Crutchfield Radio Kits - Anyone used/seen one?
03-02-03, 09:05 PM
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Beaufort, SC
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Crutchfield Radio Kits - Anyone used/seen one?
I posted in the Audio forum, but everyone's worried about their $20k FD in there.... Anyway, has anyone used Crutchfield's FB dash blanks? From what I understand, they're supposed to be textured black plastic in the shape of the FB's 2.5 DIN opening. I'm looking to gut everything and drive 4 speakers with a head unit - plain and simple. I imagine I'll want to yank the stock speakers and the wiring/amps/fader are definitely gone, but what about the dash? What are some good-looking alternatives?
03-02-03, 09:10 PM
#2
most of those kits blow. See if manntis has any left on his site: www.rotorhead.ca he makes one out of metal that has a cupholder and holds a 1 din head unit. Looks really good IMO
03-02-03, 09:23 PM
#3
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Beaufort, SC
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I like Mantis' setup but my interior is black on a black car. A brushed stainless panel would stick out like a sore thumb. If I can find a plastic one that's nice, I'd like to go that route. Anybody?
03-02-03, 10:31 PM
#5
Always broken.
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you think Manntis' kit looks bad, you're in for quite a shock....
The crutchfield kit I got for my 85 GS was pure ****. Not only where the wiring harnesses mislabeled and -wrong-, they dont mention anywhere that the rearspeakers are powered by an amp hiding under the storage compartment. The mounting kit looks terrible, and when I tried to screw it in where the old kit was, it wouldn't fit.Poorly engineered.
I don't want to be too hard on Crutchfield because their prices are beat all, I got a discount on everything for my system and saved $100, and the products themselves kicked ***. However, the harness/mounting kit they provide is sub standard. I'd invest in Manntis' kit which fits well and looks great. Took a little work to get it in there, but the end product is what counts.
The crutchfield kit I got for my 85 GS was pure ****. Not only where the wiring harnesses mislabeled and -wrong-, they dont mention anywhere that the rearspeakers are powered by an amp hiding under the storage compartment. The mounting kit looks terrible, and when I tried to screw it in where the old kit was, it wouldn't fit.Poorly engineered.
I don't want to be too hard on Crutchfield because their prices are beat all, I got a discount on everything for my system and saved $100, and the products themselves kicked ***. However, the harness/mounting kit they provide is sub standard. I'd invest in Manntis' kit which fits well and looks great. Took a little work to get it in there, but the end product is what counts.
03-03-03, 12:18 AM
#7
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: wishing i was back in FL
Posts: 4,192
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
before you put it in, just get some flat black crylon paint and spray it down with like 5 or 6 light coats, let it dry then go over it with like 3 or 4 light clear coats. should look good. that's what i did with like, half my interior. that old FB red is just nasty to me 
-zac
-zac
Trending Topics
03-03-03, 01:08 AM
#8
Always broken.
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've got a silver car with a grey interior... so the aluminum color was perfect for me. However, a little bit of paint applied to Manntis' kit would be fine.
Here's the thing, if you use the kit Crutchfield sends, you will have a black valence around the CD player... but it's gonna look goofy. It's that simple. They send a piece of steel painted black with a rectangular hole in it. My rectangular hole was slightly tilted. The mounting kits they have look like crap...
To each his own, though. It is black, after all.
Here's the thing, if you use the kit Crutchfield sends, you will have a black valence around the CD player... but it's gonna look goofy. It's that simple. They send a piece of steel painted black with a rectangular hole in it. My rectangular hole was slightly tilted. The mounting kits they have look like crap...
To each his own, though. It is black, after all.
03-03-03, 01:14 AM
#9
so the amp in the driver side storage bin is for the rear speakers? i havnt taken my car apart much, but i'd like to do a little stereo work. the haynes manual doesnt have any infor on the stereo system... where can i find out mor about the way it operates and whatnot?
03-03-03, 01:58 AM
#10
Always broken.
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you've got a question, I've rewired practically everything and done a lot of research on the subject. Just pm me with any question you've got.
I couldn't really find any good information online about the stereo.... the actual mazda manual has a wiring diagram that's decent, but it's not great. But yes, to answer your question, the amplifier under the driver's side storage compartment powers the rear speakers.
I couldn't really find any good information online about the stereo.... the actual mazda manual has a wiring diagram that's decent, but it's not great. But yes, to answer your question, the amplifier under the driver's side storage compartment powers the rear speakers.
03-03-03, 07:40 AM
#12
There are these too. but i dont know how good it looks.
http://www.sounddomain.com/shop/item...30B&vq_id=none
The Wiring Harness i bought from them worked well. I only had to switch around one wire.
http://www.sounddomain.com/shop/item...30B&vq_id=none
The Wiring Harness i bought from them worked well. I only had to switch around one wire.
03-03-03, 08:56 AM
#15
I don't want to be too hard on Crutchfield because their prices are beat all
~T.J.
03-03-03, 09:03 PM
#18
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Beaufort, SC
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh, and are the stock speakers decent at all? When I tear out the amps can I power the stock speakers with a head unit or am I gonna be really disappointed?
03-03-03, 09:24 PM
#19
Admitted 'rexaholic'
Display color is green on the 6 cd changer. I wish it were amber or red, too. But, it sure sounds good with the extra power, fits well, too.
I replaced the backs with jensen coaxials, the fronts with 4" coaxials as well. Honestly, the stocks sounded just about as good to me.
I replaced the backs with jensen coaxials, the fronts with 4" coaxials as well. Honestly, the stocks sounded just about as good to me.
03-03-03, 09:31 PM
#20
Always broken.
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by RotorMotorDriver
Wow. You need to shop around more. I used to think Crutchfield was cheap, until I looked at other places. Hell, theyre really overpriced compared to some places I know.
~T.J.
Wow. You need to shop around more. I used to think Crutchfield was cheap, until I looked at other places. Hell, theyre really overpriced compared to some places I know.
~T.J.
Code:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Item Description Qty B/O Price Amount
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
023LASVEGA Blaupunkt Las Vegas CD32 CD Rece 1 0 179.99 179.99
107GXR4 Polk GXR4 4" 2-way Speakers 1 0 64.99 64.99
107GXR6 Polk GXR6 6-1/2" 2-way Speakers 1 0 79.99 79.99
142MAN0215 MAZD RX7 84-85 INST 1 0 0.00 0.00
176MZ10 Mazda RX7 Kit 1984-up, E 1 0 0.00 0.00
120705003 Ford/Mazda Wire Harness receiver 1 0 0.00 0.00
120E4900 Mazda Power Antenna Relay 1979-u 1 0 0.00 0.00
12071003 Universal "T" Wire Harness speak 2 0 0.00 0.00
000CAR4 Crutchfield Guide:Car Stereo Ins 1 0 0.00 0.00
023CDVISOR Blaupunkt CD Visor 1 0 0.00 0.00
000CATALOG Current Crutchfield Catalog 1 0 0.00 0.00
00050OFF $50 MERCHANDISE DISCOUNT 1 0 -50.00 -50.00
00050OFF $50 RETURNING CUSTOMER DISCOUNT 1 0 -50.00 -50.00
Sub Total: 224.97
Shipping: 3.00
Total: 227.97
03-03-03, 09:48 PM
#22
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Beaufort, SC
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the speaker info - I'll stick with the stocks until I get the new glass sunroof and maybe exhaust, then. Did you reuse the original wiring or gut it all and run your own?
03-04-03, 01:41 AM
#23
Always broken.
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Stock speakers are decent... but you'll notice a difference if/when you put in newer midrange speakers. I used all the existing wiring in the car behind the driver's seat. Everything else was rewired. Rewiring the front is a breeze... took me no more than 30 minutes to get the new stuff run - crimped - and hooked up.
03-04-03, 01:53 AM
#24
add to cart
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Saskatoon, SK & Montreal, PQ
Posts: 4,180
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
just a clarification - the kit I designed, installed in the dash, has a visible facia of Stainless Steel. The bracket hidden inside the dash is Aluminum.
That said, the facia (being a separate component before final assembly) would be very, very easy to primer and paint to the desired colour. One might even consider a colored/tinted clearcoat so as to see the brushed effect through the paint (they experimented on this with DeLoreans and it looked pretty good)
That said, the facia (being a separate component before final assembly) would be very, very easy to primer and paint to the desired colour. One might even consider a colored/tinted clearcoat so as to see the brushed effect through the paint (they experimented on this with DeLoreans and it looked pretty good)
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jeff20B
1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)
73
09-16-18 07:16 PM
SakeBomb Garage
Group Buy & Product Dev. FD RX-7
8
10-09-15 10:05 PM
