What to do with sound in my Vette

[page62]

Why buy a new bezel? Cut the one you have in there! Trust me, you won't regret it. No one ever does.

PS: My Blaupunkt head unit is still for sale...

 

[Stallion]

I don't want to cut the one I have. I could make a mistake and that would be bad. And I just want to have all stock items, whether on the Vette or not. So I'll just spend a couple extra bucks and get a new one to fool around with to get the head in with.

How is the wiring with these things? Complicated? How about interfacing it with the Vette? Should I have troubles? Or is it pretty self-explanatory?

Thanks!

TR

 

[Stallion]

I'm over at CrutchField.com and I have typed in 1978 Chevrolet Corvette and this is the page I came up with for audio...

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-xUfJYZ2KNs8/cgi-bin/Prodmenu.asp?s=0&c=3

I have no idea what I'm looking at or want! Any opinions?

Thanks!

TR

 

[page62]

A replacement bezel is $89-99. Save the money and cut the one you have. You can always get a replacement later. But you won't want to. Hardly anyone ever does. If you feel squeamish, have someone cut it for you (that's what I did).

In order to remove the bezel, you first have to remove the center console. If you haven't got one yet, buy a shop manual and an "assembly manual" for your '78.

If there's a standard GM wiring harness in there, all you have to do is wire up a connector to the back of your new stereo. About 3 bucks. Do you know how to solder?

 

[Stallion]

Where can I get the shop manual and assembly manual? I think I should definitely purchase them as soon as possible. And yes, I know how to solder.

I think I'll take your advice for the bezel. I should just save the money and I'll cut the one I have. Like you said, worst comes to worst I'll buy the replacement if problems.

Thanks!

TR

 

[page62]

Any auto parts store can sell you a Chilton's or Haynes manual. Get one of each. They are truly cheap, and I imagine you'll want to read both from cover to cover.

All the Corvette mail-order vendors sell assembly manuals. Shop around for best price...

 

[Bob Chadwick]

I got my Installation manual at www.tld-corvette.com for $20 as I recall and got my GM shop manual on Ebay for about the same. I got the Haynes at Autozone. The installation manual is most necessary to me, followed by the shop manual and then the Haynes.

 

[SLICKMAN]

Go with the upgrade, mine is a numbers matching car, NCRS Topflight winner and I did!!

My New JVC
Rear Speakers

 

[Stallion]

What I'm thinking I'll do is just call these guys (http://www.tracyvette.com/books.html) and buy the 78 Shop Manual and Assembly manual from them.

Is their assembly manual any different from the assembly manual at ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=752642010)? Or is it the same thing really? Because it would be fine if I could just order both books from this Tracy Vettes place. Any ideas?

So I'll work through these books and really get to know my Vette. Then I'm sure I'll be more than prepared to put this sound system in her.

Thanks!

TR

 

[Oldgeezer]

Keep her stock. Keep the 8-track and buy a boom box. Don't start screwing with the original stock set up. Check garage sales for 8 tracks. Hell, I think I still have some. Had an 8-track in my '71 Chevy pickup. Even have an radio-8 track system here in the house. Leave it stock!

 

[tattln]

If you were really into making your system tops you could find an excellent installer who could fabricate all your boxes and fiberglass for you. They could also help with the stereo problems. My friend is an installer and he's going to fabricate a whole rear unit where my t-tops "hide" into the subs and fiberglass. If you want a stock look they could do that too. It just cost more then doing it yourself...but it would be right and safe and have the sound quality you need, espically with a custom box made to fit your music style and your car.

 

[84Vette]

Upgrade

TR,
This is one of those times that you get your friends together fire up the heater in the garage and start manipulating the car.(hehe) I agree with chris and page82 the out come is fantastic. The only sad part is cutting up the bezel, but trust me you get over that once you hear the quality in the music from upgrade. When I put my radio in it was a good week to 2 week ordeal. Of course i am one of those picky people who has to get everything perfect. I actually had 2 of my best friends cut my bezel for me while i was busy yelling at them to not mess it up. To cut the bezel take a ruler push it up against the round pieces where the knobs go draw a line it should be inline with the bottom and top of the square hole in the middle and do the same on the top then connect the lines on the sides the same way as close to the circle as possable. They used a utility knife and cut the sides and used a jig saw for the top and bottem portion. Test fit and trim till it fits. Running the wires is simple the carpet is almost all totally removable so you can pull it back put the wires down and wala it looks stock. of course to me the hardest part in the whole thing was taking off the console panels. I ran the ground to the front by the radio for the amp although there are other areas that you can run it to. Running the wires takes 10-20 min. One thing i say you do is first buy the deck, sub and amp. Put it in hook up your factory speakers and sub/amp and start the car and listen to the music. i thought i needed to replace my stock speakers but after changing the deck and stuff i relized the HUGE difference in sound. My personal opinion is unless the rear and front speakers are blown don't change them it is a waste of $$. if you want to get a good deal on radio stuff i recommend working at best buy if you have on around where you live. The discount as an employee is tremendous. I counted how much i paid for my equipment with employee discount ($250 for a deck, amp wires, rear speakers and the replacement plan) and for a customer it would have been over $500 they give you 5% over cost of the products. I bought my sub and amp used from my friend for $75 look around you can find good deals. Let people know you are looking they will let you know if someone is selling thier stuff.

BJ

 

[Stallion]

Thanks for the advice, guys, but I need to put a new sound system in her. I won't make it so that it's irreversable. What I will do first is get those manuals (is that link a good one, guys?) and then I'll buy the equiment after good planning and then rig her up. Can't wait!

TR

 

[Stallion]

I found a '78 Corvette Assembly manual at www.volvette.com (haven't purchased it yet) but I'm still looking for the '78 Chevrolet Corvette Shop Manual and I haven't found that. I'm still looking around for places to look for it, and haven't been too successful on Ebay.

Any ideas as to where to get it?

Thanks!

 

[silver 80]

78 shop manual.
try helmsinc.com
if that's not it do a search for helms inc

 

[Stallion]

Is this what I want? Now, does this package include the '78 Shop Manual and the '78 Corvette Assembly Manual? Or just the '78 Corvette Shop Manual and I have to get the assembly manual separate? How does that go?

Thanks!

 

[page62]

Yeeeouch!

That's expensive. I just picked up a '79 shop manual on ebay for a bit over 20 bucks.

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Look for your shop manual on Ebay or one of the other auction houses. Otherwise that is the price range you are looking at for new.

 

[Stallion]

But this is what I want to buy? Just not called "Shop", but "Service" manual.

Thanks!

 

[Bob Chadwick]

I think the term shop and service are used interchangeably by some.

The bottom line is that you want to get the GM book, similiar to this 1982 GM Shop Manual, when you are purchasing it.