adding music

[turbojaeger]

as i´m always collecting ideas for my project,
what solutions did you choose for music installations????

i´m planning to install a stock-radio without beeing connected
and put a modern radio with a remote somewhere where it´s invisible-
maybe glovebox or ash-tray.
the dashboard will get new speakers and the trunk a hidden subwoofer...

the 6"x9" speakers under the top (mine seemed to be installed by a drunken) don´t make sense to me because when the top is down nearly nothing comes out...:tonge2:

but i´d like to have a pair additional speakers (6" or so)-maybe located in the doors or
near the rear seat- and i don´t know how and where to install them.

had the idea to put them in the plastic-parts between the rear seat and the quarter window and have them upholstered with matching leather to hide the speakers..

now everybody pants down :moonu: ,what did you do to get a better sound?
post some pictures if possible...:eek:

[centurion 455 ragtop]

With me, I re-installed the factory am/fm 8-track and installed better speakers, it actually works too :D . Then used my Ipod with an I-tunes attachment for about 60 bucks. It is wireless, you adjust your radio to a low number fM station and the Ipod plays over your radio speakers. The sound doesn't match todays stereos, but I'm more of a happy camper hearing that nice gurgly sound of a 455.

I think some of the other guys also wired in radios in the glovebox or hidden under the seat. There are some other creative ways out there I am sure.

[73 Centurion]

There are several creative ways to add tunes. Hidden audio makes a unit that uses a radio frequency full function remote. It doesn't have to be visible to work, but it's a little pricey.

I've seen stereo's that are just amplifiers and speakers that plug into an Ipod or other source. My mp3 player has a built in AM/FM radio if I get tired of my collection.

There's a great installation where he put a modern radio inside a below the dash 8 track player housing with a flip down front. Looks stock and is easy to access.

A stereo in the glovebox doesn't make sense to me, particularly in a convertible. It's just too akward to adjust the volume. Flying down the highway volume is not going to work in the neighborhood.

The ashtray is big enough and I've seen an installation where the front of the ashtray folds down.

You might want to consider a marine radio with a wired remote. You can install the radio anywhere and tuck the remote under the armrest. Some remotes have everything you'd find on the face of a radio.

3.5" speakers will fit nicely in the dash. I've seen 6" speakers in the rear armrest but it always looks hacked to me. Maybe I'm just fussy. I've considered putting the speakers in the armrest and then covering the entire verticle face of the armrest in a nice speaker cloth. That would blend in nicely. Beware that there's a massive brace under those arm rests and there's a lot less room than you'd expect.

I also played with the idea of building a mini-subwoofer into one of the consoles. Between the dash speakers and the mini-woofer you could have pretty good sound that would remain invisible.

I have 6X9's in the stock rear location and it's louder behind the car than in it when the roof is down. It's not very useful.

Getting speakers to blend into the doors would also be a challenge because of the design of the panels. If you put the speakers low you have to cut the chrome trim. Put them where you want them and you could run into the window mechanism.

Many Sklyark/GS owners use 2 5-1/4" speakers in the center of the dash. This wouldn't have the stereo seperation of the outside location but a 5-1/4" would sound fuller than a 3-1/2".

I'm really strange about modifications. I don't mind making changes but they have to look (to me) like Buick might've built it that way. I have yet to see a square face radio installed in our dash in a way that looks right to me. So I've got a good aftermarket shaft radio. I bought it back when such things were still available new. You can find shaft radio's that were top of the line in their time on eBay. Sometimes for reasonable prices. An Alpine head unit using pre-amp outputs with modern amps and speakers hidden around the interior would sound great and look reasonably at home.

Not that I've thought much about the topic.:user:

John

[dewbers]

I did a little of both. I found a 72 8-track on ebay. Bought it, installed it and it looks great. Put new speakers in the dash. 4 inch rounds, under the dash, can't see them... Put a "modern" radio with cd player in the glove box with remote. John is right, top down going 65 is way different than top down going 35. So, I have a remote. Looks like your tv remote, but a bit smaller. Little velcro on the back and it holds tight right on the trany hump. Installed two 5 inch rounds in the back seat area below the arm rest. There are holes there under your upholstery. Not sure if Buick allowed these as an option or what, but the holes are there. Get speaker screens in the same color as your interior and there hardly noticeable. (though my interior is black, so that was easy!!) :Brow: Now, I get the best of both worlds, though I know the purest on here don't like cutting what wasn't cut to begin with!! I am with them 99% of the time, but I had to have better tunes so I cut a little bit! Plus the radio has an iPod hook up, so I can do that as well. Nothing like cruising in a 72 with 70's hard rock blaring... I get all teary eyed just thinking about it!

59 degree's here on Monday. Guess what's coming out of the garage and car cover!?! :Brow:

[turbojaeger]

i don´t want a high-end system or surround-sound or stuff like that...
the old speakers in the front were damaged and the ones in the rear
had only a low output with a real bad sound. and someone put a sony radio
from the late 80´s in it :Blasting:and cut the bezel in parts...
i had really luck and found a NOS bezel and a old radio.

all speakers will need to be replaced anyways so i will make
it a little better than "working" and hope to get a good and
clear sound...

thanx for your inputs so long and keep on posting your systems here!!
:beers:

[Smartin]

This was already done to my car when I got it, but it's a really high quality job.


Glove box install - if you do this, make sure the head unit has a remote control. There's no safe way to reach this far into the passenger side without compromising your driving.

http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/coupe/stereo001.jpg


I'm not too excited about cutting kick panels, but this was already done...don't shoot the messenger!

http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/coupe/stereo002.jpg


These are kinda neat, but again, they drilled a hole in each A pillar cover to mount each speaker. Plus, I have a difficult time using the sunvisors with these installed in this location.

http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/coupe/stereo003.jpg


Another view of the super tiny tweeters..

http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/coupe/stereo004.jpg


There is one of these on each side of the trunk. They will blow the wax out of your ears if you're not careful! I have to really tune these down to be able to enjoy regular music. Otherwise, it gets too heavy.

http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/coupe/stereo005.jpg


You can barely see where the amp is located. I have no idea what the specs are on this thing, but I know it works. And it's big. I have the power cord hidden in the engine compartment, routed through the inside of the passenger side fender, and coming out right at the battery with a giant circuit breaker in case of accidental grounding.

http://www.buickpartsdirectory.com/coupe/stereo006.jpg

[EEE]

I had my radio in the ash tray bay. Since the whole deal slides out, I took out the ash tray, then cut the frame it sits in so it only had the sliding parts left on the sides. I then mounted the radio on a metal plate that was screwed to the top of the ash tray area. I could then keep the stock lid, which I would slide out and there would be my radio. The lid I had to put on the floor since it wouldn't stay connected. Also had an amp under my seat, and 2 x 6*9 + 12in subwoofer in small boxes that were laying in the compartment where the top folds down. Those speakers were covered with a coth so you couldn't see them .When the top came down it would rest on the speakers, and stick up an extra inch or so. In the front I had pretty nice 5*8 alpine speakers in the stock locations under the dash. Nothing visible, anywhere... Kept a stock radio in place for looks.. Now it's all history :bawl:

[Robroy]

Thinking of rebuilding the inside of the ash tray to hold three gauges (temp, oil, amp). That way they would invisible when not driving and easily pulled out when driving.

[dewbers]

My radio install looks just like Adam's on the glove box. Just moved it a bit off center to allow a little "cubby" where I keep the registration, insurance card and spare fuses! :Brow: (need them every now and then!)
My front speakers are under the dash as I said and my rear are in the arm rest. I plan on taking her out tomorrow as it's going to be 65 degrees here!!! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Way too happy about that. I miss my lady!
I'll try to shoot a few pics to share. The entire system and install ran me about $400. Nothing as elaborate as Adam's, but I get good sound. And I do have a remote with an little "eye" that is mounted below and under the glove box. Can't see unless you lay on the floor, but it works great! :xyxthumbs:

[dewbers]

Who said they wanted or needed an 8-track?? I read it somewhere in here?!?!?! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/71-72-73-74-75-Buick-AM-FM-Radio-Riviera-Centurion_W0QQitemZ200191114975QQcmdZViewItem?hash =item200191114975

Ends in 7 hours. Good luck!!!

[Robroy]

Seems like Blaupunkt has a 73 Centurion as demo car…..in Poland...
http://www.desoto58.com/anonse/salebuickcenturion73.html

[MichelHaak]

:beers:

[dewbers]

She's a beauty. I wonder if we can track who owns her and get them to join us and allow Bob, Brian and Adam to document her!

[Hulowski]

2 Owner before i got my 72 Centurion decided to cut holes for 6x9's RIGHT in the door panels. Got 2 big 6x9 holes through the panels AND metal behind it, all for nothing because theres no room to fit the 6x9's because of the glass. Looks very hack job, but i plan on reupholstering the panels and welding a new piece of metal in.

I was very dissapointed when i saw that

[Robroy]

I had my radio in the ash tray bay. Since the whole deal slides out, I took out the ash tray, then cut the frame it sits in so it only had the sliding parts left on the sides. I then mounted the radio on a metal plate that was screwed to the top of the ash tray area. I could then keep the stock lid, which I would slide out and there would be my radio. The lid I had to put on the floor since it wouldn't stay connected.
Hi Kimson,

Do you happen to have any picts left of how this looked?

I’m thinking of doing something similar

[32kCenturion]

I had a guy install a new 4 channel Kenwood circuit board into my factory am/fm 8 track player. sounds like a new stereo but looks like the old factory one. 8 track even works.