Interior Restoration - Ongoing Project & Updates - DUW

[85crownHPP]

here my rubber.. it was a tight stretch

[gadget73]

Solid bench? geez, uber strippo model. Time to gut the goodies out a plushie model at the junkyard

[boXman]

I need a couple of those plugs with the wires...where did u get those??

[FatNasty]

Do you need to drop the steering column to get the dash out?

[Grand Marquis GT]

I don't have premium sound, so that's a good thing I guess, and the car had a cheesey tape / AM / FM radio in it already, so someone confirmed an aftermarket system should work.

What I did notice is that Ford has a common ground wire system on the harness. There are typically 8 speaker wires on a stereo, 4 +, 4 - for each speaker. The ford wire harness has only 6 terminal connectors though.

I looked at the aftermarket connector that was on the cheesey radio installed in my car and I noticed it bridges all the ground wires together and then splits it into two wires.

I soldered a pair of - speaker wires to each of the two ground cables, so I'm thinking this will work...

~Adam

I would have ran all new wire. I did on my car. That common ground shit is for the birds.

Wanna convert to power windows? I'll trade ya

[Paul_]

Jeremy, Crutchfield sells those adapters.

[AOD]

i was able to get the rubber straps on my aftermarket 6x9's but it wasnt easy...

Maaan, I thought about it, and I may have lined it up, but there was no way it was going to go on, especially because the magnet is fairly large in diameter and the basket is pretty tall, almost twice the height of the original speaker.

Also should mention that I cannot get the insulated boxes back up over the speakers without making a new 'coat-hanger' thing to hold it.

Solid bench? geez, uber strippo model. Time to gut the goodies out a plushie model at the junkyard...

Naww...it's great. My first box (in 1997, it was an '87 4-door) was solid bench and I forgot it had the uber huge armrest in the middle. It's like a freaking couch of it's own for your elbow! Plus the seats, springs, foam, everything is in really good shape.

Plus not having any of these fancy schmancy electronics means it's lighter right? Actually...less stuff to break in my opinion.

I need a couple of those plugs with the wires...where did u get those??

As mentioned, Crutchfield sells them for $10, I believe. Sure I could have cut the wire and crimped on a terminal, but I wanted to keep the original wires intact, plus this gives you a little extra room to move things around.

Do you need to drop the steering column to get the dash out?

Yes, both sets of u-clamp bolts need to be loosened to lower the steering column to remove the dash. That's the easy part... If you do go to remove your dash, don't forget there's one bolt that holds the dash to a bracket just above the steering wheel column. You cannot see it until you drop the column.

Wanna convert to power windows? I'll trade ya

No.

[AOD]

I should clarify above, regarding the dash removal. You do not need to drop your steering column to remove the dash COVER, only to remove the dash assembly from the firewall, to change the heatercore.

[AOD]

Why'd this thread have to get moved here. No one reads here...

[boXman]

Yes they do. This isn't CVN.

[85crownHPP]

organization is good. It helps people to find info they are looking for once the thread dies out.

[Grand Marquis GT]

Yes they do. This isn't CVN.

What he said. Most people here don't restrict themselves to any particular forum.

Well, save for the people who like to come here just to start shit in teh battlefield...

[Paul_]

Adam, looks good so far. For the rear deck, I'd probably get one out of a newer car, say an 88-91. You would also get some schnazzy speaker grilles which will make installing those Pioneers easier. The 3 and 4 way speakers tend not to fit too easily on cars without the grilles. Most people resort to cutting the deck piece, and leaving the speakers exposed. That looks like ass, and invites trouble. Keep us updated.

[AOD]

Adam, looks good so far. For the rear deck, I'd probably get one out of a newer car, say an 88-91. You would also get some schnazzy speaker grilles which will make installing those Pioneers easier. The 3 and 4 way speakers tend not to fit too easily on cars without the grilles. Most people resort to cutting the deck piece, and leaving the speakers exposed. That looks like ass, and invites trouble.

Keep in mind '85 and older cars do not have a third brake light on the rear deck, so it will not be a direct fit for deck covers on a newer car.

As for the speaker installed height, if you mount the speaker from the bottom, like Ford did, it does not come up past the opening much. If you mount it on top, there is a good 1" lip that sticks up, which adds 1" to the already taller speaker.

I have no plans to cut the speaker grill covers out, I want them hidden behind it. I do have the Pioneer speaker covers...but they'll stay off.

~Adam

[AOD]

Quick update here...

My time this past week and weekend has been eaten up by the wife's desire to remodel our bathrooms at the house, so I've been removing sinks, cabinents, caulk, etc... :yay:

Big thanks to Ford for using tamper-proof Torx bolts on the ignition switch. I have to go to the parts store and buy a special tool now to replace it. Eric S. sent me his ignition switch and some interior screws from his wrecked silver car. Woot!

He also sent the e-brake pedal rubber pad, since mine broke off during our engine swap / throttle cable work.

Headed out to the parts store now...

~Adam