I think AM radio died about 30 years ago...
Oh, you mean the one in your truck! nevermind. LOL!

 

This is just a thought but seeing as how a thread would be too big since the subject is so broad, why not just do this on the Audio Video forum?

 

I personally would like to see it stay here and address the issues pertaining to "our" trucks as I'm sure it is much different than what would be important to a newer truck owner. With their more sedan like construction and upscale OEM stereo systems it isn't as likely they would be starting from scratch or have the acoustical issues we face.

 

That's a valid point, but there are people with older and newer trucks that face the same problems. It seems we would be ignoring others that could benefit / contribute to the topic.

 

"Sounds Great" go 4 it!!!!!!!

 

Anybody have any NOS tubes for my old AM, we want to keep our trucks all Ford.

 

'Fenders,

I would really like for this to work. However, I do have one caveat. (Been readin' Niolon's posts....too dang many big words!) I would like it to be made to everyone, in as clear English as possible, at the beginning, that if they want to participate, they need to keep an open mind-and if their particular audio dream isn't that of others, fine, so be it, but keep in mind their dream isn't everyone else's, either. Having been on this board for a year, it seems to me that the whole topic of car audio is almost as opinionated and controversial as the Chevy engine vs. Ford engine debate.

Some months ago, I inquired as to your plans for a system. You had mentioned your dissatisfaction with a certain brand, and also wished to add subs, if I recall correctly. As I was in the same boat as AX, having lost touch since the early '90s (with car audio, dammit! Not reality! Er, anyways...) I wanted to hear your input, seeing as you were more current than I was. Next thing I knew the thread turned into a war of stock vs. the darkside, not so pleasantly, & a couple of individuals seemed to take your audio thoughts as mortal insults to their manhood. I might add my ONLY post was the original one. I felt guilty enough about dumping that load of crud on you, I never did restate the question. This has happened to a lesser extent a couple more times as well in other audio posts. Face it: if an owner doesn't want to cut up the dash, install an overhead console, hang a head unit under the dash, use the glovebox, go under the seat, or put it on the floor in a console, they will be very limited in what they can do. That's frustrating. We understand your pain. But don't snarl at anyone when they do suggest these things, because any modern radio will require some sacrifice on your part, either in appearance, or convenience.

In short: if someone's idea of audio nirvana is a 1955 Philco, a pristine dash, & a 5" cab speaker, we'll never slam ya. Please, have the courtesy to do the same when speaking of the newfangled stuff. There is a lot of newer technology in noise reduction and speaker quality that is fully applicable to stock restorations, and can be undetectable to the sharpest of eyes. That AM radio might just sound pretty good!

The latest Ford vs. Chevy debate was pretty clean. It was a nice change. Please, let's keep this proposed thread the same way. Courtesy is a rare and refreshing experience these days.

Turning my "white noise" off now, Mike

Sony stinks! Alpine rules! Or is it Alpine stinks! Sony rules! I'm so confused...I need 'Fenders or Niolon or Himmelberg to pat me on the head, tell me it's OK, give me my meds, and tell me what my opinion is. (And then rip it out and change it in a year or so to something completely different...but that's another story!)

 

Fenders,
Here's one more dude who thought you wanted us to put a mike up the truck's tailpipe and record/share sounds of the Y-block's blub blub blubbing away!

Show's you where my head's at.

Music choices in my truck are one: me, singing Merle Haggard badly from memory and getting the words wrong.

ROB

 

This is interesting. I left aerospace engineering in '91. Lived on savings, went to college and adjusted my spending habits downward. Way down. Got a job in '98 teaching... we are a single income family. I teach in a state that averages 6k less annually than other American teachers are paid. Oh. And I like sounds.

Regarding this idea, I am ready to post the question "What is out there, audiowise... what features... how much?" From this I would hope to hear that Brand X makes a unit that costs $?... works cool with B speakers... that cost $?... and can be found at "www.cheapalsstereo.com" or Walgreens.

Without repeating the obvious, the parts and pieces would all work well in our 48-60 Ford Trucks. I think it would be great if the responses were as enlightened as our IFS threads that turned into a tech article or summary. Listing the pros and cons, price and availability, and avoiding the hysteria that often accompanies brand loyalty would be ideal.

May I post one? DeZavala Elementary's "music" teacher, himmelberg

 

I would prefer to keep it on this forum. Much of the info is going to be specific to our trucks. I have trolled numerous audio forums for several years now. There will be drive by shootings by passing teens if we do it elsewhere. I like our forum teens better.

Homespun is right, it would be best if we police ourselves and keep the brand flaming to a minimum. I know I intend to avoid making brand bashing statements as much as possible. I would never cut my dash for a headunit install, but if you did, share some PICs and warn us of the pitfalls of your way.

The reason I wanted to break this up is precisely for the reasons Homespun stated. We can have a stock audio thread, a low budget thread, a performance audio thread. Whatever you guys want. My front speakers sell for $450. That's just retarded, and I know that. And your $49 speakers may be good enough to you. Thats fine too. Point being a head to head comparison is without value. We'll focus the conversation appropriately by budget with everyones help.

Will we do a master sticky thread at the end? We'll see, but I doubt it. This is going to get stupid long.

Anyone that wants the email address for my crack, er I mean audio dealer, drop me an email or PM and I'll hook you up with him. I'll probably invite him here eventually if this proceeds well.

And anyone who misinterpretted this as a record your exhaust sounds thread. I'm a SB guy, think I want embarrassed by you FE guys? Nuthin sounds like a big block.

I'll get some PICs together and start a stereo install thread. We'll try to focus on the how and why you did it. There are many ways to do this, my way isn't the only way. If you have a PIC of the install of your head unit, amp, or speaker install, please prepare to share it if you want to participate.

I also suggest we do an Audio old wives tale thread early on, to shake out all that false knowledge we picked up in highschool. You know, like they have a newer medium than 8 track tapes now. Craig, Radio Shack, and Jensen Audio no longer rule the world. Stuff like that.

 

I am very impressed and ANY information is a great start for me. Whatever is decided I'm definetly in.

 

Another great idea by Mr. Fatfenders himself....
It would be really interesting to find out ideas of where to put all kinds of speakers and such....Like i told 'fenders, my ma does upholstery AND furniture refinishing, so ill have her make my door panels to fit, and possibly make a nice fancy wood center column coming down almost straight under where the vent IS, or maybe WAS. That way, i can stick a radio and the climate control and other switches and ***** in without cuttin all kinds of ugly holes in the dash.....the Jaguar of the Ford Motor Company.......and I can say that with a clear conscience because Jag and other luxury cars are in the "Ford Family of Brands"......sounds professional doesnt it

 

I think this would be great and the forum should stay with our trucks years. I would like to see ideas here that are not really brand oriented as much as pictures of what people have done. Such as

• The kick panels and what size speaker fit with dimensions for depth it varies by manufacturer.
• The radio in the glove box.
• The radio behind the speaker grill with the speaker grill as a moving door.
• What size speakers fit in the door panels? Max allowable depth and placement are details we would need.
• What did you use to get the power to the door speakers?
• What fits behind the seat?
• How about speakers in the over head like a Jeep Wrangler?
• How about woofers under the seat?

 

As far as speakers, I'd like to hear the pros and cons of the main speaker placement: In the kick panels, in the sides of a center console, in the doors, in the side panels behind the door, above the back window in the case of most of you with pickups. What about those of us with a Panel truck? Some Miatas had speakers in the headrests? Cutting into things not withstanding, (I like a clean dash, but I don't feel it's a sacred shrine that needs to be forever virgin) where would the ideal placement be?
If component speakers are used, should the tweeters be in close proximity to the mid-range/bass speakers or should they be separated? Is a sub necessary for those who are not not wanting to be heard down the street or prefer easy listening to the latest hip hop artist? What about 4 channels, how important are the second set of speakers, do the need to be as good/better than the primary set and where should they be ideally placed, facing what direction? A lot of home speakers have shrunk from being major pieces of furniture to the size of a Rubic's cube, has that technology been ported over to mobile audio? Do I really need to run wires that look like they could be used to power a small city, and cost more per ounce than gold?
Common Fenders we want answers to these questions and how to achieve Nirvana!

 

AX

I spent a little time tonight prepping PICs of my kicks. I see you are impatient so I'll give you a few comments to hold you over.

1. First, I am insanely jealous of your panel truck audio situation. Just install a Honda generator on the roof, move your home stereo to the truck and be done with it. Car audio can't compete with that ever

2. Yes you need a small sub, because I said so. We'll argue about it later You can't put part of the orchestra on mute. Most music styles demand some bass. We're going to stuff small subs under the seat.

3. I am working on the old wives tales list. Thanks for mentioning the monster speaker wire issue. You know the answer. Hell no. It's a waste of money.

4. You need rear speakers only if you fail to get quality sound from the front stage. Not needed for an F100 properly set up. Rear speakers probably mandatory in your "ice cream truck" as my wife refers to them. They were in my Bronco. If you run rears, usually un-amped so they don't dominate the staging. When you attend a concert, do you turn your back on the stage and listen to the concert from behind? If you do, I can't help you.

5. Ideal placement for tweets is usually in dash, facing toward your big ol ears. I'll not be getting out the holesaw, my tweets can be surface mounted. Since tweets don't need an enclosure. You can tape them all over the place until you like the sound. We have to discuss coaxs first. They will meet some people needs.

6. Most speakers would be happier in the door for better midbass. I have flamed door panels. So I am going to make my kick install work. If not, stealth midbass in the door. More later I'm sure.

7. Now sit there and be patient. This isn't going to be done for a good while. We'll get started soon though.