924Board.org

[ronjeds]

This project upgraded the entire audio system in my '88 924S, staying within a $500 budget and maintaining the stock interior appearance. Four areas were addressed: 1) Replacing the head unit. 2) Replacing the four original speakers. 3) Adding a pair of tweeters into the unused center-dash speaker compartment. 4) Adding a small powered subwoofer.

Components: The new head unit is a Blaupunkt Toronto 420BT (Bluetooth). Features include hands-free voice calling; AM/FM/single CD; IPOD connection with front/rear USB ports; media card slot; front AUX input; rear PreAmp outputs; dedicated Sub Out and Remote Microphone outputs. Max power is 4x50 Watts. For the central-dash location I added a pair of 1" Alpine SPS-110 silk-dome tweeters with crossovers. In the doors I used shallow-depth Infinity Reference 4x6 speakers (model 6432) with textile-domes which, along with the new tweeters vastly improved the high-end sounds and vocals. For the rear seat side-panels I used Blaupunkt 4x6 speakers (model 462). Since these speakers are trapped behind solid panels with only "ice pick" perforations to let limited sound out, I opted for durability (and price) over refinement. The real challenge in the back-seat involved removing the panels to access the speaker locations. I've read several posts discussing the pros and cons of popping out the rear quarter window versus patiently working the panel vinyl out from under the rubber window bead while leaving the window in place. I decided to do one side without popping the window while popping it out on the other side. I'll show you both ways (see pictures) and give you my opinion as to which is the better alternative. I also added a small powered subwoofer (Sound Ordnance B-8PTD) positioned under the hatchback. The subwoofer is attached directly to a Sub Out connection on the head unit. Since the head unit has an adjustable Equalizer and Sub Out connection I decided not to add a separate amplifier. Opinions vary greatly regarding component selection and placement for any sound system and although my choices may not satisfy a true Audiophile or Head-Banger, this set-up works great for me.

Total price USD(4Q2013) $497: Blaupunkt 420BT head unit ($140); Sound Ordnance B-8PTD powered subwoofer ($160); (2) Alpine SPS-110 Tweeters ($50); (2) Infinity Reference 6432 door speakers ($42); (2) Blaupunkt 462 rear seat speakers ($30); Rockford Fosgate RFK10 cable kit ($30); Bojo interior trim tools ($25); Miscellaneous parts including wire, tape, adhesive, electrical connectors, etc. ($20). Most items were found online with "sale" or "clearance" pricing and free shipping.

Here is a YouTube video so you can hear the results of this project. Your playback may not reflect the actual sounds I hear in the car, but here it is for what it's worth. I received permission from the artist to use the music track featured in the video so no worries about being accomplices to piracy here!

Video URL: http://youtu.be/RLIN0bFpbN4

The rest of this thread is written as a step-by-step "How To" intended for the novice-level DIYer. This is TMI for most of you but I would like to have seen this prior to starting my first audio upgrade. I completed the head unit upgrade previously, so little detail is provided (or necessary) for that part of the effort. The entire project took one weekend to complete. Basic hand tools needed include Phillips and Flat-head screwdrivers, 10mm and 17mm sockets, 1/2 inch and 10mm open-end wrenches, a wire cutter/stripper, a paint-can lid opener (yes, really), electrical connectors and (optionally but highly recommended) a set of interior trim removal tools. I also used some interior adhesive, 7' of clothesline and some silicon lube.

Installation Procedure: Pictures and comments corresponding to each step in the project are posted on my Flickr site. I chose not to post the pictures directly into this thread since there are 98 of them and the resulting thread would be massive, awkward and annoying to navigate.

If you're not familiar with Flickr just single click on the first picture and patiently wait for it to fill the screen. Wait a few more seconds then locate the "right" arrow to advance through the picture set. The detail descriptions are included with each image. You can toggle in and out of full screen mode by clicking the arrows located at the top right corner of the frame.

WARNING: Flickr will insert a few commercial images as you advance through the pictures (their ads, not mine) so just continue forwarding through the images. Ads should appear only a few times during the early pictures and then it's clear sailing the rest of the way.

Picture URL: http://www.flickr.com/photos/120690387@N08/sets/72157642495448753/

This project was well worth the cost and effort. Enjoy!

P.S. You can see pictures of my car, an '88 Special Edition (option code 756) by clicking "back to albums list" at my Flickr page and then selecting the obvious set. There is also a set showing a complete "how to" swap the Tach and Speedometer in the main cluster.
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Ron

1988 924S Special Edition

[kcoyle]

Really, really, well done. Thanks!
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1982 931- Stock with MBC at 8psi

Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it.

[morghen]