<VV> Adding a Stereo without removing Factory Radio or cutting dash/door panels

[Tamias Metis]

http://www.westmarine.com   , model # 273789  is an under dash housing that works great on a late model convertible  (you might find essentially a similar one at Tractor Supply, one of the vendors, Auto Parts Stores, etc  at a much lower price )  These work extremely well and allow the dash to be unaltered.    For a convertible, you might want to look at model # 1985944  small waterproof box speakers that can be mounted up high on the firewall below dash.   This one fits nicely at left behind the e-brake handle without getting in the way.  Likewise,  model #1193119 are a larger waterproof box speakers that  can be mounted underdash beneath the dash say between the ignition switch and glovebox.   With the smaller  # 1985944  spread wide to the right and left corners beneath the dash on the firewall and the larger #1193119 pair   more midway under dash,   one can have a very decent sounding four stereo system  where the speakers are out of sight (unvisible)  unless you stick
 your head under the dash and look.  These speakers' housings are white but if you spray paint them with a cheap rattle can,  Krylon, or  Auto Paint Color Can etc  to closely match your carpet color or interior color they blend well.   And because the housings and the speakers are waterproof, to a small degree anyway, they hold  up well against speaker rot/deterioration.   Just be certain to e-poxy  the threaded bracket adjusters once you decide on the angle position that each speaker will have, ---this makes it extra certain that nothing comes loose over time.  You also have numerous choices of the angle/speaker positioning,  (not all speakers need to face straight outward,  speaker could face mostly downward and still sound good. - the reflection of sound is desireable, especially when the speakers are that close  to the listener,   also the sound with underdash/firewall speaker placement will be much clearer and less muffled than say speakers mounted low on a door panel
 where the seats or an occupant's leg or thigh partially obstructs the sound.   My suggestion is think about something like this for a convertible,  it works great especially with the top down -more music since sound travel isn't going against the wind as in the case of rear speaker placement.   Also you can remove this stuff easily, and other than a few holes for screws to mount the brackets up under dash  that wouldn't be visible unless you stick your head under and look there,  nothing is cut or altered.   One thing that is crucial for maximum enjoyment, besides a good selection of listening material,  is to chose a CD indash/AM/FM unit that has controls placed and sized to your liking.   I cannot stress that enough!   There are so many really good low priced units but unlike old timey shaft mount radios, vol controls and placement of display etc vary greatly model to model.  Unlike twenty five years ago where quality was worse than garbage to barely adequate in the $150
 range for what was then AM/FM cass.,  - the quality is good in terms of power output and sound for very little cost,  so it makes sense to take your time and determine which models look better to you .  There are so many quality offerings in the low price range.  Check out www.crutchfield.com to get an idea before checking Best Buy and all the others.   A  basic system like this will work well in a convt Corvair.   Good tunes enhance the ride....keep on rocking n rolling.      Tamias  Metis


       
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