fbekholden.com

Hi guys

What options to people go for who want a classic looking stereo in their FB/EK's?

There is the standard one in there at the moment but it is not working at all (tested and wont power up, buttons broken etc).

Have seen a few web sites (like http://www.classiccarstereo.co.uk/) were you can buy new classic looking stereos.

What have people done here? Would rather not put just a new one in the glove box, but haven't ruled that idea out altogether.

Cheers
Pete

I had the original HMV radio and speaker in the FB. Got it going, only for it to let the smoke out at highway speed on the M4 one night. Had mine overhauled by an autosparky in Tamworth (Micks Electronics) - knew his stuff and did not overcharge.

A month of AM radio, and I couldn't handle it anymore. I put a simple Sony stereo into the glovebox, on the drivers side so you can (just!) reach the buttons. AM/FM radio, CD player and USB front port. I bought an adaptor (eBay) to split the aerial so it feeds both the original and glovebox radio. Bought another adaptor (eBay again) that comes off the USB port at 90 degrees. This lets me plug a short cable into the USB port, and still (just!) close the glovebox door. The other end of the USB cable has a memory stick permanently living on it, with all my music on it (the stuff the kids hate, and the odd Hannah Montana song they have stuck in ).

I put two 6x9's into the rear parcel shelf, as someone had previously cut the holes (with what looked to be an axe ). I mounted the speakers from underneath the shelf, leaving a flush finish. I cut two 6x9 speaker holes into the parcel shelf trim, and recovered it in soft grey vinyl (from Spotlight). The sound was a bit muffled at first, but a few years of Hannah Montana at 110dB has softened the vinyl, and the sound is now good.

Shut the glovebox, and it looks factory.

Cheers,
Harv

I have been looking at the same thing Pete.

Options ?

Buy a new "retro style" unit.
Install new stereo. (either in glovebox or mounted under the dash, or get a half DIN size unit and cut your existing opening to suit)
Build one from components (Jaycar or Tandy, etc). (Having found a design yet)
Or get rid of it all and use a mobile device mounted separately to run everything.

Let us know what you decide to do.
Would be nice to see photos of what others have done before, and I think I recall seeing in on the forum previously.