Amazon: Aftermarket CD Player Install

[dheming]

I've seen a lot of interest for installing a CD player in an Amazon and I'd like to share my implementation. First of all I'm not a big fan of cutting and/or drilling into my vehicles unless it's for a good reason. The stock radio in my estate didn't really work very well but I used it enough to know that reaching way over to in front of the passenger to use the controls wasn't going to work for me. So after much thought I decided upon the least invasive way to mount an aftermarket CD player as close to the driver side as was possible.

Here's the stock setup:



Here's the layout for the new cutout. You can see that I located an edge on one of the old radio knob holes.



I drilled out the corners and used a small flat file to start the cuts enough to fit in the blade from a pull hacksaw, which was then used to do the rest of the cutting. Then a wide flat file was used to fine tune the opening exactly to the layout lines. This was labor intensive and slow but gave excellent results:



The locking tabs of the metal dash-sleeve that the CD player snaps into weren't designed to be installed directly into sheet metal. So I had to make a spacer from 1/4" plywood to keep things tight:



Here's it all put together. I fabed up a simple fake ash tray to cover the original radio hole. I'm planning on building a new instrument cluster later and this hole will be welded up then.



Of course I had to also upgrade from the crappy single speaker. To keep things simple I used some 4" wide range drivers I had left over from a computer speaker project. I didn't want to cut any more metal so I devised a non-invasive mounting method using longer bolts through the hood spring plates:




Overall I'm pretty happy how this all turned out. Since the 4" drivers are mounted open baffle there is no bass at all, but they do have a fat sound stage because of it. I'm going to install a small sub later so the lack of bass doesn't bother me too much right now. It's also very nice having the volume knob right by the shifter area.

Peace,
Derek.


P.S. I hope you guys don't mind all of the pics, I enjoy reading (and making) these kinds of threads. One of my best Amazon mods yet.

[Dylan144GT]

Derek

I'm not one for hacking a dash, for any reason. And yes, I am guilty! BUT Absolutely tastefully done! Well done man! Particularly like the speaker mounting idea! Fantastic! This has been puzzling me and I think I'm going to steal it!

Dylan

[222s]

Very interestiing solution for the front speakers! Does the driver's side one fit in the same way, or is the bonnet / hood release in the way?

Fot others who don't want to cut the dash, there is just enough space under the centre of the dash, in front of the gearstick, to mount a modern stereo without it getting clouted by the gearstick. The same space could also be used instead for a small front mounted sub - see this thread about installing a high end sound system in a Porsche 914. Given that your car is an estate, mounting the sub there would also keep the loadbay free.

[dheming]

Thanks for the comments guys.


"Does the driver's side one fit in the same way, or is the bonnet / hood release in the way?"

That's a good question. The hood release is slightly in the way but a small notch in the wood plate takes care of it:


Needless to say with the handle being so close to the speaker cone you have to be a bit careful when reaching down to pop the hood. Eventually I want to use some expanded metal mesh and some grill cloth to protect as well as hide them though.

[dheming]

Thread rebuilt in a Google Doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...it?usp=sharing

[Rustinmotion]

I made kick panel pods for the front speakers, amazing what you can make with an old T shirt and resin, also fitted a sub, I'm very happy with sound quality

[Derek UK]

I'd be "kickin" those sounds from the front ones. Would it fit above the bonnet pull?

[Rustinmotion]

Originally Posted by Derek UK

I'd be "kickin" those sounds from the front ones. Would it fit above the bonnet pull?

I was also concerned especially with driver side, in reality there is lots of room behind it, have to admit I don't have huge feet so might be tight for size 10 and over, not a lot of room higher up, I'd look for some 4" pvc pipe and mount 4" speakers in them but whatever you use you need it sealed or they sound like toy speakers

[Othen]

Originally Posted by dheming

Of course I had to also upgrade from the crappy single speaker.

What crappy single speaker?



... it is a thing of great beauty!!!!!!

[Bracpan]

I built a false shelf in the rear of the car to hold two new speakers that sits above the old parcel shelf and covered it in black vinyl to match the seats so not cutting the original shelf and can be removed in minutes,
I then built a replacement lower parcel shelf in the front passenger side out of black glass fiber to mount one speaker and a cut off switch and on the drivers side made a G/F pod that sits out of sight that holds the second front speaker .
The front speakers cant be seen. ( i made moulds so the finished pods are light and well finished )
All the speakers can be removed and wont leave a mark on the car.
The radio looks like an old unit but has a DB radio and a USB connection for playing music. Again can be removed without leaving a trace.