A client from San Jose dropped into California Car Sounds and Tint in search of a dash speaker upgrade for his 1972 Chevrolet Corvette stereo system. We provided the client with a quote to upgrade the dash speakers and gave him a tour of our facility. A 1966 Mustang we recently finished was still at the shop, so we showed him the work we did on that vehicle and let him have a listen. The results blew his mind, so we headed back to the showroom to design a similar upgrade for his Corvette.
Source Unit Replacement
We suggested an Alpine CDE-153BT receiver to upgrade the system. The CDE-143BT includes Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming, as well as dedicated front and rear preamp outputs. We removed his old radio, then installed the Alpine unit using a new bezel that includes a single-DIN receiver opening.
Morel Front Speaker Upgrade
The client loved the sound of the Morel Virtus Nano 602 speakers in the Mustang. To integrate a set into the Corvette, we had to create entirely new kick panel covers. The new panels are molded to the door edge, floor and firewall with a contour around the door sill. The tweeters from the Nano 602 set are flush-mounted for a clean look.
Focal Rear Speakers and Amp Rack
When the client arrived at our shop, he had a set of 6×9 speakers in small carpeted enclosures sitting in the storage area behind the seats. We removed those and created new speaker enclosures and an amp rack in their place. The enclosures are home to a set of Focal Auditor coaxial 6×9 speakers.
We included a mounting panel for an ARC Audio MOTO 600.4 amplifier between the enclosures. The client owns a Harley-Davidson Softail, and the Moto designation on the amp caught his attention. This amp is extremely powerful for its size and can provide 150 watts per channel. We wired the amp, speakers and new source unit using JL Audio power wire, speaker wire and interconnects.
Our team created a trim panel for the face of the enclosure and wrapped it in the same red vinyl we used on the kick panels. Because the new speaker system covers the factory cargo light, we relocated that to the top of the trim panel. The whole assembly is designed so the client can still put the T-tops in the back.
Upgrade Your Corvette Stereo at California Car Sounds and Tint
Just as we were finishing the installation, the client called to let us know he had broken his leg and wouldn’t be able to come pick up the car for a few months. While that is unfortunate, we will take good care of his Corvette, and maybe let another classic car owner listen to this system.
If you are looking to upgrade the sound of your classic car, drop by California Car Sounds and Tint to talk to a member of our team. We would be happy to work with you to design a system that sounds great and integrates with your vehicle.
For more information about any of our products or service, call us at 408-387-0409 or send us an e-mail using our online contact form.
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