Quality sound in a 1983 (audio upgrade)
 

I have an '83 with a pretty clean interior and am hoping to upgrade the audio to something respectable (nothing like a "system", as some would call it where I live), just something that sounds good while still retaining as much originality of the interior as I can. I've searched and can't seem to find much thorough information on this topic, as audio systems understandably take a lower priority with these trucks. A 1000-mile trip the other weekend convinced me I need some quality tunage.

First step was to find a decent head unit, and I've settled on the Retrosound Model One B. Has the body of an old 2-shaft unit with modern internals, including USB and MP3 capabilities. It's digital which I'm mostly OK with, the great part is that it'll fit into my dash without cutting.

http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/pro...RO1B-f_mt.jpeg

Now for speakers. I found some great boxes for $10 each that will fit 6x9 speakers for behind the seat. They will replace the two 4" speakers currently behind my seat, and I like 6x9 speakers because they produce quality bass without needing a subwoofer (especially installed in a decent box). Most 6x9 boxes I looked at were too wide for my bench seat to go back, or had the speakers facing the seat itself. These boxes are somewhat compact and the speakers will face up, so I'm thinking they may provide enough sound for the entire cab.

http://images.sonicelectronix.com/im...1/main/69c.jpg

For front speakers, a buddy is telling me I'll want 5 1/4" or 6.5" round speakers in the door to even out the sound. Here is where I'm not sure what to do. I've thought about a Q-Forms Kick Panel enclosure, but don't really want a speaker down by my feet and they're expensive. A respectable audio shop said they could cut the door panels and install 5 1/4" (see photo below) and make it look clean, which I'm leaning towards. They said it'd be best to put the speaker entirely in the tan panel area (red circle), as opposed to the yellow sheet metal below the panel, because the sheet metal is not flush and it'd make the speaker mount messy.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Sh3Xo5bNLrI/Sm...76/speaker.JPG

I'm curious what others have done for front speakers. My current plan is to install the Retrosound receiver and 6x9 boxes behind the seat and see how it sounds, then go from there.

I'm leary of anything that involves cutting, and most shops I've spoken with don't seem to understand this desire to retain originality. Any opinions from those who love these trucks would be most appreciated. I'll add pictures as my install progresses.

wow that interior looks brand new id feel bad cutting up them nice door panels but 5 1/4" in the doors would be best

I put 6x9s in my doors, I remember depth was a problem but the Yamahas I found had about 1/2" of clearance behind them when mounted. 6 1/2s will fit and sound much better than the 5 1/4s. I don't think the original radios were very deep so check the clearance behind it (This may have been a problem on my old Celica and not the truck). there's plenty of room under the seat for an amp and my eq was mounted under the dash.

I run a Kenwood system: 3006 head unit in the dash, C712 10 disc exchanger mounted on rear cab wall, 4 chanel-50Watts / channel Amp mounted under drivers seat, 5 1/4 three way speakers in the front portion of the doors and 6 1/2 three ways mounted in the rear pillars. The system produces nothing but quality sound (it could blast you out of the cab if you want) and it looks factory. Most important, I did not have to cut up my factory dash or any other part of the cab to install the system.

If the audio shop does the fronts they wont have a problem with depth. They can make spacers if they are too deep but as long as they are in front of the window, below the wing windows it will be fine.

o i notice it has wing windows theres prob plenty of room for 6 1/2's

We'll check the 6 1/2s but the issue was keeping it from hitting the window knob. They didn't want to move the speaker lower because the sheet metal isn't flat underneath, i.e. there'd be a gap.

How did you install the speakers without cutting anything? Or did I misread your post? I'd love to put something in the rear pillars but I'd have to cut the sheet metal. Did your doors and pillars already have cut holes for speakers?

whatever you do ... DONT cut the door panels !! .. you could buy a set of cut door panels already for 10$ .. but just try find a set of uncut ones ! .

Nice choice on the dash sterio as well ...
again , you could do something different .. the cut up dashes are a dime a dozen ..


what I think .. and what I would do , not necessarly what you would do ... put in what ever you want .. just dont cut any plastic , (metal can always be fixed , but plastic not always ) just buy used "plastics " with the holes cut in them already ... so If ever you want .. you can always go back to "original" ... just my 2C.




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dont cut the doors!! I am going to put my 6 1/2 in the pillar beind the seats... there is a ton or room in there.. you just have to block off the vent on the outside.

let me know how the headunit works for you... i need to upgrade the stereo in the blue truck

There are carpet panels installed on the bottom of my doors (Factory). The carpet was cutout (not the door metal) and spacers added. The Kenwood 5 1/4 " 3 way speakers are not that deep and are mounted on the spacers. The rear 6 1/2" 3 way speakers were mounted in the same way but instead of cutting carpeting, upholstery, that had been added, was cutout. The speakers do not protrude that far from the surfaces.

Well, I installed the head unit last weekend and finished up the speakers this weekend. I've got a broken arm right now which makes working behind the dash quite frustrating, but I managed and am very happy with how everything turned out.

I ended up cutting holes in the doors for 5 1/4" speakers, including a small amount from the wood door panels. This truck will be with me for the remainder of its life, and I figured if I did a good job I wouldn't regret cutting the panels. I took my time and it looks professional.

The sound is excellent for such a little cab. Two 6"x9" Pioneers in boxes behind the seat provide good power and bass, while 5.25" Pioneers in the doors even things out. The head unit is 22x4 watts RMS. I'm not using an amp or anything fancy, just quality speakers and a quality stereo. The Retrosound is a great option for those that still have the original dash trim. I used the black universal knob kit without any front panel. Seems to have all the modern features, a nice intuitive interface, nice clear sound, all packaged in the old 2-shaft style.

Dash before installation:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Sh3Xo5bNLrI/Sm...0/IMG_1242.JPG

After Retrosound installation:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Sh3Xo5bNLrI/Sm...0/IMG_0029.jpg

I cut up the ash tray so I could run the aux input & USB port, tucks away nicely:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Sh3Xo5bNLrI/Sm...0/IMG_0025.jpg

6"x9" boxes behind the seats, also a nice fit:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Sh3Xo5bNLrI/Sm...0/IMG_0019.jpg

Drilling holes for the speaker wire, there were none:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Sh3Xo5bNLrI/Sm...2/IMG_0015.jpg

Cutting front speaker holes:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Sh3Xo5bNLrI/Sm...0/IMG_0016.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Sh3Xo5bNLrI/Sm...0/IMG_0017.jpg

Front speakers installed:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Sh3Xo5bNLrI/Sm...0/IMG_0032.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Sh3Xo5bNLrI/Sm...0/IMG_0030.jpg

Fun project! Happy I didn't pay anyone else to do it.

nice, looks great dude

nice!!!

Holy shnikeys! You make the interior of my '85 look the inside of a port-a-potty!

Awesome speaker install - EXACTLY what I plan on doing soon.
I bet the sound is going to be insane inside the cab, I'm hoping that setup will be enough for my 4Runner.

Fink:devil:

Nice work.

I could never fit those boxes behind the seats. How tall are you?

I'm 5' 9". The boxes are the narrowest I could find without facing the speakers towards the seat itself. This is where my seat was before, so it's comfortable for me, but I don't have any more room to slide it back.

I'm 6' and I have the seat as far back as it will go and I still need like 2 more notches out of it.