So, with winter rapidly approaching here in Colorado, I thought it was time to put the hard top back on this week. I had recently installed a new CD/Ipod headunit from Sony (I am an Alpine guy, but the price on the Sony combined with a gift card help me make the new choice 
). I wanted a new headunit that could run an ipod which this one can.
I used to install car audio systems as a part time job in college so I thought I'd share my speaker panel with you and give anyone out there a few tips if they want to copy it.
First off, a FJ40 is not where you should put a lot of $$$$ into a stereo... there is too much metal to actually get decent sound quality out of it. I have said it before, but you can spend all the coin in the world and throw it at a FJ40 but you are still going to have an install in an overgrown tuna fish can
Enough chit-chat... I installed two 6.5" component speakers from Alpine, that I have had laying around for some time. My install is super simple, I cut a few peices of plywood to match the profile of the roof contour, wrapped it in marine grade vinyl, cut out holes for the speakers, installed some foam baffles (this alone will make your poopy speakers sound MUCH better, and keep the rear of the speakers out of the elements). Wir them up and whoa-la!
While I was at it I installed a dome light with manul switch. For the summer... I will put the speakers into the half doors I am making this winter but I will probably go with Alpines new 7" two way marine speakers, as they can really take the elements with no concerns.
I should have cut out a section of the front panel to create a storage shelf, but oh well, maybe next time
Hope this helps someone out...
). I wanted a new headunit that could run an ipod which this one can.I used to install car audio systems as a part time job in college so I thought I'd share my speaker panel with you and give anyone out there a few tips if they want to copy it.
First off, a FJ40 is not where you should put a lot of $$$$ into a stereo... there is too much metal to actually get decent sound quality out of it. I have said it before, but you can spend all the coin in the world and throw it at a FJ40 but you are still going to have an install in an overgrown tuna fish can
Enough chit-chat... I installed two 6.5" component speakers from Alpine, that I have had laying around for some time. My install is super simple, I cut a few peices of plywood to match the profile of the roof contour, wrapped it in marine grade vinyl, cut out holes for the speakers, installed some foam baffles (this alone will make your poopy speakers sound MUCH better, and keep the rear of the speakers out of the elements). Wir them up and whoa-la!
While I was at it I installed a dome light with manul switch. For the summer... I will put the speakers into the half doors I am making this winter
but I will probably go with Alpines new 7" two way marine speakers, as they can really take the elements with no concerns.I should have cut out a section of the front panel to create a storage shelf, but oh well, maybe next time
Hope this helps someone out...
