sound system recomendations for a '68 mustang convertible

[68er]

i'm resurrecting a '68 convertible, and need stereo system advice.

i am starting from scratch, car has a 100 amp charging system, my budget is @ $350. i'm pretty handy with tools, but have never done a sound system before.

a few areas i'm concerned about:

1. fire - i do NOT want to burn my car down by running lots of current thru the stock 40 year old 18guage wires. so i need to figure out the best way to add a new circuit

2. theft - since i frequently leave it un-attended with the top down, i am worried about some a-hole stealing my stereo,...so i want to mount everything in the trunk, probably use a head unit w/wired remote that can be hidden when parked.

will a wireless remote signal reach into the trunk?

3. quality - the longer i've been looking, the more confused i get...

obviously, i can't get the very best stuff on a $350 budget, so i need to strike some kind of a balance....

i'm thinking that as long as i can hear it good over the (loud-*** flowmaster 40s) exhaust pipes w/the top down at 70mph, and the volume knob

4. features - it has to have a USB port so i can listen to my music (i have over 250 Gbs so far),

looking for a well matched system, installation advice, itemized list of parts etc.., mounting ideas/advice, schematics, model #s, and anything else that would never occur to a novice installer such as myself.

thanks

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[Plottin4success 10+ year member]

Its gonna be hard to get some bass out of that vert.

 

[hatedonmostly 5,000+ posts]

double or triple your budget, buddy

 

[Plottin4success 10+ year member]

You are also gonna have to cut a hole in the factory radio plate. Thats what I did when I had my 68.

 

[Bumpin' Goalie 10+ year member]

Could put the deck in glove box, under a seat to hide it and have a remote still reach it. Most deck remotes won't go through any material though. so a IR relay may be your best bet. Basically moving the sensor to an area where the remote can reach it without having the deck visible.

 

[68er]

double or triple your budget, buddy

sure... i'll just go out back, and pick some more money off the tree.

i aint looking for carnegie hall here, just something better than the cheese-dik 1979 cassette deck w/ 1 blown dash speaker thats in it right now.

the reality of the situation is that i've got $350 to throw at it before somthing else pops up. $350 is better than a poke in the eye. right? if somone here points me in the right direction, i might be able to scratch up another $150 or so....

i'm all ears

heres a couple things that i saw on ebay that fit the budget (just to show you how misguided i truly am):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170421531192&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390123369437&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230365490009&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

thats a head unit w/remote ($118), 4 x 120watt amp ($110) and 4 - 6x9 speakers ($68) + free shipping = $298. i figure that + some wire and incidentals...bada-boom-bada-bing... i'm rockin' down the highway. right?

what do y'all think?

is that stuff is crap? or is it ok for the price? click the links, and you tell me. if that brand is shit, please recommend somthing better.

that's why i started this thread. the 1 thing thats for sure is that i need some tunes in my car BAD!

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

You need to bring it to me and let me help you fix it right so you don't mess it up....

 

[68er]

You are also gonna have to cut a hole in the factory radio plate. Thats what I did when I had my 68.

cutting the dash is out of the question. that kills resale value too much.

if the stereo is mounted remotely, then i may put on a radio delete with extra guages there anyway.

 

[68er]

Most deck remotes won't go through any material though. so a IR relay may be your best bet. Basically moving the sensor to an area where the remote can reach it without having the deck visible.

Ah-HA!!! some usefull advice! (i knew coming here was a good idea!)

how does an IR relay wire up? and do i need to get a particular head unit that accepts it?

 

[Plottin4success 10+ year member]

cutting the dash is out of the question. that kills resale value too much.
if the stereo is rounted remotely, then i may put on a radio delete with extra guages there anyway.

You arent cutting into the dash.

67-68 stangs have a removable dash plate that the factory radio mounts in. You can buy one from yearone.com if you dont want to damage the original.

I dont give a shit about resale value!!! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

 

[J31Rob 5,000+ posts]

retdfg

 

[68er]

well... you learn somthing new every day. thanks.

but i still dont want to mount in the dash. thieves around here can steal your socks without touching your shoes. i leave it parked with the doors unlocked, otherwise they'll just cut the top and let themselves in. a new top runs $1500 installed.

 

[Plottin4success 10+ year member]

well... you learn somthing new every day. thanks.
but i still dont want to mount in the dash. thieves around here can steal your socks without touching your shoes. i leave it parked with the doors unlocked, otherwise they'll just cut the top and let themselves in. a new top runs $1500 installed.

Tell me about it. Some *** busted the window in my 68 to get my system out. If the shithead would have checked, i always left my doors unlocked bc it was so easy to just stick a coat hanger in the window seal and pop the locks, so it was pointless to lock the doors. I had to pay $120 for a window from a Mustang shop.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/mad.gif.c18f003ab0ef8a0d9c27ca78d77a6392.gif

 

[Bumpin' Goalie 10+ year member]

Not sure which decks you can do this to. I would imagine any deck that comes with a remote. Seeing that they accept the remote's input via a sensor. Depending, you can take apart the unit, find the sensor, extend the wire, place wherever. or you may have to take another route.

Wish i could be more help, but having not done it myself, not sure how much i can assist with this.

On another note. i would definitely mount the amp in the trunk for anti-theft reasons.

And as far as speakers, use screws with unique heads. something a standard flathead or phillips head cant come close to moving.

If they can't see your head unit or amp, and cant remove your speakers, you should have some luck. *crosses fingers*

Have you looked into alarm systems? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[68er]

And as far as speakers' date=' use screws with unique heads. something a standard flathead or phillips head cant come close to moving.
If they can't see your head unit or amp, and cant remove your speakers, you should have some luck. *crosses fingers*

Have you looked into alarm systems? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif[/quote']

it has a gps tracker. i can tell the cops where to go get it, or grab my assault rifle and go get it myself. which may be the way to go, because dallas cops are worthless when it comes to auto theft.

when my work truck got swiped back in'02, they wouldn't even bother to make a report. i had to tell my info to a recorder, and then a month later, got a computer generated letter informing me that i had to go downtown in person, and give them $10 if i wanted my truck to be on a list of vehicles that they would keep an eye out for. when i showed up, the lady acted like i was stupid or somthing.

if your vehicle gets stolen in dallas, don't bother the cops about it. just go get it back yourself at the thiefs house, along with whatever else he has that looks interesting.

i have access to a whole bunch of security screws at work. we integrate all manner of high end security systems. "snake-eye" screws seem to be the hardest ones to find a bit for. the allen & torx styles with the little tit in the middle can be had at autozone or harbor freight for $8.

i'm just gonna try not to flash anything in front of them. that car attracts enough attention to itself as it is. but it don't matter what you do... if they want it bad enough they are gonna get it.

i have good insurance. it's worth more stolen than it is sitting in the driveway.