radio

[Joe Vandatta]

Just wondering if anyone has installed one of the after market radios and how did it work out? The on/off switch on my original AM just went bad.
Joe

[boaterbob]

I PUT A CUSTOM AUTO SOUND USA-04 IN MY 66 ABOUT 4 YEARS BACK. I ALSO USED THEIR SPEAKERS FRONT AND BACK, EVERYTHING FIT WELL. IT STILL WORKS FINE, BUT I THINK IT COULD USE MORE OUTPUT WATTS.

BOATS

[boaterbob]

I PUT A CUSTOM AUTO SOUND USA-04 IN MY 66 ABOUT 4 YEARS BACK. I ALSO USED THEIR SPEAKERS FRONT AND BACK, EVERYTHING FIT WELL. IT STILL WORKS FINE, BUT I THINK IT COULD USE MORE OUTPUT WATTS.

BOATS

[boaterbob]

I PUT A CUSTOM AUTO SOUND USA-04 IN MY 66 ABOUT 4 YEARS BACK. I ALSO USED THEIR SPEAKERS FRONT AND BACK, EVERYTHING FIT WELL. IT STILL WORKS FINE, BUT I THINK IT COULD USE MORE OUTPUT WATTS.

BOATS

[boaterbob]

I PUT A CUSTOM AUTO SOUND USA-04 IN MY 66 ABOUT 4 YEARS BACK. I ALSO USED THEIR SPEAKERS FRONT AND BACK, EVERYTHING FIT WELL. IT STILL WORKS FINE, BUT I THINK IT COULD USE MORE OUTPUT WATTS.

BOATS

[Joe Vandatta]

Where did yo purchase your radio Boats, the Bird Nest has them but dont know the brand.
Joe

[boaterbob]

I GOT IT FROM LARRYS OR THUNDERBIRD HEADQUARTERS. THEY BOTH CARRY THAT BRAND. CUSTOM AUTOSOUNDS NUMBER IS 714 535 1091 IN ANAHEIM CA.

BOATS

[Joe Vandatta]

Thanks Boats.
Joe

[Captain Mike]

A company called Tayman Electrical can rebuild your original AM radio and convert it to a digital AM/FM while maintaining its original appearance. They also offer the entire line of Custom Autosound stereos designed for classic cars. The owner is Gary Tayman who is an active Tbird hobbyist and he specializes in classic Tbird applications. Visit his website at: www.gate.net/~gtayman/. Good luck.

[RogG]

Would he be able to recondition an original AM/FM? I'd like to keep the car stock but the radio sucks....lots of static and pretty poor range. I would be willing to replace the speakers if they were hidden in the existing mountings if that would help. Anyone have any experience with this?

[Youngin']

I am planning add a modern setup to my 64. I've decided to leave the stock radio as/is.

To keep it looking stock, I want to put the head unit under the front seat. I also plan to put an 8" sub in the rear arm rest. It would be in the back area, so when I fold it up the car would look stock. I haven't looked into if there is enough room back there, but I'm hoping.

My only problem is where to put the midrange speakers. I was scanning a catalog and I saw that the 66 birds had the option of speakers in the doors... I'm thinking I could buy 66 door panels and put em on my 64, and put the mid range speakers there?

I will run the mid range and the tweets off the head, and the amp for the sub will be in the trunk.

Kirby

[tbird5866]

No need to buy 66 door panels. Just add the speakers in the same locations as 1966.

[Captain Mike]

My understanding is that Tayman recently quit rebuilding and restoring original radios and is now just doing the digital upgrades while keeping the radio's stock appearance. The original AM radios were made by Motorola and very reliable but the AM/FM radio in the 65-66 was made by someone else (Bendix?) and were never very good. It's nearly impossible to get a radio rebuilder/restorer to touch one. Visit the Tayman website and see about sending yours in for a digital AM/FM upgrade. Good luck.

[Yoda]

I'm also in the process of upgrading the equipment in my 65. The car came with a Custom Autosound AM/FM/Casette, but I'm adding the Ken Harrison Enterprises Upgrade Pioneer Coaxial Dual Dash Speakers (front & back), which I purchased here. I'm also adding the amplified spare tire subwoofer (available from the same link as the Pioneer speakers) and a FM modulated Sony 10 CD changer with MP3 support.

I'll make another post when I have everything finished and let you guys know how it sounds.

[Yoda]

Well I'm all done and it sounds a hundred times better. The amplified subwoofer really helps to balance the "tinny" sound of the 3.5" front and rear speakers, but it is by no means obnoxious. You can even regulate the subwoofer volume separately.

Also decided to bypass the ignition system and connect everything directly to the battery. Instantly eliminated all engine noise (plus, I can play the stereo without having to leave the key in the ACC position.

Finally, the CD/MP3 changer sounds great. It was difficult to find a place to mount it (convertible), but I ended up placing it under the drivers-side trunk hinge. I spent quite a bit of time making up a neat wiring harness and hiding all of the wiring so as not to detract from the car's appearance.

I'll post some pictures once I've put everything back together.