Looking for the right way

[4david]

looking to install a proper radio in my 60. Along with that I want 6.5s in the doors and 6x9s in the cargo. I recognize I will need a small amp. I'm also considering a small hide a way sub for full range sound. also at some point I may want to add some lighting.

What's the best way to go about all this.

How do I keep it all neat?

Thanks

 

[Jesper]

I think just about any single DIN head unit will fit into the dash slot without issue. Take the whole dashcover off (carefully!!!) and get the cradle secured properly from underneath/inside, then the unit will slide right into the cradle once the dash cover is on.

Front speaker cutouts are cut into the door sheet metal, I think they are either 5"or 6". I'm pretty sure my fronts are 6" (but I don't really remember - they are Kickers and I didn't have to modify anything). Be careful though the the speaker doesn't sit too deep or it could interfere with the window when it's rolled all the way down.

6x9's in the rear are easy, just make cutouts in the cargo panels and install. Get as obsessive about it as you want. I had door & cargo panels made from ABS plastic sheeting and cut out speaker holes with a dremel. Others have done it in the stock panels but I would imagine you'd want to reinforce them somehow. There's a nice 6x9 size gap in the structural supports behind the panel that works nice for placement. I put my amp under the drivers seat.

As far as making it sound nice, match up the performance parameters. Make sure the head unit power output aligns with the speaker power range or add an amp and do the same. I did about an evening's worth of googling on what parameters to match up and then went to amazon and bought components that worked together. Sounds great. Fun weekend project.

 

[4david]

Looks great! I may try to find someone who can do that sort this f plastic work or try myself.

How bout the electronics. Do I need some sort of panel that hooks to the battery and then everything including amps and lights hook to that panel?

 

[4Cruisers]

'89 FJ62 rear speaker mounting brackets added to my '86 FJ60:

The top two holes are already in place. I added Tee-nuts for the bottom bolts.

MB Quart speakers.

 

[Jesper]

You don't need a panel to do it, but that's a clean and orderly way to do it..which never hurts. May be a good investment if you plan on adding other components later.

 

[4david]

Can you recommend a panel. I want to also put lights in and I want to be a bit forward thinking

 

[mattressking]

Best way to do it is either OEM way as seen above or building new panels out of fiber board/particle board or sheet metal if you want to get wild.

Using fiber/particle board would let you mimc oe look and add a hole for speaker. OR just cut a hole in stock board and reinforce the back of the speaker with a speaker ring. Could get wild and get your hands on OE speaker covers and put them on.

 

[4david]

I mean some sort of electrical panel

 

[mattressking]

I mean some sort of electrical panel

OH!

Well it is rather simple. If you are adding an amp you need to determine for what use, midrange, sub or both.

Either way you will need to run the amplifier power source off the battery directly with inline fuse. How you arrange it is up to you, but the best OE looking way is to get black 4/8awg power wire with an inconspicuous or hidden inline fuse.

The amp will then need to be grounded in the chassis someway, so that depends where you decide to mount the amp ultimately. The signal derives from your radio via RCA cables and if you are doing an amp for midrange, your speaker wires need to be routed to the amp.

The part that separates a good install from bad is where you place. The Amp is best put under a seat or if you want to fab something up, you could tuck it away in the rear quarter panels. The rest is time spent running the wiring. When doing so, I highly recommend investing in a decent pair of crimps and terminals.

 

[Skniper]

I mean some sort of electrical panel

Painless makes a small simple aux fuse panel with maybe 7 circuits, 4 switched 3 constant...something like that. Search it, several have installed them.
I mounted mine way up on the drivers kick panel. Nice product.

 

[4david]

This one?

Painless Wiring 70107 Auxiliary 7-Circuit Fuse Block

 

[Skniper]

This one?

Painless Wiring 70107 Auxiliary 7-Circuit Fuse Block

Yessir, that's the one.