ICE Upgrade - What to expect?
Discussion
Hi all,
I've got an Alpine HU that I'm thinking of putting in the Chim. The previous owner (Tiggsy) had upgraded the ICE to a JVC HU but I've got a decent Alpine one knocking around that I want to fit. Once I get the old one out what should I watch out for when installing the new one?
I'm going to run a seperate +ve and -ve source to the battery (in line fuses? Where do I get them from?) but apart from that do I need to do anything else like connectors or adaptors?
Also, are the speakers a straight swap for other 6.5" units, e.g. Infinitis? Any recommendations for the rear speakers? I know about mounting them on legs to avoid sealing the cockpit. What do I need to stick the trim back down in the boot? Evostick?
Thanks people,
Rob
I've got an Alpine HU that I'm thinking of putting in the Chim. The previous owner (Tiggsy) had upgraded the ICE to a JVC HU but I've got a decent Alpine one knocking around that I want to fit. Once I get the old one out what should I watch out for when installing the new one?
I'm going to run a seperate +ve and -ve source to the battery (in line fuses? Where do I get them from?) but apart from that do I need to do anything else like connectors or adaptors?
Also, are the speakers a straight swap for other 6.5" units, e.g. Infinitis? Any recommendations for the rear speakers? I know about mounting them on legs to avoid sealing the cockpit. What do I need to stick the trim back down in the boot? Evostick?
Thanks people,
Rob
Hi,
Check out:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=49805&f=8&h=0
That is my current problem with an exchange of headunit (like it doesnt work). Still, fairly easy with only a few things to note:
1) Take care removing the headunit and mounting frame - the venier is easily broken and damaged.
2) The wiring is a mess and will probably need a little tidy up. Be prepared to sort it out.
3) None of the wiring diagrams from Steve Heath matched my car - it changes from year to year!
4) Double check and check again - still managed to blow a fuse on mine the other day.
Other than that its nice and easy. There is plenty of room behind the headunit so no worries with stuffing the cables back there. The speaker replacement is simple (not dont this myself), but one of the other largest improvements that you can do is put in another set of speakers. Most people put them in the vent holes in the back, but you can put them in a variety of locations.
Cheers,
Paul
Check out:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=49805&f=8&h=0
That is my current problem with an exchange of headunit (like it doesnt work). Still, fairly easy with only a few things to note:
1) Take care removing the headunit and mounting frame - the venier is easily broken and damaged.
2) The wiring is a mess and will probably need a little tidy up. Be prepared to sort it out.
3) None of the wiring diagrams from Steve Heath matched my car - it changes from year to year!
4) Double check and check again - still managed to blow a fuse on mine the other day.
Other than that its nice and easy. There is plenty of room behind the headunit so no worries with stuffing the cables back there. The speaker replacement is simple (not dont this myself), but one of the other largest improvements that you can do is put in another set of speakers. Most people put them in the vent holes in the back, but you can put them in a variety of locations.
Cheers,
Paul
chimhunter said:
I know about mounting them on legs to avoid sealing the cockpit.
Rob
Rob - Chim cockpit is not that airtight so I wouldn't worry about mounting the speakers on legs. If you are concerned about it, install another vent in the middle of the back shelf. Mounting the speakers on legs will cause interference as sound waves generated by the back of the speaker cone will interfere with those coming from the front & you will lose bass response.
spend said:
Rob - Chim cockpit is not that airtight so I wouldn't worry about mounting the speakers on legs.
That confused me - my boot is far more airtight than the cockpit. + cockpit vents into boot over wheel arches from door locks (where you run CD changer cabling).
Dave
There is a generally accepted view that the vents in the rear bulkhead create a greater volume of air inside the car such that the doors are easier to close and airflow is improved for demisting etc.
There is a school of thought (which I subscribe to) that suggests that the cabin has plenty of points for air to flow in/out in addition to these vents, that using them as speaker location holes is not detrimental to the airflow.
Mounting speakers on 'legs that exposes the back of the speaker to the cabin as well as the front and will reduce the ability of the speakers to perform efficiently and will degrade the sound quality.
chimhunter said:
What I really need to know is stuff about connectors. Will I need anything new?
Speaker connectors are likely to be the same (lug and spade connectors with different sizes for the positive & negative)
The head unit may well have a different configuration - many manufacturers have bespoke male-female connectors to allow straight swap from model x to model y. Changing from a JVC to an Alpine may require for you to disconnect the JVC connector and solder in an Alpine one.
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff