1972 MC 350/Auto - New Radio and Speakers

[B-Man]

Since I've got my dash partially taken apart AND I was able to get ahold of a REALLY REALLY nice condition burl wood dash bezel from a forum member, I went ahead and picked up a new 'retro' radio and dash speakers.  I chose ...

 

RetroSound RetroRadio M1B AM/FM receiver with aux input and Bluetooth for classic cars, from Crutchfield 

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_068RRM1BBC/RetroSound-RetroRadio-M1B-Black-face-chrome-buttons.html?tp=5684

 

and

4" x 6" Oval (Single), from Electro Tech Inc

https://www.smelectrotech.com/product/4-x-6-oval-single-/9?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=4

 

A previous owner had hacked away at the dash to create the standard, large, rectangular opening to install a more modern stereo.  But the burl wood dash bezel (a) allows me to hide the hack, and (b) gives me the correct installation holes for a 'retro' radio.  Very cool.  I may have to fabricate a backing plate of some sort to stiffen up the install.

I ordered the Electro Tech dash speakers since from what I've read, they're awesome, and these speakers fit properly vs ones you might pick up from Crutchfield.

A PO had installed some decent little speakers and black, plastic housings onto the kick panels.  But i ended up ripping one out with my boots not long after I got the car.  Those just wont work for me, and they wont be going back in. Maybe something in the future center console down the line.  Maybe nothing.

I do plan on picking up a set of 6x9s to install into the package tray.  Of course, a PO hacked away at that area too.  So I'm going to have to fabricate some plates to replace that structure and allow the proper mounting and location.

The dash speakers and rear 6x9s should be all I need for now.  I really dont run around blasting a stereo much.  I like the sound of the engine and exhaust more!  I will probably go ahead and leave some extra wires pigtailed out and ready to run to some under-seat speakers down the road. We shall see.

[jft69z]

https://www.rustreplace.com/home/dash-repair-products

They make a product to fix the big hole too, not just the cups.

[B-Man]

4 minutes ago, jft69z said:

https://www.rustreplace.com/home/dash-repair-products

Man, the Rust Replace team is on point!!  Thanks for the link.  No doubt I will order up some of these parts once I dry fit the stereo and better understand what I need.

[B-Man]

Ok, so I have the driver side Electro Tech speaker installed and wired.

It wasn't as straight forward as I had hoped. I had to transfer the 2 angled tabs from the OEM speakers over to them. And used some small self-tapper screws to attach the tabs to the speaker housing - not ideal but it worked.

The male wiring spades coming off the bottom of the speakers are in a very unfortunate location and angle. I had to bend and manipulate them to get them to clear the main speaker bracket. And I wrapped the speaker bracket with electrical tape just in case contact is made

Not the cleanest install.  But it's wired and secured, and will be hidden under the dash pad anyway.

[B-Man]

And a few minutes later the passenger side speaker is in. Again, I had to transfer the 2 tabs over by way of some self tappers. And I had to notch the mounting face of the tabs a bit to get them to orient correctly 

Both speakers are now in and wired. I'm still waiting for the stereo to show up from Crutchfield. And I will likely order the adapter plate that @jft69z mentioned. 

Getting close to getting the dash pad back on for summer driving. Yay!!!!

[kpcsgasp]

Retro Sound makes a good product. installed one with an amp located under the driver's seat. Moved the front speakers to the kick panels. A bit of a tight fit with the pedal but who needs brakes anyway?

[B-Man]

@kpcsgasp, sweet merciful crap!!! You guys and your perfect dashes can go lay an egg, haha!!! Man, that looks great!!!

I'm excited for the Retro Sound unit. I'm surprised it hasn't arrived yet. I figured I would have it in today.

Yeah, your kick panel speakers look MUCH more reasonably sized than the ones that were installed in my Monte by a previous owner. Though they had their own housing and didn't require cutting a giant hole in the panel. Just a few screw holes. Once I get the new stereo going with the new dash speakers and some 6x9s, I will see if the kick panel speakers and an amp make sense. We shall see.

Thanks for sharing the pictures of your gorgeous dash area. Dang!! #dashgoals

[kpcsgasp]

4 hours ago, B-Man said:

@kpcsgasp, sweet merciful crap!!! You guys and your perfect dashes can go lay an egg, haha!!! Man, that looks great!!!

I'm excited for the Retro Sound unit. I'm surprised it hasn't arrived yet. I figured I would have it in today.

Yeah, your kick panel speakers look MUCH more reasonably sized than the ones that were installed in my Monte by a previous owner. Though they had their own housing and didn't require cutting a giant hole in the panel. Just a few screw holes. Once I get the new stereo going with the new dash speakers and some 6x9s, I will see if the kick panel speakers and an amp make sense. We shall see.

Thanks for sharing the pictures of your gorgeous dash area. Dang!! #dashgoals

I got the kick panels from OPG they came with Kenwood speakers. If you go that route, be careful the panels are hard plastic and not as robust as the stock panels.

[DragCat]

My e-brake pad pops off if your not careful with the kick panel speakers I have

[B-Man]

@kpcsgasp, thanks for that info on the kick panels with speakers pre installed. I was not aware. Hard / brittle plastic though, noted.

@DragCat, sounds like a 4-speed problem! I've got an auto magical transmission, so I can't see using the brake very often. But again, good to know!

[kpcsgasp]

6 hours ago, B-Man said:

@kpcsgasp, thanks for that info on the kick panels with speakers pre installed. I was not aware. Hard / brittle plastic though, noted.

@DragCat, sounds like a 4-speed problem! I've got an auto magical transmission, so I can't see using the brake very often. But again, good to know!

Using the E brake here in Alaska and other cold climates is a bad thing as the brake shoes can freeze to the drums.

[DragCat]

Some use the e-brake when trailering also, even with automatics. 

Ive had an instance where put the Monte in Park, shut it off, got out, and on a very slight incline car stared rolling 🙃 Not able to re-create on demand. Just saying 

[B-Man]

The first 'dry fit' of the Retro Sound head unit is complete! 

I don't think I will need one of the Rust Replace face plate panels linked above. But maybe. I could see it cleaning up the misfit between the rounded corners of the dash bezel and the sharp corners of the head unit. It could make it worse too! The unit comes with some large diameter, thick plastic washers to sandwich behind the dash bezel on the knob stems and tighten up the install.

Obviously I need to set the knob stems about 3/8 to 1/2 inch deeper - an easy adjustment on the side mount brackets behind the dash bezel. That one adjustment would pretty much nail it.

I figured out that the OEM stereo plug is still fully intact behind the dash - amazing!! There is also a black / red / yellow wire set run from the fuse panel by a PO as well. I think I'm going to clip the original stereo plug and use the wires from it. I'm not getting constant power on the yellow wire in it. But I am getting keyed power to the yellow and gray wires. There is an orange constant power wire coming out of the dash harness behind the oil / temp gauges. I might just use that for constant.

The original speaker wires coming off the OEM plug look to be in good shape too. But since I have the dash pad off, and the new speakers in, I might as well pullout the originals and run fresh cables. 

And while I'm at it I'm going to clean up the crazy wiring from POs down there. Man, it never stops. Someone should be REALLY embarrassed!

[B-Man]

Full install, with new dash speakers, complete!

The first song that came on the radio was Bad Company - I'll take it!! Pretty good name for my Monte Carlo in fact

The Bluetooth works flawlessly. And the action on the knobs is REALLY nice. Very fancy in fact. The buttons along the bottom are of course for preset radio stations and they function well too.

So, I'm VERY happy with the Retro Sound stereo and Electro Tech speakers!

I was at Walmart yesterday and almost bought some 6x9s for the rear. They had some Sony brand ones for $70. I probably should have (and might go back) grabbed them. But i figured I would do a little research and see what my best bet is without having to install an amp. Might call Crutchfield and ask them

The USB outlet / volt meter was laying around with a bunch of electrical miscellany, and I went ahead and threw it in. But since the lighter power isn't switched, it stays on. Ugh. Another minor wiring thing to address. And I'm not sure I like having the voltage presented like that either. Wish it didn't have that.

Anyway, thread closed here. Pretty psyched!

[DragCat]

4 hours ago, B-Man said:

Much call Crutchfield and ask them

 

 

Never a bad option 

[Rob Peters]

I also got my rear speakers from Electro Tech and they are great.

rob

[B-Man]

Update on the 6x9s, I ended up ordering the JBL 9631 speakers from Crutchfield.  Their tech made 2 recommendations below based on the 18w rms power and the speaker sensitivity.  The JBLs are $100 and the Focals are $200.  I went the cheaper route

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_109CT9631G/JBL-9631.html?tp=105

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_091ACX690/Focal-ACX-690.html?tp=105

 

[B-Man]

I popped the JBL 9631 speakers into the rear deck temporarily and got the Retro Sound fired up. Wow!!!! Plenty of sound and tone out of the JBLs and ETs. Plenty! No need for an amp and more speakers. Of course, more is better. But I'm VERY ok with this for now.

I do need to figure out a cover for the rear deck though. And I should probably do that before I put the rear window back in (other thread). Hmmm. I will probably just make a cardboard template, cut something out of a 1/4 inch thick piece of wood and cover it. Another project, yay!!

[Scott S.]

Do you till have the original pad ??

[B-Man]

6 minutes ago, Scott S. said:

Do you till have the original pad ??

Yea

[Scott S.]

That would make it easier to make your new pad.

The previous owner of Montelishi had cut mine out for the 6x9's, with really gaudy covers. 

I got rid of them and made low profile covers using oval needlepoint frames (wood grain) and used fabric to make them less of an eyesore. 

Had to make clips to hold them in place, but the again, I wasn't ready to pull the whole pad.

Just a thought. 

[B-Man]

@Scott S., oh boy the rear deck pad. Thought you were asking about the dash pad. No, I don't have one. There wasn't one in the car when I got it. So I'm starting from scratch - full custom!!! Might do the same thing I did with the door panels (other thread).

[cny first gen 71]

The rear tray/pad is called a package tray. Original were made out of cardboard basically when I replaced my rear speakers I cut a new package tray out of Masonite put some thin black carpet on it. It came out good and is holding up very well.

[Scott S.]

Just took a look at your door panel project...... Nice work.

But please promise that you'll stop BEFORE you start paneling the exterior. I just can't picture a woody wagon version of a Monte Carlo. 

[B-Man]

@cny first gen 71, "package tray", right on. I knew that, just couldn't recall. And that's definitely something like the route I'm headed down. 

@Scott S., hahah oh man. I would rightfully be banned from the club if I paneled the exterior. I suppose someone with enough design and creativity could come up with some cool way to do that. But not me! I would never have the balls.

And thanks for the atta boy on the door panels. Honestly, they look WAY BETTER in person, as nice as they look in the photos.