Late model stand alone aftermarket stereo.

[jlcustomz]

This thread is both for show & to get some stereo opinions & advice. Figured I'd show a way I'm putting my existing aftermarket stereo into a 2019 ford transit company work truck . Mine to use, but don't own. For a few reasons, partially my currently low budget, I'm leaving factory stereo & speakers intact. Reusing years of leftover stuff. Made an overhead setup to hold pioneer 1/2 din unit & my eq, which has the volume knob I use. Lots of switches to power everything up individually. Added 2nd battery under pass seat, which will have solenoid type isolator. Part of theme here is that entire setup can be pulled & switched to another truck easier.
I mostly listed to older hard rock & metal. Like it loud & clean with a tighter bass sound.
Overhead unit. Bench wired & tested.
2016 purchased pioneer unit has 2 v rated output going into a Clarion eq with volume control. High end twisted rca cables. Has bluetooth, but I'd need a new mic to try it with cell phone for hands free use. Wondering if it would be worthwhile sound quality with reasonably quiet van interior??

Added me a mood lighting circuit. The soft blue led strips right now stuffed in back of overhead console light up the dark ceiling at night, kinda like a daytime sunroof effect. Thought was a little interior soft lighting will help my eyes balance a little from the contrast of headlight glare. think it helps.

 

[jlcustomz]

Have a stiff plywood & wood frame bulkhead wall with padding & carpeting Reused rear 6 x9 speakers & boxes. this is 2nd remounting of box aiming position. Mounted 2 amps over seats, starting to tuck in wires.
Full range amp is kicker350 4 channel from 2007'. 60w rms@ 4 ohms or 90@2ohms.
Sub amp is a cheap planet audio 1500 (my *ss) temporarily replacing my large 1989 infinity reference rsa 450 amp that had much tighter bass sound.
Didn't add silk tweeters to back as I understand it's better for imaging to have em up front.

 

[jlcustomz]

Got these Cresendo silk dome tweeters for the elky & never used. Decided to try 2 pair per front channel, aiming towards driver's ears. Made angles wood mounts, since i couldn't find swivel bases i wanted. Think I'm happy with them.

 

[jlcustomz]

Got the understanding that kickpod location is best for stereo imaging. Not much foot room on transit vans. Hand formed 1/4" & 1/8" bbs plastic & welded together. No small task whatsoever. Sticking in some old 6 x 9's I took out of the elky probably over 20 years ago for now. Gave them all the air volume I could. Old speakers sound harsh, gotta go.

 

[jlcustomz]

Previous sprinter work van had 2 12" subs firing through bulkhead wall cutout left of drivers seat. No room in that spot with tools on this truck. Based on friend's advise, built a new box to mount on wall firing back, as most cars & suv's do. Mounted approx 3 foot up from floor.
NEVER EVER mount a sub box on backside of a padded sealed van wall. With stereo full range sound on & doors closed, can't hear or feel it upfront. May first try spinning around to fire frontwards with spacers & cut out some of wood wall & padding. I'm really limited on mounting spaces.
Speakers are old , but intact & functional. My 1989 infinity amp connectors got too bad earlier this year & replaced with cheap amp. Loud but lacks the tighter sound I like. Definitely want a better amp.

Right now, stereo is sounding decent from a distance with all doors open, but needs work to sound great where I sit.

 

[jlcustomz]

This is the van it's going in. May do another thread later on how I fit 17" imposter wheel skins on 16 " steel wheels. gotta have a little bling.

EDIT:: think an LS could fit under hood. may later do exhaust cutout into performance muffler on the 275 hp 6700rpm v-6.

 

[pontiacgp]

This is the van it's going in. May do another thread later on how I fit 17" imposter wheel skins on 16 " steel wheels.

when does the LS conversion begin?......

 

[mikester]

Wow, you must really like listening to music to do all that in a work van. These days I hardly even turn on the radio when Im driving around. Even on long trips. Usually just talking to the wife or kids.

 

[pontiacgp]

the wife

more reason to have a sound system.....

 

[jlcustomz]

Hardly listen to radio in lspowered el camino. Spend as long as 4 hrs occasionally in work truck, usually by myself, thankfully.
A great stereo makes a sucky life a little bit better, get to jobs and come home in a little better mood.

I do need to know who are the knowledgeable stereo people here for a little advice.