dash on panels. The stereo - too big to hide with what I've got behind the dash board. Now, I'm looking for some sort of trunk mounted hidden stereo but haven't come up with one. While I might be able to build a behind the seat box for the nice JVC unit I have, it might just end up looking like an afterthought - and under the seat is not an option. Any thoughts of a manufacturer or supplier and/or where I can find a hidden/trunk mounted unit. I NEED MY TUNES

[Bob Parmenter]

Here's the manufacturers site for the product Alan put up. It features their newest version that's more powerful. http://www.casmfg.com/Secretaudio.htm

[Itoldyouso]

I'm no stereo expert, but my Son was facing the same problem with his RPU, not much room for a stereo setup. His Brother bought him an I Tune for Xmas and it is about the size of a credit card and supposedly holds something like 1,000 songs. Dan says he can build that into his car and that it will take up very little space.

He did this for a living one time, so when he gets home from work I'll find out more and post what he is going to do........in case it might help you. That is as much as I was able to absorb when they were talking about it.

Don

[IC2]

Evolvo and Bob - that Secret Audio - looks kinda neat, but the $279 for a radio with mP3 capability is a bit of a sit-down-and-think. Then another $250+/- for a CD changer - phew.

Might be that Don and son have the right idea. An mP3 hooked to a stereo (which I already have) that's buried in the trunk. Not easy to change stations without a stop, but might be worth a look. Don, I'll be looking for your response

One way or the other - it has to happen in the next few days

[Dave Severson]

Tunes????? A good sounding set of pipes is stereo, and uncapping the headers makes it surround sound!!!!!

[IC2]

Tunes????? A good sounding set of pipes is stereo, and uncapping the headers makes it surround sound!!!!!

Got them too - but in between, need some CCR, Charlie, Willie and even Beach Boys.......... (tho not much of the new stuff)

[shine]

dave, i buy from crutchfield. they have a retail store and sell refurbished units. all new just had some kind of damage , scratches or what not. for my shop dog the kenwood receiver was 79.00 normal price was almost 300. i buy quality speakers without grilles. those neat little plastic grilles set you back 40 bucks

[IC2]

Shine - you got me doing some more digging and searching (my JVC did originally come from Crutchfield) and I came up with a much lower priced way to keep my existing stereo. They don't carry this particular gadget, but at ~$25 plus postage, a lot cheaper then the ~$300 for the other alternative. It's called an IR repeater for the existing remote. Regardless, more wires under the carpet

http://www.autotoys.com/x/product.php?productid=1780

(Several on Ebay as well)

[Matt167]

just a thought but how about getting a stereo that can use steering wheel mounted controls, and putting the buttons somewhere easy to reach/ radio in the trunk?

[Itoldyouso]

IC2, I tried to catch Dan the last couple of nights but he has been working late. I just called him and he says essentially you need the IPOD, an IPOD audio cable, an amplifier, some speakers, and a volume control. He said any competent stereo shop can fix you up with all the parts you need and the only thing you see at your dash is the small volume control knob.

I'll try to pin him down this week and get more specifics, but he was running when I called him.

Don

[Steves32]

Evolvo and Bob - that Secret Audio - looks kinda neat, but the $279 for a radio with mP3 capability is a bit of a sit-down-and-think. Then another $250+/- for a CD changer - phew.


One way or the other - it has to happen in the next few days

I have the 10 year old Secret Audio I pulled from my roadster. Has the 6 disc changer & power amp too.
I'd let it go dirt cheap, I'm sick of moving the box all around the house.

[IC2]

Matt - I took a look at that option, but there is way more wiring mods then I'm willing to do as it would entail pulling most of the upholstery plus all of that wire dangling from the steering column ...... I even mounted the cruise handle under the dash. Good idea - thanks

Don - in effect, that's what I'm ending up doing with the IR repeater. For less then $25 I purchased one of those from Evilbay and will give that a try. My JVC stereo already has an input, it's 50 watts X 4 to my Rockford Fosgate and Kenwood speakers. When it's all over, your (Dan's) suggestion is the way I should have gone. I have a Sansa mP3 rather then an iPod and it has FM stereo radio as a part of the controls. If that IR repeater doesn't work, then will probably go that way, using what I have. Oh well, live and learn. Thanks for the idea.

Steve, Thanks (tho could you PM a price to me JIC neither the IR or mP3 system work right )

Dave W

[IC2]

FINALLY - I got back to 'real' work on my car after a several week virtual total layoff due to holidays and other commitments. I pulled the wiring for the stereo out from behind the dash - I had not remembered how many wires went so many different directions - which meant that I had to cut probably in excess of a hundred cable ties. I received the IR repeater and it looks like a fairly nice piece of equipment. Of course the wires should come out the wrong end and length wise, just opposite what I would prefer, but no big deal. Now I have to pull all new wiring to the trunk which is fully upholstered and will be a bear then will have to build a box to hold the stereo. I am going to add an 80mm @20/30 cfm computer case fan for cooling but have to come up with some sort of voltage adjuster to limit the fan speed and cfm output.

Isn't building a car from the ground up the changing a direction fun. I keep forgetting the domino effect - change one thing, 27 others follow