what did you guys do sound system wise? undecided about putting my original radio in

[Brandon T.]

My 68 has a digital radio/cassette in it which now is way outdated itself. I have the original radio but I haven't decided to put it in or go with a new radio.

even if I put the original in, I think my original speakers are about shot, if I turn it up much it sounds like crap.

I've never heard it with new speakers and the original radio but I would assume it wouldn't sound too good.

are your guys going with stock looking replacement speakers or going with whatever you want, I assume speakers wouldn't be judged anyway you can't see them..

or are there stock looking speakers out there that perform a lot better than the originals?

[Terry B.]

Re: what did you guys do sound system wise? undecided about putting my original radio

Brandon,

It depends if you're ever going to have the car judged or sell it. However, both ways, in my opinion, I would put the original radio back in and replace the speakers. Speakers are not judged and very easy to get to. There are vendors that can take your stock radio and completely redo it so it has MP3 capability and great sound. I have a friend who did that to his '70 and places the cord through the ashtray for hook up to his IPod. Sounds great and looks stock.

[Pat M.]

Re: what did you guys do sound system wise? undecided about putting my original radio

I kept my 70 completely stock after having the radio restored to original specs. I wanted my car to look and function exactly as original, and to me the limited music capacity is part of the old school driving experience. JMHO

[Stuart F.]

Re: what did you guys do sound system wise? undecided about putting my original radio

Two things I promised myself long ago: I will drive my car so I must have 1). a good sound system, and 2). a good electronic Ignition system.

Stu Fox

[William D.]

Re: what did you guys do sound system wise? undecided about putting my original radio

I own a C2. It has the original radio, speaker and antenna. I have a separate radio and speakers temporary installed. Pop out the 2nd radio it's ready to be judged. I run my ipod off the 2nd radio, no radio reception, no antenna. Great tunes going down the xway with the top down.

[Brandon T.]

Re: what did you guys do sound system wise? undecided about putting my original radio

Nice, I figured some of you guys had some cool ideas.

Is there a place you can buy speakers that use the same mounting holes as the originals?

I checked my speakers out pretty good they're the orignals and sound like it too! haha.

but I can't just go to walmart and buy some cheapo pioneers and put in there doesn't look like..they need to mount up the same so where do I go from here speaker wise?

I think I'll atleast upgrade the speaker, I may just go ahead and pop the original radio in. It was restored by roger corvette clocl restorations, looks great he gave us a 1 year warranty with it but it's been 3 years ago that he restored it and we have never even tested it but I'm sure it will work fine.

[Jay G.]

Re: what did you guys do sound system wise? undecided about putting my original radio

My 68 has a digital radio/cassette in it which now is way outdated itself. I have the original radio but I haven't decided to put it in or go with a new radio.

even if I put the original in, I think my original speakers are about shot, if I turn it up much it sounds like crap.

I've never heard it with new speakers and the original radio but I would assume it wouldn't sound too good.

are your guys going with stock looking replacement speakers or going with whatever you want, I assume speakers wouldn't be judged anyway you can't see them..

or are there stock looking speakers out there that perform a lot better than the originals?

In our ol' 67 Left it stock. Found by carrying a "Boom Box" CD player/ Cassette and AM/FM. Got all the Tunes I need and Loud. As our 67's L-79 N-14 Pipe Car. Get the best of all worlds.

[Stuart F.]

Re: what did you guys do sound system wise? undecided about putting my original radio

When I put in my stereo, I retained all the original wiring, i.e. I did not cut anything out. I tapped onto the multipin plug with individual fastons, and the rest of the new wiring for speakers was put under my step plates, or slipped under the edge of the carpeting joints (63). My speaker housings in the back sit on the carpeting with "hook" velcro - no drilled holes, etc. I could, if I wanted to, change back to my original am/fm radio in a matter of a couple hours at most without breaking a sweat - even here in Florida.

Same applies to my ignition.

Stu Fox

[Jim T.]

Re: what did you guys do sound system wise? undecided about putting my original radio

My 68's radio is not playing but it will when I get the time to remove it and have it fixed.
I can have music when I want though. My Bose Acustic Wave radio/cd player that is used in the house all the time came with a cord that plugs into the back of the unit will power the system by plugging it into the cigarette lighter. My Bose does not have the remote control, the Bose units sold now do which is nice for searching stations.

[Anthony S.]

Re: what did you guys do sound system wise? undecided about putting my original radio

Brandon,

I had an original radio sent out and upgraded to modern electronics inside, and it functions the same as the original on the outside.

I put a pair of 4x6 Polk Audios in the kick panels and a set of 6x9 Polk's in the rear in a store bought enclosure box. The rear box is removeable if you want to have the car judged.

I end up listening to the exhaust instead of the radio though.

Anthony

[Robert M.]

Re: what did you guys do sound system wise? undecided about putting my original radio

The real sound system is located under the hood.

I have been down the aftermarket road, and have gone back to the original Delco AM/FM stereo. i like the look, I like the sound, and the AM side can really pull in those distance radio stations, unlike the new systems in cars today.

But really now, whats better then having the top down, and listening to the engine as it revs up and down as you take the winding roads?

[Louis T.]

Re: what did you guys do sound system wise? undecided about putting my original radio

Hi Brandon,

The factory radios converted with modern innards and features are certainly a neat way to go, and the radios look completely original, unlike those aftermarket (mostly Kenwood) converted digital radio-cassette players that attempt to look somewhat period-correct that have been around for years from Custom Autosound and others.

If you go to Carlisle later this week, look for Mike Frenchek (contact info below). He can restore any radio to original specs or convert its innards to modern solid state electronics. I met him at Corvettes at Carlisle a few years ago where he was displaying his work and demonstrating his conversions. What was neat was that he managed to use the existing radio controls, albeit operated in a non-standard manner, to operate all of the modern features available today, thus completely preserving the factory appearance of the radio. His options were many, including incorporating satellite radio as well as inputs for CD changers and mp3 players. His display unit was out of a late '60s Chrysler product and the top cover of the chassis was left off so that you could view the conversion. I was especially impressed with the quality of his work (impeccable soldering and gold-plated terminals throughout).



If you do go the modern route, the high wattage amplification afforded by modern electronics will also give you many more speaker options. Regarding the kick panels, take precise measurements of the speakers you have, and/or the cavity itself, then check the dimensions of a variety of speakers to see what will fit (www.Crutchfield.com



Best of luck!

Louis


Mike Frenchek
524 Ridge Road
Elizabethtown, PA17022 (not too far from Harrisburg / Carlisle)
(717) 367-1428
www.retroradio.biz