I have an 89 GXL with the 6 speaker sound system. I plan on replacing it with an aftermarket unit, but should I remove the factory amps when i replace the speakers or leave them connected? Also I plan on doing the work myself. So how hard is it to mount the new speakers in the factory holes?

 

If you're just replacing the headunit and speakers, you can leave the stock amps in place. Switching speakers is easy as long as you make sure to buy the correct sizes.

 

yeah switchin speakers is pie. might have to do some splicing and such but pretty easy

 

Thanks, I was worried that I would have to do some major modification to put the speakers in (first time working with car audio so don't want to get in over my head) and I am trying to keep that part looking clean like it does factory. Also, I was worried about the amps because I remember reading that they will only take 15 watts input, so I did not know if that aftermarket head unit would cause problems with that.

 

I'm going to be doing the same thing to my 88 RX-7, although it dosen't have the 6 speaker suround sound. as far as I know it only has 2 speakers right above the rear shock towers, that are missing, along with the deck. What size are the speakers over the rear shock towers by the way?? and in there any particular type of deck that needs to be installed on these RX-7's??

 

There are good kits out to adapt your head unit to the RX7 dash mounts; I think the company was Metra, but I purchased it at Fry's electronics. They have kits for various make and model cars. .The kits include the mount adaptors, cosmetic filler strips in textured ABS plastic that match the surround, and an optional pocket. There are other kits to adapt standard speakers into the shock tower mounts, but I found i had to fabricate spacer plates to make them work right.

I would wire direct from the new head unit to the new speakers, and skip the old amps, but that's just my opinion.

 

The dash mount is made by Metra. No. 99-7501. I picked mine up at Best Buy today for about $15-20. What threw me for a loop was finding the wiring harness. I found some online, but didn't feel up to waiting so I spent a couple of hours looking for a wiring diagram and hardwired it in.

http://www.installdr.com/Harnesses/Mazda-Wiring.pdf (best site I found that was accurate with the wires in my 86 n/a)

What's getting me now, is I have a couple of Kenwood 6 1/2 speakers for the back struts, but I can't find a way to mount them. The stock speakers are glued to the hole, so I had to remove it all. Any ideas?

 

Just a warning in advance, since I just jacked up my dash, the side spacers on the Metra are a tight fit. You may be able to get it fairly easily if you remember to remove your faceplate and the trim around it. You might also consider finding a way to get rid of the lip on the cage on the sides.

Granted, mine was already cracked. 24 y.o. car, def. not the worst that could happen :P

 

Thanks for all the advise, but now I have a new question. The antenna has been stuck in the up position since I got the car. I checked the fuses but neither of them were blown. I need to figure out if the electric motor is out or if it is the mast. How should I go about finding out what is broke and where can I find the parts to fix it?