worth using stock 96 head unit to install a sub/amp

[Peter]

for free, i got a sony explod 10" or so sub and two 7x9 (i think) pioneer speakers in boxes. I want to put this in my 96 because the stock speakers are weak. I wonder if its worth attaching all this to the stock head unit? Where is a good placement for the amp sub and speakers so that they wont get in the way too much. I want to mount the amp but out of the way so that i can still lower the seats. As for the sub and speakers since they are in boxes I am just going to have them lose in back so I can remove them if I need the space in the back. Any suggestions on amp placement? and whether this is all worth hooking up to the stock head unit and going with the stock speakers?

 

[Peter]

also how do you get to the head unit? without breaking anything...

 

[DOZIER]

I never do reccomend running a subwoofer off of a stock head unit due to bad quality of sound from the sub. You would have to use a line level converter, I think that is what it is called. Little black box and it says PAC on it. You have to tap into the speaker wires either behind the head unit or in the rear of the truck. Also, the head unit needs to be removed with a din tool. You can buy them at Wallyworld or at any local car stereo dealer store for a few bucks. they look like little horse shoes, they plug into the right and left top and bottom holes in the face of the head unit and unlock it and you just slide it out. easy to do. read the directions on the box and go for it. hope this helps.

 

[toypaseo]

In my 96 for my "Budget Bass" project, I tapped signal near the OEM amplifier. You can see the PAC converter I used in the pic below. Click on the link for a larger pic...

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4/toypaseo/explorer sub/106_0691.jpg

 

[Peter]

does the stock head unit even have any audio out connections? besides what connects right into what i guess would be called the wiring harness? if I can connect an rca line to the head unit I can run that right to the amp I have, but I dont want to pull the head unit without knowing this.

 

[toypaseo]

No outputs as far as I know. Someone will chime in that knows for sure.

 

[axiom]

I had replaced my stock head unit in my old '93 and '92, I don't remember either of them having any sort of output jacks at all.

 

[Peter]

i think i figured it all out today. The stock head unit doesnt have rca outs, so basically you need to tap into the existing front and rear speaker lines and install an rca adapter thing. So I would have to do two of those for the two channels I want to run off the amp. One for the two other speakers and one for the sub. Also, the quality of the head unit isnt as goood, and its old. I am going to buy a new head unit and have best buy install it as installation comes with it. Also the new head unit will have an ipod cable which is cool. I installed hte amp and the sub and speakers. Ran a power cord to the amp and grounded in a sufficient place i think. I used a srew that I think went into the body found behind the rear seat. Its worht getting a new head unit if I am going to use the amp sub and speakers in back. I dont have the premium sound so all I am really losing is the cd changer in the console.

 

[axiom]

Well if you're using the iPod adapter, the CD changer shouldn't really matter anyway. Sounds like a decent plan, what head unit are you looking at or have you not looked yet?

 

[Peter]

honestly I am trying to heep the total project under 300$ so I am going with a jvc cd player with a built in ipod hookup that is like 160$ at best buy. 40$ for the intstall kit and free installation makes it 200. I had to buy a new rca cable and some speaker wire so as long as they dont have to spend more than 50$ figuring out what I have done already I should be good. The fuse block is old and has some corrosion so I willl probablly need a new one of those.