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Stereo ideas wanted

thealien

thealien

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I have a 1972 GMC Jimmy that is almost finished. It has one of the security consoles with the radio in it. I am going to be installing an Alpine CD/MP3 deck I have sitting on the shelf. I plan on using this truck as an open top (I will have a soft top on it from time to time) summer fun convertible. I am having the floor lined (not line X or herculiner but something my body guy uses that he says is pretty tough) so to keep rust from starting in case the floors get wet. Since I will have no floor covering I will not be able to hide the wiring.

Any suggestions for under body wiring support?

I will have my speakers in side panels in the back that I have not made yet.

For a cleaner look I do not have an antenea on the cowl anymore. I plan on using one of those powered hidden anteneas, anybody had any luck with these? Think it would work okay behind one of the panels I put my speakers in? Under the truck? Stuck to the back of the console (least desirable).

I'll use plastic wire looms anywhere the wires look like the may get dammaged (maybe even the whole way). I'll use rubber gromets anywhee I make a hole to pass the wires through.

I may not be doing this for a month or two but will post pics when I do.

Thanks
Mark
 
For the antenna you can get a plug from radio shack then hook it up to a regular 14 or so gauge wire. If you tie it into the sheet metal somewhere it will make the whole truck an antenna, I did this in my '73 and it works great. Just an idea if you don't want to deal with an unsightly antenna
 
NorCalKid said:
For the antenna you can get a plug from radio shack then hook it up to a regular 14 or so gauge wire. If you tie it into the sheet metal somewhere it will make the whole truck an antenna, I did this in my '73 and it works great. Just an idea if you don't want to deal with an unsightly antenna
Click to expand...

Does this work pretty good?
 
My idea was to use a piece of thin-wall tubing on the underside of the truck to hold the wiring. It could be bent to allow it to enter behind the dashboard area and then travel to the back areas (side panels, etc) wherever the wires needed to go. Bring it through the floor and then up high enough that it wouldn't be able to fill-up from any standing water in the interior (maybe 12" above floor in hidden panel area?) Cap the ends with silicone to be safe....then Line-X to your hearts delight.

:usaflag:
 
Elroy303030 said:
Does this work pretty good?
Click to expand...

Yeah it works great. I couldn't get any stations to come in before but I get everything clear now. This is the connector I used http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...orola+plug&kw=motorola+plug&parentPage=search
pRS1C-2265154w345.jpg
 
Greg72 said:
My idea was to use a piece of thin-wall tubing on the underside of the truck to hold the wiring. It could be bent to allow it to enter behind the dashboard area and then travel to the back areas (side panels, etc) wherever the wires needed to go. Bring it through the floor and then up high enough that it wouldn't be able to fill-up from any standing water in the interior (maybe 12" above floor in hidden panel area?) Cap the ends with silicone to be safe....then Line-X to your hearts delight.

:usaflag:
Click to expand...

I am a licensed electrician and also thought of this. My only concern is attaching/clipping to the underside. If it is directly under the body the screws would come up through the floor. If I run it along the frame it may not work as well coming up through the body?
 
great posts, I think im gonna do the same thing to my k5. Keeps the pixs coming.

-scott
 
also how would you guys go about covering the open antenna hole?
 
thealien said:
I am a licensed electrician and also thought of this. My only concern is attaching/clipping to the underside. If it is directly under the body the screws would come up through the floor. If I run it along the frame it may not work as well coming up through the body?
Click to expand...

A welder is your friend... don't use those screw in clips.
 
I am in the same boat, no floor, just bar metal. I plan on running wires in loom along my tranny tunnel and use a tube clamp every 6" or so. if you do it uniform it looks ok. Granted my tranny tunnel hump is alot higher and squared off than a stock one so it will fit in the corner groove pretty well and good enough for a trail rig.
 
I'll have to post some pics later.

I find loom looks kinda junky so I used a plastic 'U' shaped 'channel' that has a removable lid sort or deal. It is made to mount on walls or along base boards.

Another idea is using plastic conduit.

It looks real clean and it's easy to route new wiring.

You can get zip ties that have a 'tab' that screws or bolts can pass through. Using these with small bolts from the inside out would negate the screw problem mentioned earlier.

Routing along the underside is a great idea especially raising it above the floor line.

As for the antenna I have always changed my windshields out to the type with the antenna built in. They work great.
 
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