Just throwing this out to see if anyone salutes. As I have mentioned more than once, I am also into mobile audio. I am in the process of trying to make my F100 stereo audio competition quality, without trashing the look of my truck. Due to F100 space constraints, too much metal interior etc, this is more than a tall task. As many of you probably know, audio is a hobby too, and therefore there is no limit too how much money you can waste.

What I am proposing is a thread on audio install, which maximizes the sound quality within our space constraints, at a price that isn't too much higher than a trip to the local Best Buy, or insert your local chain store.

I know the owner/designer of a high performance, internet based speaker company here in Iowa. Their specialty is great sound, for space constrained installs. Just like we have with our Effies. My mind melts when he talks audio, but I think he could dumb it down sufficiently for us. I can tell you his equipment does well in competitions for sound QUALITY. They aren't specializing in hearing damage. You would have to hear it to believe it, and at a price not much higher than a locally purchased system.

I also know net dealers who sell quality audio equipment at significant discounts from retail. Their clients are typically poor college students who want bang for the buck.

Any interest? Please don't pull my chain if you aren't. I won;t be offended if i am the only one that cares. Thread would consist of F100 front speaker install, sub install under the seat, custom kick panel construction, sound deadening, CD player and AMP selection, stealth audio install for those who desire stock appearance, etc. If there is interest, I will ask the aforemention experts to get an FTE ID and participate. If not, that's OK too. Don't want to force my passion on you. And this will take a minute to get set up.

 

Sounds good to me, fenders! Even though mine is basically completed I can share some installation input. Right now I have my kick panels out and the detailing in that construction is easy to see.

Why are my kick panels out, you ask. Well, I needed to get at the fender bolts...took the fenders off...took the whole dang front end off and tore down half the engine so I can detail it all this winter .

Anyway, getting back to the crux of the matter, I made my kick panels very easy to remove & replace just so I could get at the speakers and bolts...and adjust the sound deadening in there if need be.
Norb

 

Yo Fenders! Any and all help in the audio area would be much appreciated. Trucks are not the sound friendliest critters anyway and some good advice / guidelines would be a great thing - especially for those of us who really haven't even given that end of the program much thought yet. Right now my truck has the acoustics of a large sardine can but it's definitely not too early to begin thinking about improvements in that area. Bring it on!

Leaks

 

YES

I like to play with audio when I have the dollars.....which isn't often

 

When I saw the title and before I read what you have in mind, I was thinking of a thread where we all post sound bites of our trucks. Don't know if its possible but it might be interesting.

You really don't need to ask our permission to post something, obviously. I would be interested in reading about audio install. And the good thing is I don't even think I know much about it so I would likely stay out of it.

 

Yea, that would be good. I'm making my rear spear enclosures out of metal and they will be wrapped inside with dynomat. Would like to know how bad I am going to screw up the sound system with this idea.

Chuck

 

Count me in...

I've been looking at the hidden audio system, where the receiver can mount under the seat. You control it with a RF remote. I'd love to hear from anybody that has any experience with it. Just don't wanna cut that dash!!

Mike

 

Okay,

Here is my plan of attack - 1) Sony Xplod CD-Deck mounted in the glove box (stealth); 2) Two 10" Subs mounted in 2 separate boxes from the rear corners of the cab; 3) Two 6-1/2 speakers mounted in the doors; 4) Two Amps mounted to the floor board under the bench seat; 5) Possibly a CD-Changer mounted under the seat also (have to check for space after the amps are in place) All of my equipment has been purchased on ebay except the sub amp. Ebay had a lot of great package deals on speakers and amp combos. I recommend you decide on what you want to accomplish. For me its some thump and a whole lot of clarity (Jazz listener).

James Akers
54 Ford F100 302/AOD

 

After giving this some thought, I think the subject is WAAAY too broad for a single thread. I suggest we start a thread on construction of enclosures, CD deck mounting (stealth and not). Start getting a few how to pictures ready for a how to do it your way.

Then maybe a thread on audio principles in general. You’ll be surprised to learn how much things have changed since you were in high school. Quality systems usually don’t use rear full range speakers anymore. (A point I argued on audio forums and was proven wrong. My ears just wouldn’t lie to me). The major brands we loved are laughed at by anyone who desires good sound.

The actual selection of stereo equipment is another subject, and sure to be full of brand loyalty. i.e. nobody wants to hear they just bought junk so lets leave that part for later. We could divide that up into a couple threads by budget. The net has opened up wholesale pricing with direct sellers of outstanding equipment, and they can beat Best Buy on price in many cases. Equipment that just makes you want to throw your well advertised brand in the trash can. Thank heavens for eBay, so I could escape my many errors I made early.

If I bring a pro on here and the forum starts to profess how good their low quality system is, he’s just gonna laugh at us and leave. Because he knows he sells something way better for about the same money we just blew at the mall. We’ll discuss that invitation possibility later. I think I‘ll have him critique my install before we ask him to offer blind (or deaf) F1/F100 advice. All vehicles have different audio obstacles to conquer.

 

Oh, yes please! I'm not anywhere near doing a sound system yet, but it's on the horizon.
I've noted what others have done on kick panels, etc. A console install of the receiver puzzles me.
Cool plan, Fenders.

 

D,

you plan to do this like the suspension thingy ?? an accumulation of info in different threads and then combined/edited into a single universal compendium of all audio knowledge in F-100's known to man ??? cool

I'm not near there yet, but like to have the info for library till then..

thanks....... you da man, man ..... and in large caliber of course !!

john

 

sounds like an excellent thread. Do you think you could post some of those discount suppliers you mentioned for poor college kids?? that is right up my alley. I am fabricating a custom console with built in speaker enclosures that run down the middle of my truck for the subs and amp. ...dont know yet about the amps, but 2 12" orion hcca's sound about right for there as well as some pioneer 6x9s, 6x6s and some 4x4s with ti tweeters mounted in the head board at all 4 corners.

 

Making it a sticky like the suspension thread would be great. One more step in organizing this group's seemingly unlimited supply of info. I'm no expert like many on this site, but I am pretty proud of my custom speaker boxes. }/__\{ John

 

We've already been coresponding on this so yes I think it's a good idea, especially if you could spec out some growth type systems that would give a basic functional system at first (HU with a decent built in amp, pair of good speakers ?) that could be built up without having to totally scrap the original investment as funds allowed if that's possible? Some good info on external amps: why and when are they needed, how much power do you really need and what's hype and what should you pay for. Subs: why, how many, how big, where. Component speakers: vs coaxials, crossovers, impedence matching, phasing. Wire and wiring. Avoiding interference. Like you said it's been a long time since I went audio shopping, and there's so much new tech and products (along with a great amount of hype) out there that I need a crash course to make wise purchases.

 

I'd love to read about installing good sound in my truck. I think my am radio might have died already.