NEWS PARTS JEEP & 4x4 ATV & UTV

Jeep Tunes

704 Views 17 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Dana, Mar 9, 2000

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Discussion Starter · Mar 7, 2000

Listen guys, my 74 CJ has no stereo and although I've only been driving daily for a month, I miss my morning radio programs! I'm thinking of hitting the flea market and picking up an old cheap radio. But I have a couple of questions.

1)How do you mount the damn thing? My dash is basically sheet metal so where have folks attached the rear of the unit?

2)Also, is there such a thing as a waterproof stereo? I was looking into marine stereos, but selection appears limited. Speakers aren't really a problem, but I'm planning to drive the Jeep wide open most of the time and Florida is subject to random "sun showers"!! I don't want to get into a real expensive stereo because it might get stolen (easy target).

Any help is appreciated in advance.

Carl, Tampa, FL, 74 CJ-5
If a Jeep can't take you there, Think twice about going..

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

G

Discussion Starter · #2 · Mar 7, 2000

if you don't have a hole in the dash you can cut your own or mount under the dash. you can use plumbers tape at the rear of unit to strengthen and attach to a handy bolt or fabricate your own. ever think about those speaker "bars" that mount on the roll bar? i've got one and they are the hot set-up. you can do 70 on the freeway with the bikini top on and crank it up. no problem hearing.

be cool
steve

G

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 7, 2000

Here I thought you where going to ask about C.W.McCall and his jeep songs???

Well how about a G.I. Ammo can bolted to the floor with your radio in it.

Bryan

· #4 · Mar 7, 2000

The piece of junk radio that came with my Jeep rusted out from all the dash leaks. So when I put a nice one in I sort of waterproofed it. I took a heavy sheet of flexable urathane and sort of built a roof around the top and sides of the unit. I know this blocks the cooling vents but it is better than rust. So any water that drips on the radio inside the dashboard just runs off. I take the face off whenever I leave it and built a plastic snap on cover that protects it from rain. It also makes it look like there is no radio in there to begin with. 2 1/2 years later and it still works fine.

G

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 7, 2000

My Bro-in-law came up with a pretty good solution for his 74. He bought one of the wide Bestop center consoles that fits tightly between the seats and mounted his stereo inside it facing up. He then cut holes on each end of the console and mounted his speakers there. A shorty antennae was mounted to the console.Because he takes his out alot when we're in water, he wired it to plug into his cigarette lighter. Everything is in the center of the jeep so it stays out of the mud, water, etc.. Radio is pretty well protected from the elements if it rains. Pretty neat setup, I thought.
Shain

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Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 7, 2000

I have a tuffy console with a stereo compartment. It is expensive, but big, comfortable, secure, and best of all waterproof.
ed

G

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 8, 2000

Tunes in a 74 CJ5? That's exactly what I had & never did bother with a radio. Although I do have to admit that after singing "When I die, I may not go to heaven.........." to myself for more than 100 miles got kind of old/wwwthreads_images/icons/shocked.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/blush.gif!

TEX

/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif Got Mud?
G.U.M.B.O. Mud Racing

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3

171

· #8 · Mar 8, 2000

I had the same problem,So I got a piece of heavy sheet metal from home depot cut it to shape, and cut holes in it to mount the radio,took the glove compartment door off since the inside has long ago gone to jeep parts heaven and I mounted the stereo and face plate in it with self tapping screws then I drilled out the screw heads to make removal a little more difficult for the common thief(the pro will get it anyhow) and it is old and cheap to make it not worth the effort to steal.
I mounted the speakers in an ammo can and bolted it to the floor in back of the seats .I may build one like the sound bar but it needs to go front to back as it is a 1980 cj .
and anyhow who in their right mind would want to steal a David Allen Coe tape anyhow ?
You could also look in junkyards sometimes they have them piled up in the office ,Might be a better shot and a better deal .Just a thought.

Learn to let go of what does not serve you ,but forces you to serve it

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east116

· #9 · Mar 8, 2000

that tape would be the first thing I took! =)

G

Discussion Starter · #10 · Mar 8, 2000

Great ideas, all of them!

Steve, I don't think the over head bars will work on a 74 CJ. At least they are not described like that.

I never thought of an ammo can, but that's a great centerpeice! I've got cutouts in the dash but there's no support anywhere else and I'm sure the radio wouldn't just hang there. I like the ammo can or console idea. Main concern is waterproofing it so I'll have to experiment with one or the other and some of that urethane.

What about those speaker boxes that mount to the side of the wheel wells? They work on a CJ? I see alot of interior parts that are described for 76 and up CJ's, but I think they'd fit a 74 also..

I also saw that Doug, "The Creator of Cbrack", as a pretty cool over head console for stereos, but I'm not sure about the wiring of that setup.

Thanks for the help guys.

Carl, Tampa, FL, 74 CJ-5
If a Jeep can't take you there, Think twice about going..

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Dana

· #11 · Mar 8, 2000

In reply to:

I've got cutouts in the dash but there's no support anywhere else and I'm sure the radio wouldn't just hang there.

Why not? That's all I've got, just the nuts on the knob shafts holding it to the dash, and I've had no problems.

For speakers I've got two 6" rounds, one behind the stock speaker cutout on the right and one in a hole on the left side. It's a cheapo stereo that nobody would bother to steal.

-Dana

The sex was so good that even the neighbors had a cigarette.

G

Discussion Starter · #12 · Mar 8, 2000

Dana, is there any stress on the radio or dash when you go over bumps or uneven terrain? I just thought it might damage something with most of the radio's weight in the back and no support there.

Carl, Tampa, FL, 74 CJ-5
If a Jeep can't take you there, Think twice about going..

205

· #13 · Mar 8, 2000

I bought a set including speakers and a stereo with a removabable face plate from Costco for $60.00. I installed the speakers using the mounting system provided, the magnets stuck onto the metal of my jeep. If it gets stolen I buy another one for $60 bucks.
Scott

130

· #14 · Mar 8, 2000

I've got an '89 Wrangler and the factory stereo it came with has everything I'd ever want. It is very waterproof, I've used the carwash pressurewasher to blast the mud off it a dozen times at least...the speakers didn't hold up to the pressure or the mud though and are toast. I'm going to get some indoor/outdoor speakers from Big Lots for $20. They are two small boxes with 3 speakers in each, Bass/Mid/Highs. These I will mount to the rollbar so they hang down right behind the seat, facing forwards. I do a lot of deep-water crossing and figure that this way I'll be needing a snorkel before the speakers get fried. And heck- they are only $20 and I can make them look very un-appealing to steal. My friend is a stereo freak and an electrician so he'll do all the wiring. Later I'll move the sereo into a Tuffy console and put a CB into the stereo's stock location untill I build a new dash (LONG WAY OFF!)

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JEEPN

· #15 · Mar 8, 2000

How about a "U" shaped channel made from sheet metal with holes in it to mount the "stereo" to, then let it hang down from the bottom of the dash. I used the one from one of my Scout's, damn thing still works. Knobs were busted off so I used some spares for the heater controls, works great! I know there are a few Marine ones that are cheap and work great. Ask in the store, occasionally people bring one back because it doesn't sound good, my Brother in law got one for $50 and it was new. They usually are in their own little box with a flip down cover. The speakers are easy, I built a box made of plywood, sealed it with silicone, and put a trashbag over the top to make it waterproof (stretched it tight so it looks good). The whole thing cost about $5. I wish I knew you needed speakers, I would have thrown a few in when I mailed down the E-brake assembly. Good luck on the tunes!

JEEPN
'81 CJ-8 Scrambled!
GM151/SM465/NP205 twinstick/7"Lift/33"TSL's/IHC D44's 4.10's Lock'd

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G

Discussion Starter · #16 · Mar 9, 2000

hey,

these are all good ideas. they make a tuffy center console with a small compartment specifically for the car stereo so that the face of the stereo unit is facing up at you, and there is a locking plastic cover, so it is waterproof.

also, a more simple solution might be to look into some of the car stereos from kenwood. they make the ones with "mask" technology that automatically flips the faceplate to the inside when you turn it off, so it looks like there's no stereo at all, and thus waterproof as well.

jawonkie

G

Discussion Starter · #17 · Mar 9, 2000

In reply to:

How about a "U" shaped channel made from sheet metal with holes in it to mount the "stereo" to, then let it hang down from the bottom of the dash.

That's not a bad idea either. Sorta like you would do a CB radio almost. See, you guys really help me with the creative ideas! I'm new to car crafting and alot of times I get limited by what I see and not what I can think of.

I saw those "masking" stereos in a crutchfield catalog. I just figured eventually the crooks would know what those look like and then they'd get the whole stereo. Blaupunkt has one with an access card as security.

SO.. it's to the junkyard and flea market this weekend for me.. see what I can come up with out there.

Carl, Tampa, FL, 74 CJ-5
If a Jeep can't take you there, Think twice about going..

Dana

· #18 · Mar 9, 2000

In reply to:

Dana, is there any stress on the radio or dash when you go over bumps or uneven terrain? I just thought it might damage something with most of the radio's weight in the back and no support there.

Not that I've noticed. CJ dash is pretty heavy (i.e. stiff) compared to a more modern car that's all plastic.

As for mounting it under the dash: I had a CB under the dash on the passenger side, not only was it in the way of the passenger's knee but it also prevented the passenger seat from folding forward.

In the mail Jeep I used to have I simply duct taped the stereo to the steering column. /wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif

-Dana

Society is like a stew. If you don't keep it stirred up, you get a lot of scum on top.

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