I need some music!!!

[saint60]

Hey guys. I am no electritian so I need all the help I can get instaling a cd player in my cruiser. It is driving me crazy not having any music. Anyways, I toke out the tape player that wasn't working(it didn't have power). THen I had to go and order a adapter for the cd player. Is that all I need or will I need anything else. And any tips would be great thanks.

 

[gulp3000]

I'm no expert, but fitting a modern stereo in a stock location takes a little imagination. We bent the original brackets out of the way and installed a home-made support on top of the cubby hole so the housing on the new stereo has some support underneath. First attempt sounded like crap so my buddy and I reran everything. Power, acc, speaker wires. We used Pioneer speakers and a JVC stereo/CD. Cheap stuff but it sounds great! The original speakers are pretty bad. If you replace them, check the depth because you may have to shim the door speakers out a little. When I first put them in, the window hit the back of the speaker when rolled down.

 

[new62]

I just put a Panasonic head unit, 2 amps, 2 sets of new speakers (door and rear panels) and a subwoofer in my truck, doing all the installation and wiring work myself.

I used the factory bracket, and with a little situating, was able to fit the head unit in a sturdy position ("locked" back against the two turned-in tips of the bracket and the other two tips underneath it, using the same bottom tips for mounting the standard Toyota pocket, which you can buy anywhere.)

Make sure you buy a wiring harness and follow the wiring directions on the head unit. Before you connect anything, use a voltimeter or multimeter to ensure you're getting power to the proper wires. A lot of trucks have loose/unconnected wiring or wiring that was redone incorrectly (see: moron PO's and dealer installed alarm units that broke 5 minutes after they were installed).

 

[Doc]

Most stereo's will come with a harness 'pig tail' and that should be all you need. Source power directly from a fused line to the batter, switched power from a fuse in the fuse box, etc... I didn't use the stock harness for anything.

I just put 7" speakers in the rear last night. With the 6.5's up front it's a very good sound.

 

[Lizrd]

Just finished my 62 install

Boston acoustics 6.5's in back, Polk Audio 5.5's up front. Rears installed in the factory "armored" mount. I made a flat plate that rivets to the front door and mounted the fronts to the plate to get clearance. eclipse 5-channel amp and 10" JL Audio sub in custom box in the back, and a Pioneer head unit. Absolutely an all-day project, but it looks and sounds awesome. The Pioneer mounted directly in the factory bracket, with a generic aftermarket Toyota pocket underneath. Have the same pioneer in my trail truck, and it never skips (model 3620, I think).
Pro installer suggested running the front speaker wires from the amp to stock speaker wires where they connect to the old unit. Saves having to snake the wires through the door connector, and was a good tip.

Dave

 

[hj60]

Have the same pioneer in my trail truck, and it never skips (model 3620, I think).

Never skips? Like even while wheeling?
This is the holy grail of Cruiser CD head units if that's what you're claiming.

 

[84Bruiser]

Never skips? Like even while wheeling?
This is the holy grail of Cruiser CD head units if that's what you're claiming.

I have a Pioneer 12 disc changer mounted in a Tuffy Box that never skips, even while wheeling.

 

[hj60]

Wow! Looks like Pioneer is the way to go.

 

[Heffenoche]

The easiest deck install is a console w/ a stereo pocket. Easy install, dash looks stock (for security) and you get a great locking console and arm rest. A little extra bucks but I have never regreted it.

 

[BigRed87]

I fit an Alpine head unit in the stock location with a little tuning of the stock mounts, and a plastic sleeve my local electronics guy had lying around in his shop. fits nice. Alpine 5 1/4" components in the front doors, Alpine 6x9s in the tailgate, and an Alpine 12" sub in a box from Best Buy. It drowns out the 350, and sounds great. oh yeah, Punch amp under the driver's seat.