I am purchasing a subwoofer and amp for my fj60 cruiser and I was looking to see if anyone has installed one in a 60, I'm new to sub installation and I need some tips. There are two 6x9 pioneer 3 way speakers and boxes in the back from PO and I was going to get a single 12 w/ box and just set it between them. For the amp I was thinking about putting it under the front passenger seat and adding a switch in one of the empty switch slots on my dash. My real questions come with the hooking it up to the radio and battery.
Subwoofer and amp install (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter 1983fj60alabama
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To hook up to the radio you will need some RCA type cables. There should be inputs on the back of the radio and the same looking inputs on the amplifier. Connect the two for audio.
The power to the amplifier is supplied with a cable directly from the battery. Usually with an in-line fuse. Connect to the battery, and then the amp. The amplifier also needs to be grounded. Find a good spot, bare metal preferred, and ground the cable.
You shouldn't really need a switch for it unless you want to turn the amplifier on and off every single time you use it. My system uses a "remote turn on lead" and the amplifier comes on when the radio does. I think this was provided in the amplifier wiring kit that I bought.
Just make sure all the components you are using are compatible, and you have all of the right things.
The power to the amplifier is supplied with a cable directly from the battery. Usually with an in-line fuse. Connect to the battery, and then the amp. The amplifier also needs to be grounded. Find a good spot, bare metal preferred, and ground the cable.
You shouldn't really need a switch for it unless you want to turn the amplifier on and off every single time you use it. My system uses a "remote turn on lead" and the amplifier comes on when the radio does. I think this was provided in the amplifier wiring kit that I bought.
Just make sure all the components you are using are compatible, and you have all of the right things.
Get a modern head unit. They are cheap and make connecting to amps for subs and bluetooth and aux and usb and anything else a modern sound system uses very easy. I would also get higher power speakers and send some separate amps to them, but you start getting into some money quickly. Modern higher power head, non-harsh speakers, amp and sub goes a long way, especially if the windows are down.
- Thread starter
- #4
Do i ground it in the cab or in the engine compartment?
Usually in the cab, if your mounting under the seat use a seat bolt or there should be a spare one floating around.
Like above your amp will be powered independently using red power cable to the battery and a secondary "remote" or "antenna" cable should be supplied from you're deck from memory it's usually blue?
This allows the amp to turn on and off at the same time the deck does.
Like above your amp will be powered independently using red power cable to the battery and a secondary "remote" or "antenna" cable should be supplied from you're deck from memory it's usually blue?
This allows the amp to turn on and off at the same time the deck does.
A dash switch for what?
My amp is under my driver's seat. There's a heater under the passenger seat.
My amp is under my driver's seat. There's a heater under the passenger seat.
Callahan Offroad
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Minor details: fuse within eight inches or less of the battery needs proper sizing too depends on amp draw of course...use 4ga power and ground to be safe. TThe shorter the ground the better. bare metal only and use existing bolt for secure mount. Secure amp to vehicle.electrical components don't like to bounce around. AAlso secure sub box in case of accident it becomes a serious hazard.all in all I would find someone who has done this before to help you out pay a shop... May save yourself a fire or worse
Lots of good advice in here. Amps need to breathe. Mine is secured to a piece of MDF underneath it; otherwise the carpet would block the venting.
I have exactly zero experience with installing such things, but in my truck the PO had the amp under the back seat (works ok, but when the back seat is folded down it is in contact with the amp. Makes me worry about heat and melting seats). The powered sub is just a Kicker box, set behind the back seat. Easily unplugs when the seat goes down for larger cargo.
I put mine in the tailgate, but if I had to do it again, I might make some ABS panels for the side cargo area.
Living in the Past
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Probably smaller amp than most would use orwhat years this space was used for a amp but this is what I did in my 89 FJ62. This is above the glove box and the holes in the dash were for cooling the amp used on the premium sound system available in the Middle East. I did to remove my dash pad to allow heat to escape. I do want to see if a sub woofer and amp will wire into the system. Not looking for a larger sub woofer and would figure a way to mount it in a side panel in the back.
