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Retro Stereo

Bo Dillingham

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 23, 2001
Messages
121
Location
Cortland, NY, 13045, USA
Corvette
1965 crimson pearl (2002 cadillac?)
Hello,

My 65 is nearing completion, and the interior will be going back together soon. While I'm at it (this is a rebuild but not a restoration), I'd like to upgrade the radio. I have seen a couple of aftermarket AM/FM/Cassette players that are made to "Bolt in". Has anyone had any experience good or bad with any of these? Can you make any recommendations as to Brand, vendors, installation problems, etc.

As usual, thank you all very much for everything.

Bo

P.S. I tried a search for stereos and radios in C1 & C2 got nothing.
 
Just installed a custom autosound system with a kenwood speaker that fits in the same location as stock. Everything went and fit well. Only bad thing is I went on the cheap side for the radio cassette player and you cant hook a cd player up to it. Cant seem to find anyplace that sells cassettes any more, only cds. Believe they make a radio thats only 3/4 of an inch thick that requires an amp unit to be installed somewhere with a fm band remote control that works from forty feet away, And is cd compatible. Kind of wish I would have gone this route and kept the stock radio in...............:)
 
.. I left my stock radio in because it still works. I put a SONY CD player in with the car jack and added speakers in the kick panel ... and box speakers (Infinity) in the back. Everything is securely mounted with 4- additional screws total. The stereo/CD has a hard wired remote. Sounds outstanding !....Ed
 
I had a Custom Autosound and it worked great but was only casette so I put the original radio back in and put a Sony cd in the glove box.

I'll sell the Custom Autosound if you want it. I paid almost $300 with shipping. Make me an offer. Great sound just no cd. It has cd controls on it but the cd changer they sell is pretty expensive.
 
I have a custom auto sound system in my car.I have the tuner installed on the back of my glove box liner.I have the little display monted at the opening to the glove box hinge.I have the cd player mounted in the passenger side rear compartment on a piece of wood mounted thru the flooe drain plug.I have the 2 tiny speakers mounted in place of the original speaker.I have the rear deck speakers wedge fitted in the rear.

The reason I explain all this is because I have not drilled any extra holes to mount this system except for the glovebox liner.If and when I want to remove this I can and there will be no extra holes anyplace on the car except for having to install a new glove box liner.These system by no means produce concert level sound quaility but they are not priced for that they are an affourdable hidden sound system.I have heard some folks say they are a waste of money because you cant here them over the side pipes.I have a 427/425 car with side pipes and really enjoy having a stereo in it.And yes I can hear it fine top down or up and its a real nice pleasure to be able to cruise with some nice toon's
 
My wife bought the Custom Autosound in my 66 6-8 years ago. First one died and after 2 round trips to CA manufacturer (and a lot of arguing) - they sent a warranty replacement.

The replacement is ok but the seek function is only one direction and requires a button push at every station. The reception is average. The power was too low, and I had to buy a Scoche interface to connect to a booster (or the stereo will burn due to its "floating ground" design.)

I picked up a new spare (Kenwood?) at the MAD funfest a couple of years ago - and I am actually looking forward to the need to install it in the 66.
 
Does the Kenwood mount in the stock location?



magicv8 said:
My wife bought the Custom Autosound in my 66 6-8 years ago. First one died and after 2 round trips to CA manufacturer (and a lot of arguing) - they sent a warranty replacement.

The replacement is ok but the seek function is only one direction and requires a button push at every station. The reception is average. The power was too low, and I had to buy a Scoche interface to connect to a booster (or the stereo will burn due to its "floating ground" design.)

I picked up a new spare (Kenwood?) at the MAD funfest a couple of years ago - and I am actually looking forward to the need to install it in the 66.
 
BLACK MOON said:
Does the Kenwood mount in the stock location?
Yes - and this thread got me started - the Autosound is now on the floor of the car and the stereo from MidAmerica Designs is out of its box. It has next station seek (like Autosound), AND in addition, a 5 second per station delay scan; as well as a button to override the clock display with a station display. My 66 has a big round clock and the Autosound constant time display is redundant.

The stereo only has a MidAmerica label and so do the instructions. Dunno why my memory says Kenwood. Most Corvette catalogs have at least 2 kinds of c2 stereos. Be sure to look for the functions you like. Finding the little scan button at the bottom of the dash takes my attention from the windshield, and I travel a lot - which keeps me station searching.
 
I also have the Custom Auto Sound. I would say quality is "mid". :confused But it did fit right into the radio slot in my 62 'Vette. Like someone else, I found the manufcturer's staff arrogant! :eyerole I waited about 3 weeks for mine to arrive (they seem to build when they have enough orders). I finally bought one off eBay, for a lot less money (under $100 for their level 4 model), and let a Custom Autosound dealer install it with speakers. I'm happy with it, recognizing your not going to get much quality sound in a small noisy car with the roof down!

:w

Hal
 
I put a nice Panasonic w/ CD changer in glove compartment and kept the original in dash for looks. Only problem is the remote wont work with the glove box door shut.
I'm looking into some type of IR adapter to run to a location where the remote can sense. Any hints?
Does anyone have experience with the speaker unit sold to fit in a mid year coupe in the rear? It's a long piece that fits in the very rear of the coupeand has several speakers built in. I saw it in Eklers and Mid America catalog. I would like to know how the sound is.
Thanks
 
Mark

I have thek you speaker rack your describing.the sound is not great.As a matter of a fact I would say its just ok.

I wanted a system that I can remove from my car and leave NO holes and that why I had chose that set up .Its a wedge fit.If sound quaility is the most important thing your looking for I would suggest a small set of 6X9 speakers box's (radio shack still sells them) And then figure out how to saftley mount them.I have seen alot of midyears with 6X9"s cut into the jack storage cover.

Good Luck.I can take a photo of the speaker rack I have in my car if you want to see one
 
I am a lucky guy. My wife just ordered up a couple of C2 kickpanels with mounts for speakers (C1s are available too), and she talked her family into chipping in for a Best Buy gift certificate so I can get couple of good speakers (instead of the 20w RMS 80w peak speakers that usually come with kick panels).

Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me....
 
Wait until you try to get those kick panel speakers in ... and make them look good. It was a ...#+."@#!^# !! No trim pieces come with the speakers. You do have a great idea about replacing the little speaker from the start. Once I got mine in... and looking right ....I didn't want to pull them out. I have Infinity 6x9 speakers boxed in the back so they just fill in the sound anyway. ..Ed
 
Mark,
As for an IR remote so that you can use your's with out having the glove box open it should be easy. My buddy (sound shop) got me one for my home system but I would have to believe that they have them for vehicles also. I couldn't stand having the bottom doors on the amoir so he got me a wall mount that ran to the IR sensors on all my components. If you don't have a reputable sound shop near you I'll call my buddy here in a day or too...
 
Dave,

Thanks for the info.
I do know someone and I will mention it to them and see if they can help me.
Thanks again, Mark
 

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