chfwrench

I rescued my 88 Convertible from oblivion as it was on its way to the wreckers after sitting open in a barn for many years about 3 years ago. This is my first foray into the rotary world. Much of what I had before was old British.

Body was great, except for a coating of moss or lichen of some sort, but the interior was shot and most of the electronics suffered badly. I've sorted the lights, top, wipers and instruments, but the radio has now died by degrees.

Using Metra mounting and wiring kits and following some of the videos posted by club members, I've got a Kenwood single DIN stereo ready to go in. One major problem: I cannot find the harness for the door speakers anywhere. I have the front speaker harness and all the power and antenna ones, but not sign of the door speaker wires or their harness.

Before I start dismantling everything and making more problems (anything plastic I touch either breaks and has to be repaired or replaced), I figured I should turn to you for direction. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Art

barkz

iTrader: (1)

Personally I just added spade connectors to the radio harness and slid them into the factory pigtails. 4 years no issues.

Rob XX 7

iTrader: (8)

are the door amplifiers still under the rear package tray?

barkz

iTrader: (1)

Oops think I read that wrong. Thought you were looking for the aftermarket harness, nit the factory in car ones. My bad

chfwrench

.

I checked after reading your message and, yes, the amp is there and I see the harness I was looking for attached to it.

Looks like the easiest way to make this work is to bypass the amp and run the speaker wires direct to the new radio. The Metra kit harness will match to the speaker harness under the tray and I'll just use bullet connectors at the radio end.

I'll let you know how it works out. Thanks. Art

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

Ya,if the amps are there you cannot use them on an after market unit and must bypass them.
They are probably a lower power anyways with the new stuff manufactured today ..lol!

I had no amps on the car so I fished new speaker wire into that rubber "snake" between the car doors and chassis...If you have turrets this task would be perfect for you!.

jjwalker

You can but it sounds like ****.

Run new wires and you'll be good.

Just in case someone reads this thread but has an S5 vert, you'll need to run new wires for the rear speakers.

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

Ya,my system is on an S5 coupe.
I am going to toss it into the S4 Project but I have the feeling I will get stuck on door speakers.
I got manual windows/cranks.

jjwalker

Don't the S4's have the speaker way up in the door IIRC? If so that sucks, due to the lack of depth available.

chfwrench

Well, I found what everybody obviously did and they don't work.

What I did do was similar to what I had to with my MGB. I ran new wures through the console and adapted a pair of 6" JVC speakers in boxes facing up from the floor behind the seats. Sounds good and doesn't interfere with the either windbreaker behind the seats or top being up or down.
Also, the radio/a/c control/duct facia trim just turned to dust, cracking every time I tried to remove or install it. After piecing it together with epoxy twice already, only to have it crack somewhere else, I broke down and bought a new one. $125 0n Ebay, brand new and delivered 2nd day free. Fit well and looks great, if not a bit more flat finished than the original. Cleaning the old bits lightly with lacquer thinner and treating all when assembled with Armor All did the trick to get them to match.
I also modified the DIN installation opening and side spacers of the Metra kit (just FYI, the replacement facia also came with nicer side filler pieces in place). The aftermarket Kenwood radio now mounts recessed instead of top on the adapter kit, so the face is flush and more custom. I just wish it had a black face and trim like the one in my MGB, but the grey is fine.
The storage pocket below the radio that came with the kit is a welcome addition as well. Great place for rhe phone when using Waze.
And with the headrest speakers long out of commission, I was able to fit cup holders on a bracket that now sits atop the speaker volume controls. The mirror controls are still accessible and 2 soda cans or medium coffee cups fit without interfering with shifting. The bracket was also necessary because the plastic supports inside of the console broke apart when I was doing the clutch/trans this winter.
I'll post some pictures later. Thanks again for all your help and advice.

Art

unek87

So you got some pics to share also lol

professionalpyroman

Hate to bring up an old thread, but you can get the factory door amp to work on an aftermarket stereo. I just got mine working, S5 coupe system, JVC KD-AHD65 (cheapo) head unit, and metra wiring adaptor. No extra wiring. I rebuilt the door speaker amp, and just got it working with the new(ish) stereo. If I didn't have cracked speakers, this thing would sound great.

Is anyone interested in a build writeup on this?

mwpayne

I'd like more info/pics on that cupholder bracket..