Posted By : Steve Bessant, 20-Jan-2005,
11:07pm
Hi, I've just completed this job in my 1970 2000TC. As pointed out, there is already a space for rear speakers, but likewise this was obstructed by
the RSB's I have fitted. I placed small 4 inch speakers in the holes inboard of these, relieving the metalwork slightly with tinsnips. I mounted
the speakers in the parcel shelf itself. (Had to remake the shelf since the board was crumbling. Not a big job. Remove the rear seat upright before
extracting the shelf)
I decided not to use the doors for the front speakers, partly because I didn't want to cut my door cards, but mostly because I didn't think there
was enough room to swing the window winders.
In order to use the footwell kickpanels, I decided to cut a hole in the steel behind the speaker to make the required depth. I marked out a circle
and drilled lots of holes before filing and beating. The driver's side was more fiddly because of the pedals. My kickpanels still had their (half
inch?) foam backing pieces, which I removed, cut and replaced either side of the speaker hole. I also taped a sheet of plastic over the back of the
speaker to keep any damp out. The driver's side speaker does protude towards the accelerator pedal. I had worried about this, but have quickly
become used to it being there. The speaker cover will get a bit scuffed, though.
I managed to fix the new radio cage to the wood surround with some small screws, braced with some thin MDF wedged between it and the radio
aperture. I cut the radio blanking plate to fill the gap between the radio and the wood. After removing the spring clips it needed careful drilling
and filing. It's quite brittle.
My new radio has ISO conectors, so I had to plumb some plugs in. I took the 12v power from the radio wire that's already there. I used the cigar
lighter for the permanent memory supply. I got a good earth from one of the screws that holds the wood radio surround to the gearbox tunnel.
I did have problems getting the radio and it's mass of wiring back into the cavity. I managed to disconnect my choke warning and the cigar lighter
feed, which blew a fuse! This was quickly sorted, but my heater control has also disconnected. Since I can move the valve by hand, it's not a
problem. Next time, I would get the radio in place before refitting the parcel shelves. That would be much easier.
All in all, the job took longer than I wanted, but my car has never had a radio before.
Hope this makes sense and is if some help.
cheers, Steve Bessant