[Pontiac Ed]

The non-functional AM radio in my 1969 standard Cougar is not getting the job done. I want to put a modern DIN mount radio in the car with minimal cutting to the car. Has anyone done this? What did you do to get the radio mounted to the dash and how did you address the radio/heater bezel?

I really want the ability to plug my I-pod into the radio. I plan on putting an amplifier in the trunk to power 2 4x10's in the package tray and a dual coil front speaker in the dash. Someday when I develop the nerve to cut the door panels, I might install speakers in the stock door stereo speaker locations with the repo speaker covers. For now I'll use a dual coil in the dash. Does anyone know what the size of the dash speaker is?

 

[benchseat67]

IIRC the dash speaker back then was a 5x7. There are some "shaft style" radios that have the input connection you want. Check with Crutchfield on line. They have a pretty good selection of equipment and reasonable prices.

 

[68XR-7Cat]

Ed, a combination of the kick panel speakers (available from various vendors), the center dash speaker, and package tray would probably get the job done and eliminate the need to cut the door panels. For the radio, you can have the stock unit internals retrofitted for modern AM/FM/MP3/iPod/SAT Radio. It will still look original while providing all the capability you want.

 

[Jester1023]

Mustangs Plus has these with burl wood or camera case. Pricy, yes, but they're made of aluminum to support the aftermarket stereos.

69-70 Camera Case Finish .#9096 $349.95 ea

69-70 Woodgrain Finish ......#9097 $349.95 ea

http://www.mustangsplus.com/catalog/index.html Heres the link to the catalog...they're on page 59. Then I would suggest a Clarion unit for price vs. quality. There are speakers available to replace the factory mono speaker in the dash that incorporate dual stereo function. Though, I would consider the kick panel speakers and leave the dash alone. I think the package shelf speaker pod is swell, also.

 

[Pontiac Ed]

I just checked those billet bezels out. Pretty cool, but as expensive as the head units I'm looking at. I am leaning towards doing the dual coil set up in the dash since that will maintain a more stock interior look than the kickpanel speaker enclosures, plus I really have to pull the dash pad to clean it up and get all the crud at the base of the windshield.

I put a nice Alpine head unit in the glove box of my '62 GP last year. I really like having modern equipment and the ability to bring 800+ songs along with me on my I-pod. For the Cougar I want to go beyond the sound quality of the GP's stereo. The GP has few and poor speaker placement options without modifying the car, which I was unwilling to do. The Cougar already has better factory speaker locations available between the package tray and the doors plus the dash. I'm looking forward to getting this together this summer.

 

[ceedoubleyou]

Hi

When I bought my '68, it had a non-working original AM radio, which lit up when the interior lights were on and a new sony head unit was installed behind the console louvered door, but it was difficult to access. So, this is the way I went with a sound system.

Check out the pics: http://www.mercurycougar.net/forums/garage_vehicle.php?do=view_vehicle&id=136

These are the links to WCCC:

http://www.cougarpartscatalog.com/2001300.html
http://www.cougarpartscatalog.com/cam-cd10.html
http://www.cougarpartscatalog.com/icamkit.html



Car Radio, CD Changer, iPod Controller

It also has a USB connection.

 

[1969XR7Vert]

Mustangs Plus has these with burl wood or camera case. Pricy, yes, but they're made of aluminum to support the aftermarket stereos.

69-70 Camera Case Finish .#9096 $349.95 ea

69-70 Woodgrain Finish ......#9097 $349.95 ea

http://www.mustangsplus.com/catalog/index.html Heres the link to the catalog...they're on page 59. Then I would suggest a Clarion unit for price vs. quality. There are speakers available to replace the factory mono speaker in the dash that incorporate dual stereo function. Though, I would consider the kick panel speakers and leave the dash alone. I think the package shelf speaker pod is swell, also.

Try to order one, not only are they obsurdly expensive, but they have not been available for a number of years (I think that is still the case).

I made my own out of a repro bezel and it works flawlessly with a DIN chassis stereo. Check my ECI thread toward the end of the build for details/pictures.

For speakers, I recommend the 3.5" dual speaker plate made by Ken Harrison with speakers of your choice for the dash and for the doors I used Kenwood's in KHE plates (that originally came with something else I was not thrilled with). For the rears, I have no good solution and use boxes with oversize 6" speakers in them sitting on the back seat (which bugs me but as I said I have no good solution).