Yeah I'll have to be keener on the system specs when I go out looking for amps. I'm still undecided whether to invest in an amp or not, because the head unit can blow my socks off since I mounted the speakers to the chassis instead of the flappy door panel. but distortion is annoying if I'm listening to anything remotely well mastered.. I guess it doesn't matter since the engine noise will mask it all anyway..

-Richard

By Al B (66.222.252.147) on Wednesday, June 02, 2004 - 08:41 pm:

Richard,

A couple of posts ago, you mentioned that your THD was horrible. When you add an amp, still watch the THD. Some amps will have the same distortion levels as your head unit. Look for something in the .09 range. You will pay a little more, but sound quality will go up.

By Chaffneue (Chaffneue) (64.180.112.150) on Wednesday, June 02, 2004 - 08:17 pm:

Heheh.. the interior and drivetrain is awesome.. the exterior, however, needs help bad. I'm taking my baby in for welding in the next couple of months for new quarters. once that's done I'm gonna paint it and hopefully make the car's history disappear..

Sorry i don't have any up to date pics, but here's how it looked when I first got it.. I've power washed the crap out of it since.

http://64.180.112.150/honda032404.jpg

-Richard

By Max (Max) (67.162.184.219) on Wednesday, June 02, 2004 - 07:59 pm:

holy cow richard that dash is clean, i would really like you to post pics of the whole car

thanks
max

By Chaffneue (Chaffneue) (64.180.112.150) on Wednesday, June 02, 2004 - 07:54 pm:

Okay here's my stereo install (links below).. I've got the Stereo dash mounted with a removable face for when I'm paranoid. I fit a piece of 1/2" Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) into the channel where the panels go. I used a jigsaw to cut them to shape and drilled 4 holes to mount them. I used the template that came with the speakers to make the holes then I mounted the speaker directly on the MDF. I ran the wires through the various holes in the body while all the interior trim was out. I also ran RCA plugs to the back of the car in case I needed an amp. so far, this unit seems to have enough power for the 5 1/4" speakers I have in there and it's pretty loud. Cutting an opening for modern DIN style chassis stereos was pretty easy really. you have to cut the dash with a hacksaw blade and just avoid hitting the wires at the top of the opening. Since a radio had been previously installed there , the wires for the stereo were hanging there. The dash on my car alrready had holes in it from a crappy tape deck, so I just widened it. I fitted some accoustically transparent mesh over the openings of the panels to hide the speakers and the big piece of wood they're mounted to. I'm planning on putting two more speakers up front and perhaps a sub, but with the speakers mounted this way, it gives a pretty good kick. The THD on the amp is atrocious though, so I may purchase a separate amp down the road and mount it under the seat. hehe.. I guess I can use the old radio mounting hole for delicious drinks

http://64.180.112.150/spkrsml.jpg

http://64.180.112.150/dashmountsml.jpg

Fun!

-Richard

By lazy (165.228.57.19) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 11:44 pm:

I had wondered if such a thing existed, because that'd be perfect. That's where I got my idea to butcher a head unit

By Al B (66.222.252.147) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 10:11 pm:

Dan b,

Years ago, I used to have a cd controller head unit (Not FM modulated!). But the head unit was the size of today's face plates. It was an Alpine, it had Am/FM, full audio controls, bass,treble, fader, balance, etc. I mounted the changer under the seat with the cartridge facing the rear seat. It wasn't that hard to reach around while driving to retrieve the changer cartridge. I was thinking that maybe something like this (if something similar is available) with some velcro on the back and placed right where the factory radio is, might fit the bill for you. Only one bad thing... the unit I had only worked with amplifers. Good thing tho... much better sound.

By Chaffneue (Chaffneue) (64.180.112.150) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 09:54 pm:

hmm.. sorry.. last minute spelling change.. should give you like 5 seconds of fun

-Richard

By Chaffneue (Chaffneue) (64.180.112.150) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 09:53 pm:

loading cds would be kind of a bitch though.. I wanted to put the cd player in the glovebox, but it was just way too inconvenient.. If the place I'm leaving the car seems sketch, I just take the faceplate with me.. but then again, I live in a pretty laid back town.. my bro had his stolen from his van, but that was after he left it with the faceplate in the glovebox and the car sat for 2 or 3 months. The dash is black, so the stereo body is well hidden behind the steering wheel at night.. I'll take some good pics tomorrow and post them.

-Richard

By Chaffneue (Chaffneue) (64.180.112.150) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 09:52 pm:

loading cds would be kind of a bitch though.. I wanted to put the cd player in the glovebox, but it was just way too inconvenient.. If the place I'm leaving the car seems sketch, I just take the faceplate with me.. but then again, I live in a pretty laid back town.. my bro had his solen from his van, but that was after he left it with the faceplate in the glovebox and the car sat for 2 or 3 months. The dash is black, so the stereo body is well hidden behind the steering wheel at night.. I'll take some good pics tomorrow and post them.

-Richard

By lazy (165.228.57.19) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 09:45 pm:

I was planning on doing the following as a stop-gap:

Buy a cd/radio head unit with a detachable security front thingo. On the removable face and on the main body of the unit there will be a male and female connector used to transfer data between the two pieces - solder some long wires between the connectors (with an intermediate connector for ease of installation). That way you can stick the detachable panel anywhere you want, and mount the rest out of sight in the glovebox or something. It would only really be practical on units where the lcd screen is part of the removable face (some cheaper units have them fixed into the main unit).

By Tim (210.50.203.29) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 09:15 pm:

I have a 76 civic hatch. i have put in a 10" subwoofer in the back of the back seat, with two 8" speakers in the back side panels, and a head unit where the heater box should be , and it goes without saying and amp (under the seat). what you should do is: like most civics the heater box is wrecked therefor take out the heater box and put in an electric heater from an old Austin or somethin like that. then you can take out the heater box and AM radio and fit the head unit. most head units fit anyway, it is only the depth which prevents them because of the damn heater box. Just a thought...

By Randy (24.112.121.191) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 05:16 pm:

Here are more ideas plus some already mentioned
http://www.1stgencivic.com/firstgencivic/interior_stereo.htm

By Keil Shepherd (Medicineman) (81.131.81.66) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 10:42 am:

Why not try one of those Sony Active Black CD head units? They're remote controlled and with the active black mask when it's turned off all you get is a smooth black surface. They do turn up on e-bay occasionally.

By Brian Wilborn (207.224.33.34) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 12:20 am:

By Brian Wilborn (207.224.33.34) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 12:19 am:

\image {Stereo}

By Brian Wilborn (207.224.33.34) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 12:18 am:

I bought a tray and mounted it under the glove box. If you get a head unit with a remote, it's all good. CD changing isn't too bad if you're at a red light since our cars are pretty small.

By Chaffneue (Chaffneue) (64.180.112.150) on Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 10:44 pm:

I think you'll have to alter the dash if you want anything more than the stock radio.. no CD player is gonna fit in that small of a space. I put mine right next to the steering wheel. it's a JVC KDS5050 and it slid right in after I sawed out a hole for the din cage. Looks pretty good and lights up the heater controls at night :D

-Richard

By dan b (141.158.223.42) on Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 05:16 pm:

does anybody out there in honda land have any suggestions on a stereo sysytem for a 78 civic.
i don't want to alter the dash, but want a decent system with cd capabilities. any suggestions??