FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

       Am getting a CD player soon and the question arises where do i fit it? Does anyone have one fitted and where? Pics would be great
                                     Cheers Rusty

Good question, I was pondering putting it in the glovebox.

Also, my glovebox doesn't have an inside. Any ideas where to get one?

I also though about the glovebox but how do you change cd's the station and the volume ?
                                  Cheers Rusty

suferboy has his mounted behind chrome speaker cover in the centre of the dash
(http://www.fefcholden.org.au/forum/attachments/surferboy2.jpg)
more info =
http://www.fefcholden.org.au/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=album;action=display;num=1087823392;start=

How does surferboy put CD's in?

easy

great idea, thanks ewes very much Craig
 

Now the next question is, Surferboy how did you hinge the cover any more pics?
                                    Cheers Rusty
                                       

My only advice ( not that I've done this modification ), is that you put your hinges on the bottom ( if possible ), as changing CD or volume etc, is really a 2 hand job ( That didn't sound good did it ), but you know what I mean....One hand to hold the grille up whilst the other uses the CD player.

Hinge it at the base, and it can rest down on its own.

Having said that, I've never tried, and maybe it can't be done

Just my thoughts !

Cheers

Mark

Thats a really good idea surferboy...... :D
Rusty it also depends on what your budget is for a car stereo...there are alot of diff types out there....without getting too complicated do you want to be able to play burned cd's in it?...(cost's more) play MP3 music files (cost's more)..blah ..blah...and so on if you only use original cd's then a basic stereo will do you.
On the higher end there are cd units with stackers that you hide under the front seat with a wireless remote control ( no line of site needed, unlike the TV!) you will pay serious dollars for that  tho...

Nick

just in case anyone is interested check these guys out but you will pay to get one!  ;)

http://www.vintagevibes.net/Stereos/STEREOS.htm

we have a stacker under the passenger seat, although it is quite hidden and is out of the way, as soon as you hit a bump the cd will skip or jump.

best thing you could do personaly is have a stacker in the glovebox (if possible.......) and have the cd player (or a well known tape player) in the same position as surferboy has his. this way you have a remote controled stacker and also if you wish to you could have a remote controled cd player..........

then again why not buy a complete unit (stacker and radio) all in one and put it in the glovebox.......then again........

cheers
torque

ps: the remote controls usually work  through the glovebox

Well whilst we are talking hi end units and installs, i saw an article ( Perth Streetcar Magazine I think ), of a Chopped EK Ute, with a cd slot cut into the metal dash fascia with the unit hidden behind, so all you saw was the tiny slit in the dash, which if you didn't know what it was you would think is was there from the factory...

Anyway...the detachable face of the CD player was attached to the topside of the Drivers Sunvisor.  So when the visor was up you would see nothing....want to change the colume or track, just flip down the sunvisor.

It was VERY tidy and practically invisible to most.

I could probably scan a pic from the magazine if anyone was interested, but would need someone to help post it on the site.

Cheers
Mark

Mark,

Was the ute the one shown from Sydney's Motorex in Alex's pics? A pink/beige sort of colour? we spoke to the guy and he and his car were definately from Perth.

Anyway, if you want to post pics you can send them to me or better still use the www.tinypic.com. service. Upload you image, copy the image path, and paste it into your message on the forum. It is REALLY simple, but if you have problems let me know and I'll write a procedure and post it up.

Cheers,

Craig.

This one is in an EH (I think)

(http://gallery.oldholden.com/albums/album203/oldholden_1.jpg)

Phantom
I have mounted Effie's in the glovebox and mounted a stacker in the boot, once the cd is set in motion how often do you change the volume anyway. I have found that even with the unit mounted in the glovebox I can still reach the volume buttons. Mre modern units hav remote controls so you just point and shoot.
Effie's glove box is still functional as I built a metal box to fit the mounting bracket and mounted within the glove box to the floor.

The best thing is with the lid shut no one knows it is there.

Effie C

The magazine article is already on this site,

i dont know how to create a link?

Real cars dated Sept 04,2004

Hey Rusty
   Emu has his CD player in the glovebox and the remote  works with the glovebox "closed"    There are different types
1/ Plays CD's only  (bought ones)
2/ Plays CD & CDR (ones that are burnt)
3/ Plays CD , CDR & Mp3.

I've just picked up one off "the bay" (search -Car CD) that will play CD & CDR for $56 + $19  Del.  with remote (45w x 4). It turned up 2 days ago , haven't put it in yet , but it looks pretty good .
   Hope this helps

  Norm  :)  

Gee Norm, I was sure you would have a wireless ;)

I went through the same machinations when I put mine in.
Thought about the hinged setup like surferboy - but the radio grille on mine also serves as the slot for the glovebox arm, which means cutting and welding etc.
Didn't want it in the glovebox for ease of operation and changing discs etc.
Also went through the remote mounted face option that Mark mentioned - but could only find 1 mob that would do it for me and the cabling alone was going to cost over $500.
Ended up getting the head unit mounted in a case below the grille and instead of installing speakers in the kickplates or doors had two 5 1/4" quality speakers installed behind the grille and get a surprisingly good sound.
Can post some pics if you like.
Regards
Tim

this was trevs (robbzfc58 ) setup on a parcelshelf under the glovebox

You could replace the grille with MDF formed to the same shape and have a centre dash with the stereo and other gear. For example switches and extra gauges or a CD storage slot.
There was a recent photo of Kev's (Vic) interior, but this looks like an original grille that has been modified.
(http://tinypic.com/65y3kg)

This is what I did to get some aircond vents in...
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y184/Fevanv6/F1000022.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y184/Fevanv6/F1000025.jpg)

Bit of hardwood shaped to what i wanted, with a remote control for the radio, stacker in the glovebox... Over again though I would have had an MP3 player in the centre with the stacker in the glove box.

Jason.

Rusty
       Will get a few pics together of differant set-ups I have fitted and e-mail them to you. Does your car have bucket seats as there is one set up that I have for a steel console (based on eh console) that I do make.

Cheers
Sarge

for those considering mounting in the glove box, 19mm timber fits into the gove box lower support like a glove and you just need a screw to hold it in place as security.  from there just make up a mounting platform for the radio.

If you are going to mount behind the speaker grill, if you hindge at the bottom ensure you have a strong clasp so it doesn't keep falling open as you drive along.  I have been tring to find some small gas struts that you can use for holding the grill open (or shut I spose if you do hindge from the bottom) but no luck as yet.

As a rule, I direct wire the power from the battery via a dash board switch.  I find that way I can turn it off easily when needed (ie hear sirens, phone rings etc) and you just wait until the next set of lights if you cannot reach the unit to change CD's or stations.

Some really nice ideas on this topic :)

For making glove box liners..

Streetneat's idea which I used was to use "signwhite" 0.6mm colourbond.

I made a custom liner useing an original liner as a template to house my ECU and provide other access to fusees etc in my glove box.

see pic.

for stereo I am planning to do the cabled remote face thing.
it is such a shame there are no more cable remotes around, these are perfect for glove box mounting stereos.

I am going for an ipod compatible stereo so I wont need to swap CD's or MP3 discs.

Cheers

Ed
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v128/Ed74mnd/FE%20Holden/a891b40e.jpg)

Man those luvres look good :)
It all looks awesome ,sure hope to see it at the All Holden Day in 3 weeks time ???

maybe a FE speaker grill would be good to slip your cd's through.
he he
hey ED, There is a sanyo excedio stereo at parklea markets, it is old stock from stratheilds, it was a top model a few years ago and has a brushed aliminium face, best thing about it is that it is its $149 and has auxillery inputs so you can plug in anything that has rca or a headphone output.
also for $179 is a sanyo with inputs, mp3 and remote but its not the fancy excedio series.
I bought a stereo for my cabin cruiser from there with ir remote, mp3, cd,aux in, 2x video out,vcd,jpeg,dvd,am,fm for $189 but its only a cheap brand one. all stock is obsulete stratheild car radios but whatever you buy in strathfeild now will be obsulete in 6 months time.
also, something else to consider is that most car dvd players have a ir sensor on a wire that can be hidden in the car, you can even stick the dvd player in the boot and load it with a mp3 with your 200 favorite songs and use it as a mp3 player wired straight to the amps, you simply aim the remote towards a hidden sensor and control it.
also it may be a good idea to set up a potentreometre in you rca lead between the dvd player and amps so you have a fail safe handy volume control, you can use a stuffed old valve radio as a dummy and replace its volume potentreometre with the new stereo one wired to the rca leads so it looks like that big sound is coming out of a 50 year old radio.
I wouldnt mount speakers in the kick panels, if you arent scared to butcher your doors you can stick some 4" or 4x6" speakers at the bottom on the exposed steel wich will give solid mounting. speaker grills can be made from perforated steel or for 4" there are chrome old grills on ebay every week in US.
in the back you can put in 6x9 - 7x10"s in the side panels but if you dont plan on loading stuff in the back I think you would get better sound from the tailgate, problem here is that there is little depth and only flush mount speakers will fit.
in a sedan you can fit 6x9's in the rear but you can spread 5x7" a little further apart, 5x7" would probably be fine with a sub and give better imaging due to the wider distance you can get between them.
if you can use your speaker grill in the dash for a speaker it sounds good, its a nice solid mount and gives strong sound.
6x9 speaker grills can be used from a FB or EK or chrome musical note ones are available in repro from places like moon.
if you want a vintage stereo the first car tape players came from muntz I beleive in 61, they played the muntz type 4 track tapes wich are also compatible with some 8 track players, these were fitted to most barris cars in the 60's and barris's cars were used to promote muntz stereos. prior to that we had a couple of record players like the highway hi fi wich was sold through chrysler and required specail records.
stereo wasnt popular in Australia till the 70's when 8 tracks were available so we dont hear much about 4 track here. however if you are going 8 track there is still heaps of music available, even stray cats!
if you dont want to go all out but are sick of radio or tangling noisy cassettes try plugging a small mp3 player ( they come as small as a 50c peice) into a cassette adapter and turn you old cassette player into a hi tech jukebox, no nead to scratch you cd's as you reload songs by taking the mp3 player into the house and plugging it into your pc.

Hey Burnsy
  Sorry , but I'd missed your post ,  Maaaaate , "Wireless"  yep , we had one of those when I was a kid , no such thing as "TV" then , so we listened to the "STC Wireless" every night.  but after owning a "Music Shop" for 13 years and being a "Muso" for 30 yrs , I sort of updated a little .  ;D .

 Norm  :)

nice info Leon,

;D

I have sussed out the stereo situation and am going to use a cabled removable face stereo.

for the ultimate hidden install.

have decided for an ipod compatible stereo from Pioneer or Kenwood.

unfort the wagon doesnt have the best sound dynamics, but 6.5" splits are going up front with mids in fibreglass pods on the kick panels, and 6 x 9s flush mounted in the rear.

A 4 channel amp is only used for the 6x9's and bridged to run a single 10" rockford sub which will be in a removable box.

the body has been deadedned using "DYNAMAT" and this works well, still need to do my floor tho.

Cheers

Ed

Have to disagree there Ed, mates VH wagon has won best sound quality (in his class) at summernats for last three years, also at moruya, some other show in Sydney etc . wagons called awesome, currently running in pro class.

Effie C

And I recall reading an article in Street Machine a few years back about an FB Holden that was winning its share of awards for sound .
The guy being interviewed said the acoustics in old Holdens were unbeleivable and hard to be matched due to their design and body metal guage.

2 1/2 weeks to go mate - start thinking about rego :)

I have my cd player in the glove box and have just changed to a hand remote as I had a couple of close calls turning up the volume while driving,I saw one mounted behind the speaker grill and  thought it  a very smart idea Iam going to move mine and keep it out of sight

Gday Rusty, Gday guys,
my setup has 6 stacker mounted ontop of radio/cassette/CDplayer unit, all mounted behind speaker grille. hinged at top... this way it stays closed when driving. I just hacksawed off the funny bit that stuck out into the glovebox (cant figure out why it was there in the first place ? ) Its within easy reach while driving.you soon get used to button locations so its EASY to change stations, modes ,discs etc while driving. (yes you do have to park to swap the 6cds in the stacker ). I have 6x9 speakers in mdf boxes in kick panels and in rear panels of wagon all covered by speaker grilles to suit vehicle.

hope this helps    8) 8) 8)

G'day Surferboy,got a pic of your set up by any chance and the hinges as well ?
                                          Cheers Rusty

Hi Phantom
I installed a Panasonic combo  AM/FM Radio & CD/CDR/CDR-W/MP3 Player in my car before heading to the nationals.

I ended up mounting it to the bottom of parcel shelf above the tunnel.

As a mounting bracket I used an after market moulded plastic unit easily obtainable from any good Auto One or Supercheap store.

It does not look to bad in its current location and is easily opperated by the remote and can be reached if CD change is required. However I drove from Hornsby (Sydney) to Ipswich (Brisbane) all on the one disc of MP3 files with a couple of songs to spare.

All up the unit in the car with a couple of VDO speakers cost me about $300.

Cheers Jim

gday Rusty,
see...realcars gallery...members photos...now you dont.
has discussion on stereo placement
8) 8) 8)

Hello,

Has anybody mounted amps etc under the original front bench?

I have made a shelf that sits under the seat, but I couldnt check to see if it all fit since my seat is at the trimmers.

anybody have an idea of the clearance between the hump in the floor adn under the bench?

Cheers

Ed

16cm from the base of the seat (underside of padding) to the carpeted (and well insulated) hump. You would still need to allow for compression of the seat when someone is sitting there though.

thanks Stinky,

I reckon the 16cm may be enough

Cheers

Ed

Don't forget to allow for compression of the seat when sat in! I'd bank on at least 6cm.

Just to be sure I measured the distance in the FE sedan with a bare floor and it was 17cm, between floor and underside of seat padding.

Stinky,

I've made shelf from 6mm pvc, that sits on top of this ridge.

I only need the height of a power amp, head unit and crossovers to fit :)

these are about 2 - 3 inches tall max.

Cheers

Ed

Hey Ed,
I had amps under a bench on each side, you cant hide them becuase the amps have to sit back a little since the floor slopes up under the seat.
they were there for 5 years and neaded to be vacuumed frequently as the heatsink fins fill up with brown fibre stuff from the seat.
sometimes you would feel the amp with your but when you went over bumps but it was not a major hassle, its not going to come up through the seat and get stuck in your but however it might scratch the amps
try to get skinny long amps that are small and efficient, not too long but, measure the width of each side between the brackets and trans hump.

Hey Leon,

So your amps sat behind the ridge in the seat?

I am going down to the trimmers today and going to measure up my seat, I may bring it back to the car this weekend so I can measure exactly how much room is needed for the amps.

Ive now got 2 amps, crossovers for splits and headunit under there.. better measure first I think...

If i cant hide them, may as well make them a feature...

thanks

Ed

Have you seen the neat install in the EK ute in the current issue of Street Machine?

Head unit mounted on the drivers visor and a small slot cut in the dash with the player mounted out of sight behind, that's what I'll be doing.

it's nice huh!

I just cabled my Head unit to Face for a remote mount as well, cant go behind the dash as I have too much electrical stuff behind there.

easy job... use PC ribbon cable.

Cheers

Ed

Finally fitted the CD player on the weekend, just  cut a hole in the speaker grill(sacrilege ?) and plonked it in , easy to reach easy to see (and probably easy to pinch i suppose)
                              Cheers Rusty(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a390/Boganboy/rustyfc061.jpg)