10/03 Stereo Install
Installed new stereo system. This includes a Blaupunkt CD player, MTX 400w peak 4 channel amp, CDT 6in component front speakers, custom built (by me) speaker box holding 8in Sony Xplod subwoofer and 2 6X9 speakers.
The concept was the have a tape player for
the primary head unit and the CD would feed into it. Similar to the
system in my old car.
http://www.geocities.com/jon7190/stereo95.html I was also
going to install a CB radio and possibly a scanner. I have not gotten
to that portion of it yet, and have since purchased a 94 Caprice wagon
which will recieve some yet to be decided upon upgrades. So I don't
know if I will ultimately do all that to this car. For now the CD is
working fine.
The CD player is installed in the ususual spot. I cut up the dash panel to install it. However, I actually cut up a nice panel I got at the junkyard and saved the original incase I or a future owner wants to put the stock system back in. The panel wasn't a wagon panel which has a box cut out with the wagon switch mounted behind, so I got a tail window switch off a late 80's Caprice and installed that on the sedan panel as well as an antenna booster switch.
The amp is mounted in the spare tire well.
This is possible because the car has a compact spare. I don't think a
fullsize spare would fit with the amp in there now.
The sub box I built especially to fit in the 3rd seat
footwell. The floor panel closes over it for cargo or security. It is
also easily removable if needed to have passengers back there.
The most challenging part of the install was the front
speakers. I believe in having a high-powered, front biased system. This
requires having substantial front speakers mounted either in the door
or kickpanels. The original front speaker location is on top of the
dash. There is only room there for 3.5 in speakers, and I don't like
the sound distribution there anyway. Going with the kickpanel would
require building some complexly shaped custom enclosures, since nobody
I know builds an after market kit for these cars (not alot of people
put fancy stereos in these cars). The PCM being mounted on the
passenger side may complicate this location as well.
So that leaves the doors. I could cut holes directly in the doors
and panels, and have poor sound containment, potential depth problems
and end up with really conspicuous, very non-original looking
doors. There is also the issue of where to put the power lock and
window controls, since the speakers would be mounted partly in the area
where the switch armrest extension boxes are located. The only viable
option would be to get new window switches of the style that mounted
directly flat on the door panel (my 87 Buick had this, I'm not sure
what other cars), and get the lock switches that mount on the armrest.
None of that really appealed to me.
The only other option was to make speaker enclosures that would
mount on the door. These would be larger than, and replace, the
existing window switch armrest extension. The power switches would be
mounted on the top of the speaker boxes. The 6in speakers would mount
in the box, and there would be small extensions coming out the front to
mount the tweeters on. They would be upholstered in vinyl matching as
close as possible with original and the speakers would be covered with
maroon speaker grille cloth. The speaker crossovers are mounted
underneath the box. Designing and building these took longer and
was trickier than I expected. The results, though, I'm very happy
with. The vinyl and speaker cloth match real well, and the window
switches work fine. The speakers sound great. They don't exactly look
stock, but they are not real obvious to the untrained eye. I don't
think the typical schlep stereo thief would look in the tinted windows
of this woody and wire wheeled old wagon and notice anything that would
jump out as saying there's a pretty expensive stereo system in here.
The system overall sounds very good. I'm not a bass fiend, but it
could use a bit more bass. I might modify the box to fit another
8 in sub instead of the 6x9's, and add another 2 channel amp.
9/03
Mechanic did AC repair. New
dryer, filter, orings, oil, convert to R134. (Most cars take
about 2lbs of freon. This era of GM b-body takes almost
4lbs. At $60 /lb for R12, it would have cost me over $200 just to
refill the system. For present and future economy I decided to make the
switch. It is true that a converted system is not as strong as
original, or as strong as a newer original R134 system. But, it's OK
for me. Especially since this is a second car for me and I don't
usually HAVE to drive it in the hottest weather.)
8/03
Mechanic rebuilt carb (this was after the car failed AZ state
emissions horribly, adjusted carb, and it failed the retest even worse)
11/02
Mechanic replaced intake manifold (aluminim
intake corroded at the front edges and was leaking coolant), carb base
gasket, and all vacuum lines.
I installed door side moldings. Also installed Olds emblem on tailgate
and replaced some dented fender and rocker panel pieces from junkyard
parts.
I replaced the gear shift handle with a junkyard piece from late 70's
Olds. The original has a plastic end with "chrome" that was flakeing
off. The older piece is real metal and chrome, feels more substantial,
looks better.
4/02
Changed all fluids including rear end and
installed felpro gasket on diff. cover.
Cleaned the electical circuits on the wiper motor. This resolved the
problems it was having with the wipers not delaying properly or turning
off.
4/18/02
Bought a new daily driver. It's a 1985 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser. This replaces my former 84 Ford Country Squire and 84 Olds 88 (best of both worlds). Car is 1.5 owner (son inherited it from dad last year), 107k, LA area car. Has neither rust or significant sun damage. Most all options including power seat, cruise, F41 suspension, guage package, fiber optic light monitor. Doesn't need much work. Biggest plan is to install a great stereo.
Best thing about the car: the name! Has a cooler name ever been given to a car? Ironic that a car with such a staid image has such a hip name.
