Hey VMFers, it's been awhile. I thought I'd update all a trick and inexpensive hidden stereo solution. People are always looking for solutions for good looking QUALITY sounding solutions so I thought I'd share what I did.
It all started with leaking heater core. I had an underdash pioneer without a remote and it sucked to reach over. I had to remove it to pull the heating unit. While I was at it I redid all the heater box gaskets, put new heater ducting tubes, painted up the heater motor, and put in a new plastic heater plenum. If you have the heater out do all this!!! It works great now!
This is my old stereo setup.
It was less than ideal.
So here is what I did.
I went to best buy and bought an underdash mount and 3" machine screws and nuts (to lower the mount) and mounted it in the trunk to the package tray.
I'd like it to be a little lower but it works. Then from here you can do a few things. You can buy a wired remote and run it up to the front, but I bought an IR repeater off amazon. You can see that little glass bulb in the above picture. That relays the signal from inside the car.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000K4YVL0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
An antenna extension and some wiring and you're in business. Stereos are cheap now. This pioneer has bluetooth, xm capable and has a mic (I had to buy a 2.5MM extension) so you can have hands free calling too. I mounted the mic at the top of the A piller and tucked the wire in the windlace. Sound quality is great, better than speakers are, and you can use the remote to skip tracks on the phone with bluetooth. Set you presets and you're good to go.
Here is all you see inside the car.
I have less than $200 in the setup and it works great. Still doesn't sound as nice as a singing SBF but nice to have a radio sometimes.
Hopes this helps someone.
Nate
It all started with leaking heater core. I had an underdash pioneer without a remote and it sucked to reach over. I had to remove it to pull the heating unit. While I was at it I redid all the heater box gaskets, put new heater ducting tubes, painted up the heater motor, and put in a new plastic heater plenum. If you have the heater out do all this!!! It works great now!
This is my old stereo setup.
It was less than ideal.
So here is what I did.
I went to best buy and bought an underdash mount and 3" machine screws and nuts (to lower the mount) and mounted it in the trunk to the package tray.
I'd like it to be a little lower but it works. Then from here you can do a few things. You can buy a wired remote and run it up to the front, but I bought an IR repeater off amazon. You can see that little glass bulb in the above picture. That relays the signal from inside the car.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000K4YVL0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
An antenna extension and some wiring and you're in business. Stereos are cheap now. This pioneer has bluetooth, xm capable and has a mic (I had to buy a 2.5MM extension) so you can have hands free calling too. I mounted the mic at the top of the A piller and tucked the wire in the windlace. Sound quality is great, better than speakers are, and you can use the remote to skip tracks on the phone with bluetooth. Set you presets and you're good to go.
Here is all you see inside the car.
I have less than $200 in the setup and it works great. Still doesn't sound as nice as a singing SBF but nice to have a radio sometimes.
Hopes this helps someone.
Nate