Mopar Radio in my Fairmont!

This is one pretty nice radio. My buddy and I had to help a neighbour with new concrete on the old steps and build a new wooden step at the front door this summer. She was cleaning out the basement and threw all kinds of automotive stuff that her 7-year Ex had collected.

Anyway, I got this 1986 Turbo Daytona Ultimate AM/FM/Cassette with all kinds of features that I really hadn't looked at since September. Wow!



Wiring harness:


AND! more info than I've ever seen on any radio and the stock amplified speakers and wiring!
http://www.allpar.com/stereo/infinity-guide.html

Then, these guys have a nice long thread about some of the issues, wiring etc.
http://www.modifiedlife.com/1989-dodge-daytona-car-radio-wiring-diagram/

http://www.turbododge.com/forums/f4/f60/72229-radio-wiring-88-daytona-cut-plugs.html

And an install kit vendor:
http://www.installer.com/cars/by_car.php?carid=1719

Built-in AMP, Ambiance tuner, Swizzel stick fader (Front/Back and Left/Right), graphic equalizer, music search and 12 watts per channel!

What I really like about it is the dual knobs (On/Off/Volume and Tuning). You don't take your eyes off the road to adjust anything. A bit of groping and you're there!

It's worth modifying the Fairmont's dash!

While I'm at it, I'll add a pair of speakers above the tailgate slanted forward and buy a pair of those amplified door speakers. Apparently, they aren't a paper coned speaker, and they come with a mountable drip-guard that will fit nicely in the Fairmont's stock door speaker cavity. :2_thumbs_up_-_anima

I don't like it too loud, but I want to hear every chord and detail. This sounds perfect for me.

I started this in another thread about an MEI amplifier and the 3 digital radios that I've got. This Mopar Infinity unit beats them all, but if I want more amplification, I can always throw in the MEI. I finally figured out the wiring.
http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2557

 

That's real custom

 

I just hate to see a dash cut. You can never go back. Toss the ash tray and make a box and mount for the radio under the dash where the ash tray was. You can go back from that once you build your real woody and your lovely wife takes over the Fairmont from you.

 

No, I won't cut it. I'll take it out and store it or get a 1983 Marquis Villager dash with the dash radio console.

But what I'm thinking is to build one from aluminum sheet and fit it to the existing mounting notches. I looked at the Mustang Fox dashes, and you have to bob around the steering wheel to see them. So what I thought was to make a vacuum-motor operated flip up panel at the dash-pad height with the guages mounted there. Start the car, and up come the guages on the vacuum reservoir (or I could use a coax heater cable). Then run the radio/ashtray/coffee-mug holders from the middle of the floor hump up to the dash. I'd make it a bit deeper too, to have a decent glove/map box and easier access to the wiring, as well as a better mount for the fusebox. Then I could close the whole dash off with a rolltop desk kind of drop down screen.

Look at these mustang sets, for instance:
http://www.nordskogperformance.net/products/auto/dashpanels/page3.htm

http://mc-machine.com/mcm_joom/content/view/5/6/

Same ones Installed:
http://www.mc-machine.com/mcm_gallery/v/79-86_dash_plates/installed/

Nice installation, but you're still goose-necking to see them.
http://jr.rustecat.com/articles/cluster/index.php

And a stock Mustang setup:


Here's the stock Mopar setup, which is similar to the 1983 Marquis center drop-down:


Here's the Marquis's drop-down (my gallery limit won't let me add it, instead of a repeated attachment ):
http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=14103&postcount=19

I just think it can be improved on, like I was thinking back when, in here:
http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2268

 

I'm thinking that I'd make a wooden dashpad with a high-density foam bumper at the paasenger side, instead of the 'sun-cracked' Fairmont version. I've got some good ash framing that I got from some old couches about 2 inches thick, and I've got plunge routers and trim routers and a drill press that I can machine it with.

Then I can swirl the aluminum background and mount the stock gas and speedo and shift display/signals/hi-beam indicators (all centered anyway) and use real veneer to replace the stock plastic woodgrain trim. It's winter for 5 more months, so the boy has to play a bit.

I kept the ductwork from the donor, so making extensions to the existing dash ducts is fairly easy. AND!!!! I'd build an easier way to get the heater core out, than peeling the dash right off. :banghead3:

For you non-fox bodied guys, the AC version of the heater is almost half the restoration of the car, and since the whole dash is made of 30 year old styrene, it always cracks when you move it.

 

That is going to be SO COOL!!! You best post a video when you get that finished!

 

Thanks. I just found the wiring diagram for it too. This site has wiring diags for most brands of cars and medium to highend audio:
http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/downloads.asp?srch=all&term=&page_no=5

And if you hit grounding problems you need to look at this Sticky on their site. I did it to mine, and the car starts and charges like no tomorrow, like new!:
http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?TID=73496

Have a great 2009! Family, School, Car and 'avid social life' In that order, eh?

 

Just keeps getting better.

I found the Operating Instructions too.
http://www.robskorner.org/faqs/Radio/radiomain.html

The one I have is called Ultimate Sound ('84 to '87), not Infinity, but it was made by Mitsubishi, who also made some of the Infinity units for Mopar.
http://www.robskorner.org/faqs/Radio/ultinmate84to87.html

Ultimate Sound also made speakers for them:
http://www.ultimate-sound.com/

 

It's getting kinda sad, I think I'm as excited for this project as you are haha. I really can't wait to see the results!

 

I wrote my own sketching program a couple years ago in Visual Basic 6, so I could draw adjustable curves (Bezier curves), so I'll sketch up a plan and post it in a few days, for late next week. Too cold to do anything else. Almost!

 

Looks cool, now I want to upgrade my Vista's sound system, I need an eight track.

My daughter gave me a Sansa MP3 player for x-mas and it's amazing. I have to figure out a way to get that to play through my Delco radio.
I import my old vinyl and cassettes into the PC and then to MP3's, I ain't paying no stinkin' money for tunes I already have. For some reason downloading or burning from vinyl sounds better with much better bass and highs, I like the clicks and pops too.

 

Start at the Mfr's website, and then look here. These guys recommend good install kits:
http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_topics.asp~FID~2~PN~0

 

Clicks and pops are always good. I have a mean collection of vynils, and you just can't beat that sound!!!

 

I'm in the midst of putting a real nice sound system in my wagon, but financial albatrosses, mean that with only getting paid so much every two weeks, I am limited to how much I can do, but I'm about half done as of now.