new car sterio

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  • #234343
    greg press
    Participant

    @greg-press

    When asked what do you want for christmas it was easy a new sterio for my london roadster. The current one came with the car .It has a casette player. Any advice on buying and installing would be helpful. 

    #252053
    Royal
    Participant

    @royal

    A few weeks ago, I put a different radio in my TD, but I sense that it was for different reasons.  My prior radio was one of those fancy dangled things with all sorts of go fast sexy displays that pulsed with the music and had enough power to drive my big Bose system ( I know, I tried it.)  BUT, – you couldn’t see the darn dial in sunlight as in “with the top down”.  I searched and was unable to find an old fashioned but new radio with punch buttons below the dial – like all radios were up until 15+/- years ago.  Yes RetroSound makes a look alike, but it is an electronic display and I wanted an old pointer that slides across the dial.  I finally bought a NOS radio on eBay and it does the job.  No scan, no search, no pulsing display, no rear speakers.  It even has a weather channel.  Great in our roadsters.   But – it sounds great and looks a lot more “at home” than the old fancy one.  

    #252054
    newkitman
    Participant

    @newkitman

    Don’t ttry Radio Shack. Believe it or not they don’t sell car radios anymore. Imagine that. Radio Shack doesn’t sell radios. Who’d have thunk. But I digress. Mid America sells a retro looking car stereo with CD. And Karmann Ghia Parts and Restoration used to. Not sure if they still carry the retro look. That’s if you’re looking for the retro look.

    Allen Caron
    VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
    "If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

    #252055
    Marc Lipsius
    Participant

    @mrlmd

    I got a radio for my car for about $50 at Walmart and it’s as good as anything out there, and it fit perfectly into the cutout that was already in the dash. With all the noise our cars make, in addition to the wind, there’s little sense in spending an exorbitant amount of money on something you cannot hear well anyway. If it’s a retro look you want, that’s something else. If it’s something to listen too, don’t spend a fortune on something you cannot hear or appreciate unless you are sitting in the driveway with the engine off. I don’t even drive much with the radio on because it has to be blasting fairly loud to hear it and I would rather hear the car and the wind rushing by.

    #252056
    newkitman
    Participant

    @newkitman

    Hey. I just remembered. VW (Sapphire) made an in-dash AM/FM/8-Track back in the 70s. Now that’s a retro look right there! Approve Here’s one in the classifieds in the Samba.

     

    newkitman2012-10-11 18:37:54

    Allen Caron
    VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
    "If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

    #252057
    john barry
    Participant

    @jebarry

    I am with mrlmd. I prefer the sound of my car with the wind rushing by .   I have an Ipod for my music ie ( Two fo rthe Road-Henry Mancini) if needed. 

    I took my radio out and chucked it and put the  MG Octagon  in its place. Later I may put an original glove box door on the dash.

    jebarry2012-10-11 20:21:34

    #252058
    newkitman
    Participant

    @newkitman

    John,

    You have a VW based TD and what looks to be an authentic MGTD steering wheel. Is it TD or a real good VW copy? Now back to our regular radio topic.

    Allen Caron
    VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
    "If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

    #252059
    john barry
    Participant

    @jebarry

    Allen

    Its a real good VW copy , a flat 4 banjo wheel from Pierside parts (http://www.piersideparts.net/CBI-235b.html)  with the MG TD horn button (off ebay for $25).

     

    jebarry2012-10-11 21:27:34

    #252060
    Royal
    Participant

    @royal

      Here is my new installation.  It works as well as any old radio, just not fancy. I do like the weather channel though, it’s the button just to the right of the AM/FM slider. Truth is, I usually enjoy the sound of the engine and my radio is usually off, and when it’s off it works as well as any of the most expensive radios with Bose speakers

    #252061
    Paul Mossberg
    Keymaster

    @pmossberg

    Nice work Roy.

     

    Did you make the faceplate yourself? How about the wood knobs? Where’d you get those?

    Paul Mossberg
    Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
    2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

    If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

    #252062
    Paul Mossberg
    Keymaster

    @pmossberg

    Some other options you may not have considered…

     

    If you have an iPod/iPhone/MP3 player, this amplifier hides behind your dash or under your seat. You plug your music player in and use the player functions. The downside is no radio reception.

     

    This in-dash unit looks like a vintage AM radio, the dial morphs into an LCD display when you turn it on. Visibility in sunlight is likely a problem, as Roy pointed out.

     

    Most of this unit hides behind the dash or under your seat. There is a small display module and a hand held remote.

     

    And this one, available in black or chrome, puts everything in-dash, and has a CD player, USB and SD card inputs, as well as 3.5mm cable inputs for your iPod/iPhone/MP3 player. Downside is it appears to protrude about 3/4 inches from the dash surface, to allow for the drop down/removeable face plate.

     

    Installation of any in-dash unit should be no problem at all. You should have a ton of room behind the dash. More than in ANY factory produced vehicle.

     

    As far as the “stereo” or “no stereo” debate, I too like to hear the sound of my engine. And that’s the preferred mode of aural entertainment on back country roads. (I know what you’re thinking. Clean up your dirty minds, I said “aural entertainment” not “oral entertainment” Embarrassed)

     

    But on long highway runs, the dull roar of the engine and a lot of wind noise can become quite tiresome. I’ll often wear foam ear plugs, which subdue the engine and wind noise, but allow the music to come through clearly.

     

    My two cents.

     

     

    PMOSSBERG2012-10-12 09:54:39

    Paul Mossberg
    Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
    2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

    If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

    #252063
    Royal
    Participant

    @royal

    Paul, Made both the faceplate and the knobs.  The factory faceplate was cheap and ugly plastic.  The chrome like plastic knobs stuck out so far that I thought they endangered the passenger.  Had to cut the knob shafts down and turn (wood lathe) the knobs.   

    #252064
    Paul Mossberg
    Keymaster

    @pmossberg

    Beautiful work Roy.

     

    You take custom orders? Star

    Paul Mossberg
    Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
    2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

    If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

    #252065
    Royal
    Participant

    @royal

    Thanks Paul.  It’s not that hard..  Just measure the faceplate that came with the radio.  Then measure the faceplate that came with the radio. (repeat 32 times) Then transfer the measurements to a nice piece of wood.  Check the transfer for accuracy.  (repeat 17 times).  Then carefully cut with scroll saw or band saw or jig saw.  Then throw the whole thing away because it’s too big.  Re-do all the above making the hole smaller than you measured because as my grandfather told me: no matter how many times you cut the board, you can’t make it bigger.  Enlarge the hole with files.  You could probably make the knobs on a drill press if a lathe is not available.  I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that this project took me a whole day.  (Not including the varnish.)  

    #252066
    greg press
    Participant

    @greg-press

    Royal,Your are a tru artist Don’t sell yourself short.I would give my left


    to be able to do what you do and you think its easy or nothing to it.What did you do before you became a tdreplica stud.  

    #252067
    Royal
    Participant

    @royal

    Greg, in approximate order:  AH bugeye sprite, Sunbeam Alpine (3 of /em), MGTF-1500, Maserati, Porsche 911s, Lancia Zagato, TR6, Jensen Healey, Mercedes 230SLK, MiGi TD replicar.  I left out all the ones that were not at all interesting.  

    #252068
    john barry
    Participant

    @jebarry

    Roy

    DAsh looks great !
    #252069
    Paul Mossberg
    Keymaster

    @pmossberg

    Is the woodworking a hobby? Vocation?

    Or did that grow out of your car hobby?

    Paul Mossberg
    Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
    2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

    If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

    #252070
    Royal
    Participant

    @royal

    Actually none of the above.  Built a gas powered (1st of 4) car at 14 and motorized bicycle at 15.  My passion is making things that go vrooom!  Mechanical work.  I grew up in the country where if you didn’t do it yourself, it didn’t get done.  Was a Nuclear Engineer for a long time.  But, nobody wants nuclear power, and the red tape became too much.  Quit, bought a Hotel, Motel in the country where if you wanted it done, you did it yourself.  Eventually couldn’t smile at the customers anymore and really retired.  Now I just do things that I want done and take pride in doing things that others said couldn’t be done.  (And for the record, TDrs are more fun than any of the other semi-exotic autos that I have ever had, including the “real” near perfect MGTF-1500.)

    #252071
    Royal
    Participant

    @royal

    Jeez, I forgot and left out my first car which was exotic (as in strange and rare): Crosley.  

    #252072
    Royal
    Participant

    @royal

    Oh and just to keep on subject: my Crosley did not have a radio. 😉

    #252073
    john barry
    Participant

    @jebarry

    Yaaaa !!! for the Crosley …

    #252074
    Montie Henderson
    Participant

    @montie

    I replaced my radio last year.  Believe it or not Walmart had a complete Pioneer stereo and 4 speakers for 89.99.  It was right about Christmas time.  I made custom boxes for the speakers 2 for the back and one that sits under the dash on the console( speaker on each side and a tray on top for stuff. 

    #252075
    newkitman
    Participant

    @newkitman

    I’d like to see a photo of the speaker box you made. Sounds like a great idea.

    Allen Caron
    VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
    "If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shack

    #252076
    Montie Henderson
    Participant

    @montie

    If you can fine the picture area my picture ID is 1235.  There is a couple of partial pictures of it in the background of the the shifter knob I made.   I’ll try to take it out later today and shoot couple pictures. 

    Nothing special like that faceplate (WOW that is great). 

    Basiclly it’s just a plywood box covered with black auto carpet, size will depend on your speakers, mine were 6″ round.  The design changed a couple times as I went.  I resessed the speaker grills by adding a second piece of plywood inside to actually mount the speaker on.  It will probabbly be a real pain if I ever have to remove the grills, figure if I have to do that I’ll just start all over.  
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