Date:         Sat, 16 Jan 1999 10:40:03 -0800
Reply-To:     Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Subject:      Re: audio system upgrades
Comments: To: The Henry's <jch@VNET.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Henry,
I just finished putting a Sony XR1750 FM/AM Cassette Stereo in my 90 Westy
Syncro. I have stock antenna and speakers so I can't help you much there.
But I can tell you that the limiting factor for the Radio/Cassette unit is
the depth measurement. The distance between the outside of the dash surface
and the rear part the dash is limited. But it is complicated by the fact
that this rear part of the dash is sloped and there are indents to the left
and right of the center brace. The indents give more room for the wire
connections. So the bottom line is that the most restrictive dimension is
the distance from the outside of the dash surface at the lower edge of the
hole to the point on the back side of the dash where the rear lower edge
(the slope of the rear part of the dash gives more room for the upper rear
edge of the radio) of the radio would touch if it is deep enough.
What I found was that for my stock radio that measurement was 5 7/8 inches.
I managed to get the Sony XR1750 to fit with some effort, but no spacers
moving the face plate of the radio out or shaving of the back side of the
dash were necessary. The measurement of the Sony XR1750 from the back side
of the face plate to the lower rear edge of the metal box was 6 inches (not
including wire connector flanges). I don't think I could have gotten
anything larger to fit without some alterations.
I bought my Sony from Crutchfield. The measurements that they give you in
the catalogue for depth are for what they call "easy fit". They said that
the Sony XR1750 would not fit which left me with very few choices. After
pulling the stock unit, making careful measurements, and talking to four
different Crutchfield sales people until I found on that would/could give me
the actual measurements of the Sony unit (instead of their "easy fit"
measurements which allow extra room for wires, etc.), I determined that the
Sony would fit. But it was very snug!!!
Good Luck
Bill
90 Westy Syncro
Lake Tahoe
-----Original Message-----
From: The Henry's <jch@VNET.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Saturday, January 16, 1999 6:17 PM
Subject: audio system upgrades


>hello all,
>
>My son has shamed me into considering options for upgrade of the audio
>system in my 84 westy. Currently the system is perhaps the worst generic
>manual am/fm/cassette unit ever made. The van obviously did not come
>with a radio, there is no external evidence of an antenna, currently a
>small black rubber antenna is located in the glove box.(reception is a
>very weak point but improves if you ride with the glove box open)
>
>The son is offering to loan me a fairly high quality Sony AM/FM/Cd unit
>(4 speaker, 40 watts per) to get me started.
>
>I have searched the archives, now I need to use a little bandwidth and
>collect current thoughts and experiences form the group.
>
>Questions:
>
>Door speakers? as of right now there are non. What are options that keep
>the window cranks working. I need my map storage in driver's door.
>
>Rear speakers? what should there be back there? Are there locations
>other than in AC rack in a Westy?
>
>Other speakers? I am not ready for bass units that will bounce the van
>(over 50 crowd, you know how we are!)  but??
>
>Antenna, I think a power antenna is a reasonable vandalism deterrent,
>where should (could) it mount? Who makes them?
>
>My own future thoughts are to replace Sony unit (when my son wants it
>back) and replace it with a cassette/remote cd system. Any good
>experiences here?
>
>
>Thanks to all in advance.
>
>jim henry
>
>84 westy
>84 rx7 gsl-se
>85 rx7 gsl-se
>assorted other transportation that always start but are never any fun.
>