1997 Ford Taurus Install log

[Drunkship 10+ year member]

Install Log

Project Taurass

Car...............1997 Ford Taurus GL

Head Unit......Pioneer Premier DEH-P390MP

Front Stage...Cadence CWM6-KIT

Amplifier.......SoundStream XTA480.2

Wiring...........KnuKonceptz KOL-AK4

Deadening.....Second Skin Damplifier, Second Skin Speaker Pads

Other............Scosche SA68, Scosche FD1340, KnuKonceptz BT-104N/BT-104P

DATE: Saturday - May 5, 2007

This is what the stereo looked like stock.

The stock stereo hooked up to that control box which is located underneither the carpet in the trunk. I started to run all the new wires from there through the trunk.

Took out the front two stock speakers to look at them. Two diferent brands!

The back of the different speakers.

My friend Adam connecting all the controls (vent speed, vent type, temperature and defroster) from the new wiring hardness to the existing connecitons. (That's his g/f's Smirnoff).

The new wiring harness with my Pioneer Premier DEH-P390MP put in.

​

That's all we got done. The magnets on my new speakers are too big to fit in the car with the window down so I am waiting on the woodshop teacher at my mom's school (I have no tools) to make me 3/4" MDF adapters.

Any critiques? This is my first and his second install so we are by no means experts, kind of just trial and error. I'd love to hear feedback (even negative but helpful).

EDIT: Quick question. Since I won't be running a subwoofer or second amplifier, I'm debating where or how to mount my amplifier. I was thinking just mounting it to the back of the seat from the trunk.

Could I mount the crossovers for my comps back there too, or should they be by the speakers?

Click to read more...

 

[blackbonnie 5,000+ posts]

you can mount your crossovers back there and your amp on the back of the seat. nice so far. i hate the look of the taurus's dash.

 

[Drunkship 10+ year member]

I hate it too, but what can ya do?

Well, I was looking at the back of the seat form the trunk and are you sure it will hold the weight of the amplifier?

I was thinking about mounting the amplifier and the crossovers to a board and securing that somewhere in the trunk. Maybe angle it and give it an LED or two to kind of show off...

I just want it to look nice and at least somewhat professional. I asked my dad what to do and he said don't even mount it anywhere and just let it be in the trunk, hahaha.

 

[NeedDirections 10+ year member]

Why no sub stage, if you don't mind my asking?

 

[DaGh0st 5,000+ posts]

id mount the crossovers under the dash theres plenty of room under there.

i hate working in my taraus thats one car thats a real pain in the ***.

 

[Drunkship 10+ year member]

Why no sub stage, if you don't mind my asking?

Going to college soon. Only gonna have it until October. Would be a waste of my money.

 

[Amokie 10+ year member]

I've got a 97 Taurus too. Hard car to work with. Heres some pics of my setup might give you some ideas.

Some of the equipment has changed but same shit.

 

[blackbonnie 5,000+ posts]

you could just mount your crossovers and such to a board, and then secure it somewhere in the trunk. you could secure it right to the floor or wherever you want, just try some stuff out

 

[Drunkship 10+ year member]

I've got a 97 Taurus too. Hard car to work with. Heres some pics of my setup might give you some ideas.

Nice setup! My Soundstream Xstream amplifier is pretty large (Dmentions: 17.1" x 12.4" x 3" ) and heavy, I'm not sure if it would hold up on the back of the seat.

you could just mount your crossovers and such to a board, and then secure it somewhere in the trunk. you could secure it right to the floor or wherever you want, just try some stuff out

Yeah, there's a little well on both the left and right sides of the trunk. I think I'm gonna mount a board (probably buy carpet and carpet it after) and mount the amplifier and crossovers to it. Is it okay to mount amplifiers vertically?

 

[bds0688 10+ year member]

Yep. Heat dissipation may change slightly, but nothing to trouble yourself worrying about.

 

[Drunkship 10+ year member]

Hello again everyone. I'm designing my amp rack, and thusly I have a couple of questions. First off, let me show you a sketch I made of the dimensions.

It will be mounted vertically right next to the seats from inside the trunk, so you won't be able to use the fold-down seats, but whatever.

The top image is to be cut from 3/4" MDF. I'll mount the amplifier to the area with the lines.

The bottom image is to be cut from 1/2" (do they make 1/4"?) MDF. The two new lined areas are where I'm going to mount my crossovers.

After I mount the amplifier and crossovers to the first board and drill holes for all the wires, I'll put 1/2" spacers between the two boards. So basically when it's all finished you'll only be able to see the amplifier and crossovers sticking out.

Now, my first question is 1.) Does this actually sound like it will work? and 2.) Will I need extra wire to run from the crossovers to the tweeters and speakers since they are mounted in the trunk?

Thanks,

Bill

 

[rumtillidie 10+ year member]

i have a 1998 fod taurus but i dont know where to mount the amplifier for my sound system there is some wierd fire extinguier at the side of trunk and rthe very top ceiling lolllll and im getting that same cd player install kit for my car too but i wanna know the quality of it is it cheap plastic? cause i heard most reviews said it was some cheap plastic and at night you can see the light coming out of the climate controls?

 

[luvinthebass 5,000+ posts]

i have a 1998 fod taurus but i dont know where to mount the amplifier for my sound system there is some wierd fire extinguier at the side of trunk and rthe very top ceiling lolllll and im getting that same cd player install kit for my car too but i wanna know the quality of it is it cheap plastic? cause i heard most reviews said it was some cheap plastic and at night you can see the light coming out of the climate controls?

yeah you do see that light, i'ts like a light neon blue color

 

[pyoung9 10+ year member]

Please tell me that your male friend wasn't drinking a Smirnoff Ice...

PLEASE

 

[rumtillidie 10+ year member]

how did you take off the door panel and i see the other guy who posted cut his grill lol what if someone kicks the speaker by accident they'll break it