Hey All -

Just figured I'd share my recent audio upgrade. When I mod things, either my 4runner or my Pickup I try to keep it as OEM+ as possible.

In any vehicle I've ever owned, audio is one of the first things I do. I am one of those people where it just irks me if the audio sounds like crap.

That said, I'll share photos and details of where I am at.

With the interior being nearly 100% original, less the floor mats - I am very conscious of not ruining the original feel and look of the pickup.

The unit I went with, is the Retrosound Long Beach from crutchfield, who I have been dealing with for years. I replaced the 4" original paper speakers with Alpine 4" speakers, and a 8" Kicker hideaway behind the passenger seat.

To push sound out of two 4" speakers and expect it to sound great was probably ambitious. But I was hesitant to cut the door cards, yet. That said, I have been working on designing copies of the original speaker covers that will cover either another 5.25" or 6" speaker in the door card to make it look as original as possible and greatly improve the sound in the cab. I will share the 3D printed cover template when I have it complete, but here's a few photos.

Mainly wanted to share the stereo for anyone curious of the fitment/look. (A friend with a cricut can assist in the TOYOTA logo decal).

 

Very clean!

I too one of these days would like to do a similar up grade but as you said don't want to take the chain saw to the dash. I've only upgraded the original speakers, but even that's made a world of difference in sound quality even though the speakers are aimed at you hip.

Did you look into those places that basically gut the original stereo and replace the insides with "modern" electronics?

What is the power output?

Would you post some close up pics of the fitment around the original dash cutout?

Is there a specific Crutchfield model number for the Toyota?

 

Sure, I'll post what I have on my phone, if you're looking for more specific photos let me know and I'll help as best I can.

In regards to the stereo, here's a link to the one I purchased (I did not buy the one with SXM).
068LONGBCB RetroSound LongBeach CB

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_068LON...k-Buttons.html
Check out the details tab for more specs.




​​​​​​​

 

Your interior looks incredible.

I love the retro sound units, way better than cutting a hole in that pretty dash!!!! I cut holes in my doors for some 6 1/2 inch shallow mounts and I absolutely hated doing it BUT I will never get rid of my truck so I just said screw it I need some better jams.

Crutchfield has some 7 inch square speakers for marine use I was looking at but they seem pretty deep, not sure how much room you have, I know in my 91 I have barely enough for a shallow mount speaker and it still barely presses on the window track.

Either way your truck rocks!!!

Edit:

Your floor mats ROCK too!!!!

 

Yes if you could give some close up detailed shots around the bezel area of it that'd be great. I am just wondering if there are any gaps between the stereo and dash cut-out...no rush its been in the the works 40 years!

Now I don't mean to alarm you or move your post sideways, but at a glace your oil pressure seems a bit low for that engine temperature and speed compared to mine. Typically mine is at least half way to the next mark or more under the conditions I see in the pic.

Looking at the pics, I still to this day are amazed by the subtle differences between a Canadian truck and a US one. I spotted the dash vents are a different moulding and that AC control...wow...up here its just a simple on/off switch on the trucks that had it.

 

Thanks! I just bought the carpet mats from OC auto carpets. I didn't want to keep wearing on the cool plasticolor mats anymore than I have to.

I feel the same way. I think I can justify cutting a hole in the original door card if I get the speaker covers exactly how I want them. It should look original when I am done with them. I just don't want the speakers popping when I turn the sound up anymore. Maybe its my ears and all the years of blasting music with the windows down....

Which 6.5 shallow mounts did you go with? Even the alpines rub when the window is down. So I may be looking for a different speaker. I know retrosound has a shallow mount speaker as well - maybe I'll try those.

 

Is this in reference to the night photo? For what its worth, the truck was parked and idling after getting back home from the store. I just wanted to grab a photo of what the green looked like compared to the dash lights. When driving the oil pressure is definitely more towards the middle and/or high end of the gauge unless I am stopped on a hill, idling. Then its more towards low.

I recently replaced the carb with a remanned carb from autoline and found that once I desmogged it, the carb just seemed happiest idling around 1k. So I am just in idle and not driving in the pic... if that helps.

 

I would have to dig in my receipts for the speaker but they are Infinity reference, but I put them
in in 2011 when I got my truck so the speaker is long discontinued.

I was looking at these:


https://www.crutchfield.com/p_917SMF...h-Grilles.html

But for 89 bucks not sure how good and the bass may be lacking. But since you have a sub and are going for a square look they may be perfect for your application?

 

Yes. More or less mine will do the same especially on a very hot day. Now most of the time hot in Alberta is likely quite a bit cooler then Maryland. I do run 10W40 in the summer and 5W30 for what little winter driving it does. There is is notable difference in idling and running pressure up to the point the relief opens if it has 5W30 vs 10W40 in hot weather.

Hey if it likes idling at 1000, idle it at 1000. Mine idles at 750.

For whats its worth the now, 35 years ago, the Pioneer speakers I put in didn't hit a thing and more or less fit right in. Just a thought that maybe some "newer" OEM Toyota speakers may work...maybe check out some at the junk yard then get some new ones from Toyota.

 

Yeah, I was even looking into OE Audi speakers, I believe that there are a decent amount of 4" Bose speakers available on eBay that were OE with audi before they seemed to partner with B&O.

Here are a few more photos I just went out and grabbed. Hope that helps.

The nice thing about the retrosound mount and knobs is that I actually have the knobs reversed. The right side of the unit is the tuning knob and the left the volume. But that would have drove me crazy with the OE dash indicating the opposite. Fortunately, they give you enough length of wire to run them on the opposite side of the deck, so that is what I did. I did have to trim the mount behind dash because of it was wider than the OE toyota radio opening. Wish I grabbed a picture of that, but there are a few youtube videos out there of people doing similar.

Then with washers I had around and or the provided nuts you can adjust the depth of the deck and the knobs.


EDIT: it should be noted, that I painstakingly installed this with the wood trim dash in place. I did not wish to disconnect the climate control cables and then have to worry about reconnecting them, including the AC line going through the firewall. So its very possible I made this increasingly harder on myself than it needed to be, but the reason I am sharing is that if the fitment looks a mm or 2 off to you, that is very likely the reasoning. Without the dash trim I could see it being a breeze to perfectly center and align, but once I got it put in as you see it, I was happy with it.