Once again, i am a new rx7 owner and not a car buff so any help is appreciated.
the stereo system that came with the car (the original from 88) is old and drains the battery unless i pull the fuse out when the car is parked so i'm probably going to put in cd player. is there anything i need to know about or be cautioned about? i've heard they are easy to install, will i be able to do it myself? thanks

 

Should have no problems. It's pretty simple. It's really really easy if you run new wires to the speakers and avoid the factory amps. I've seen a write up on how to use the factory stuff but forgot where. The biggest thing you'll have to worry about is the stereo surround piece. If it's not broke yet, then this could easily be when it gets broke.
To get it off you need to pull out the vents first and get the two screws there. And I think the other two are under the ash tray. Someone verify that, I didn't do mine the right way cause it was already broke.

 

when you get the head unit, you need to get some sort of thing to go in the space that is left over. i hear crutcfield makes one.

 

oooppsss..

He means crutchfield

www.crutchfield.com or call them. They make the best double DIN mounting kit around.

 

I made a panel to cover the space left over from where the stock unit was with of clear plexi. I lightly scuffed the backside with a scotchbrite and painted it black, frontside was like black glass. You could also make a panel out of black plastic, or fiberglass. You can get contact plastic to cover it that looks like carbon fiber if you want to. Cool thing is that it gives you room for guages, indicator lights, a dash mounted EQ, sub controller, etc. Get out the tools and get creative!

 

One good thing about the Crutchfield kit is that they can supply you with an adapter plug so you don't have to cut the factory wiring. Makes it a lot simpler if you're not handy with a multitester, or if you might want to reinstall the stock unit at a later date. For that reason I would keep the stock unit, just in case.

 

all the speakers on your rx7 are self amplified.. from what i hear its not good to use another head unit without taking the amps out.. i took the amps off each my speakers. some people have said they blew there head unit because of self amplified speakers, one of the best car guys in kansas city told me that (very trusty).. i would takes the amps off if i were u and yes most of all DO NOT HIT YOUR STEREO TRIM.. try not even to touch it much.. that breaks sooo easily, and its 90$ new on mazdatrix anyway. if u need to know the amp locations.. there by the speakers.. two in the rear towers under the speakers.. and one big one for both front speakers under the glovebox.. have fun DONT BRAKE STUFF

 

I put in a panasonic headunit and i have a little space underneith where i mounted it, and under that space is the little din, but its already broken =(. when i took out the factory stereo, i used the metal surround to put in my new stereo, but ended up bending the hell out of it to get it in. sturdy, does the job, but not very pretty and makes me feel bad that its not done right. Im probably going to take it to get professionally installed w/ a 'custom' stereo mount and dins. so i'll have a cd mount to fit my car and dins, so that if i decide to get a new cd player, it'll fit in perfectly. =) probably wont cost me more than 70 bux either since ive completely wired it already

Jeff

 

How big are all of the speakers in an FC?

5 1/4" in strut towers
what about door
what about under the dash
any others?

 

My 86 Sport had 4" in the dash, 6.5" in the shock towers
my 86 GXL had 4" in front and 4" in the shock towers
my 87 base had 4" in the dash, 4" in the shock towers
my 87 Turbo again had 4" front and rear
my '90 Vert had 5" in the doors, nothing in the dash, and 4" behind the seats

But anything will fit if you're willing to do some hacking.

 

Suggestions ? Yeah, DONT INSTALL A CD PLAYER !!! Get a MP3 player instead. Almost the same quality of sound, 10fold the storage space, make your own CD collections easily and fast with your PC. Nothing to lose, everything to gain

 

would it be very hard to fit an eight inch sub in one of the rear towers i have an 88 turbo 2