This years first Mod Head unit speakers & more

[LeoVampire]

Finally got every thing in for the new Stereo work on the Marauder.

Here is a list of the new parts.

Brand new this month from Kenwood Excelon DNX-6980 http://www.crutchfield.com/s_113DNX6980/Kenwood-Excelon-DNX6980.html?ssi=0&tp=27996

2 sets of 3way Kenwood KFC-C6893PS Speakers
Pac SWI-Jack for Kenwood so the steering wheel controls would work.
Sirius Connect SC-C1
Shallow Boom Mats for all the speakers
P.I.E. KNW-SR1 connector for using an I-Pod
Ford direct connect wiring harness

Total with promotion on speakers $1,409.89 from Crutchfield.

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The head unit also can access the Pandora internet radio network through a Android or I-Phone that is hooked up to the system.

It does text to speech and speech to text for cell phones as well.

Also the Garmin Navigation which is built in and easily updated with a card that is accessed in the front of the unit comes with free life time traffic reports and reroutes on it's own this you can turn on and off. Also comes with free firmware and updates from the kenwood web site.

[TAKEDOWN]

Oo0... Nice!

[LeoVampire]

There are 2 separate Antenna's for the Navigation and Sirius systems.

When you open the rear doors the top left corner of the rubber seal is held on by silicon only so I slipped the wires through there first then resealed them with black RTV Silicon.

Then on the interior exterior seal in the same corner I pulled it off and used a dremal tool and notched out the metal the seal slips over. Used black electrical tape to cover the wire from chaffing on the raw steel. Then used more RTV Black to give it a water proof seal and keep it in place then put the rubber seal back over the metal rim like it originally was. From there ran it down the interior pieces and along the bottom door channels to the front of the dash to connect them to the head unit and Sirius control modual.

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[Egon Spengler]

Nice! Should look and sound great when it is done. I just installed a pioneer stereo for a friend. Took my time and did the wiring hardness right. I soldered and heat shrunk every joint. Goodluck!

[LeoVampire]

Here are pics of the speakers in place with the boom mats behind them OMG what a difference in sound it makes and a hell of a lot cheaper than using sheets of sound proofing to cover the entire door.

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[LeoVampire]

I used quick disconnects for all of the wiring so that all of it can be reused in another car with a different set up if any thing happens down the road.

I also mounted the cage for the head unit to the dash panel where it goes. And once the dash panel was in place I put and upper and lower support screws in so that you can not easily remove the dash panel and the head unit cage is well secured and will not rattle or move.

And a picture of the back of the Head unit

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[LeoVampire]

I put the Sirius control unit under the steering wheel shaft just inside of the bottom panel. There was an unused steel mount with a hole in it that I was able to use to bolt it in place.

Anyways this is what it looks like so far installed. I have to make molds for the area that needs a fill in to blend it into the dash better but for now it is well secured and plays nice.

It is touch screen and button controls both. Plus it can play DVD's in the back of the car while playing the Stereo in the front and has split screen capabilities for the Navigation and audio controls.

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There is a manual blend feature you can use to color match the interior interments and display's. Once you pick the green you can then do a manual adjustment till you get a perfect match to the rest of the cars interior.

I also ran the I-Pod connector inside the glove box so it can be connected and left there out of site. The Head unit controls all of it easily and shows the albums and songs on the display of the head unit.

It easily found and set up both my Cell Phone and Francisco's and down loaded all of our contacts and addresses so it is easy to make phone calls.

The head unit also coverts text to speech and speech to text as well. I mounted the microphone to the drivers side piller up high so there is no distortions when I talk for the phone.

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[Mr. Man]

I can't hear it at my house so it didn't happen. It's all done with mirrors:D

[LeoVampire]

I can't hear it at my house so it didn't happen. It's all done with mirrors:D

LMAO Ya I need to make a Video of it I guess.

[LeoVampire]

Nice! Should look and sound great when it is done. I just installed a pioneer stereo for a friend. Took my time and did the wiring hardness right. I soldered and heat shrunk every joint. Goodluck!

That is the best way slow and easy. I did this in 5 days time there was no need to rush anything.

[LeoVampire]

Oo0... Nice!

Thanks TakeDown but still not as nice or expensive as your new toys you have put on the motor! ;)

[Mr. Man]

That is the best way slow and easy. I did this in 5 days time there was no need to rush anything.

Jeez!!! God created the WHOLE UNIVERSE in 6. I think you were doing stereo work between cases of beer.:P:D

[LeoVampire]

Jeez!!! God created the WHOLE UNIVERSE in 6. I think you were doing stereo work between cases of beer.:P:D

It was rainy and cold almost every day plus I had to take care of Chad while Francisco was working.

I like to dot my I's and cross my T's to make sure I do not have to pull anything apart and repair a mistake.

Plus I wanted to find the rattles in the back that use to make me nuts. I also ran wires for a new amplifier and back up camera I plan to do in the future sometime after Carlisle.

[Mr. Man]

It was rainy and cold almost every day plus I had to take care of Chad while Francisco was working.

I like to dot my I's and cross my T's to make sure I do not have to pull anything apart and repair a mistake.

Plus I wanted to find the rattles in the back that use to make me nuts. I also ran wires for a new amplifier and back up camera I plan to do in the future sometime after Carlisle.

Yada yada yada blah blah blah....it was the beers:D

[illwood]

Congrats on the updated stereo. I did my headunit a few years back, but haven't had the funding to do up the speakers the way I want yet.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=24 394&d=1303845483

Time to tap off those ashes before you get any on the interior. :eek:

[1 Bad Merc]

That was an awesome install! Glad to see your up,moving around and modding that Marauder -Leo!

[Steve]

That really makes me feel like I'm living in the middle ages with my Avic-D2.

[stryker]

:congrats: LEO VAMPIRE Mang on the adquisition and installing that sound equipment and :thanks: for bring those nice pics. enjoy your equiped Panther.

[fastblackmerc]

That really makes me feel like I'm living in the middle ages with my Avic-D2.

Why?

I love my D2.

[rayjay]

That really makes me feel like I'm living in the middle ages with my Avic-D2.

Jeesh, other than speakers mine is still stock. :D Oh I have a XM that moves from car to car too.

[LeoVampire]

That really makes me feel like I'm living in the middle ages with my Avic-D2.

It took me years to do what you did ages ago for your own Marauder.

I was more interested in the performance build up first and some looks upgrades.

I wanted to do this for a long time now so it just meant getting something a little more advanced in the long run.

Seeing she sits in a garage all winter long I am sure this will last me for as long as she does or @ least I hope for that money I paid LOL!

[LeoVampire]

:congrats: LEO VAMPIRE Mang on the adquisition and installing that sound equipment and :thanks: for bring those nice pics. enjoy your equiped Panther.

Thanks I plan to make a video on how it all works and what it sounds like and post it soon.

But so far I have no issues or complaints other than needing to get inventive and find a way to blend it into the dash better so it looks more professional looking.

[LeoVampire]

That was an awesome install! Glad to see your up,moving around and modding that Marauder -Leo!

Thanks 1 bad Merc!

It feels good to be active again and doing things I want and enjoy!

A lot slower @ stuff than I use to be but I am glad I can still do every thing on my own and not have to rely on others to help!

I just hope I can get all the new upgrades done before Carlisle time is getting tight to say the least.

[MOTOWN]

nice upgrade bud, ill bet it sounds great!

[rayjay]

Thanks 1 bad Merc!

It feels good to be active again and doing things I want and enjoy!

A lot slower @ stuff than I use to be but I am glad I can still do every thing on my own and not have to rely on others to help!

I just hope I can get all the new upgrades done before Carlisle time is getting tight to say the least.

You do what you can, as you can. I am trying to learn that post surgery. Got rid of my brace today. :banana:

[justbob]

I did the same as you with the bluetooth mic in the pillar pod (between the gauges). Worked out quite nice.

I mounted the XM below the bottom gauges, TIGHT fit, but good fit. So good in fact, no mounts needed! :)

As for the antenna's, the GPS I installed in the upper left inside windshield corner. I attempted to mount the XM on the right corner but reception sucked. I mounted it on the right side of the dash for now. Cuts out under overpasses, but good everywhere else. I just hate the idea of having them outside on the paint.

Looks good man!
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn19/marauding4life/0404112018.jpg

[LeoVampire]

You do what you can, as you can. I am trying to learn that post surgery. Got rid of my brace today. :banana:

Congrats on getting the brace off! :beer:

And yes we do what we can as we can.

I just know I will not be able to turn wrenches for a living anymore not that I have in a long time anyways.

[LeoVampire]

I did the same as you with the bluetooth mic in the pillar pod (between the gauges). Worked out quite nice.

I mounted the XM below the bottom gauges, TIGHT fit, but good fit. So good in fact, no mounts needed! :)

As for the antenna's, the GPS I installed in the upper left inside windshield corner. I attempted to mount the XM on the right corner but reception sucked. I mounted it on the right side of the dash for now. Cuts out under overpasses, but good everywhere else. I just hate the idea of having them outside on the paint.

Looks good man!
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn19/marauding4life/0404112018.jpg

I will take a picture of where I mounted my Sirius box it is a lot smaller than yours. But I am glad you found a favorable way of getting yours to work the way you want!

I am glad I mounted the antennas outside I can even listen to it in the garage without issues. But as long as we are happy with what we do to our own cars that is all that matters.

[SID210SA]

I have a question for all you aftermarket stereo guys with back up cams.....I just put a DVD/cd/mp3/bluetooth/and a buch of other stuff, in my Burb....it has and AV in and AUX inputs in the back of the stereo....can you just plug in a back up cam and its good to go...or what?

Congrats on the new system Leo....I think I will be picking up some new speakers next for the Marauder to go with the Subs. Sometimes the bass is to deep for the rest of the speakers to keep up.

[justbob]

Sean, simple as plugging it into the video IN RCA on the head unit, positive from cam to back up lights, and ground to body. OR if your head unit has a feed hooked up to reverse lights then simply hook the positive to 12V source and have the capability of using the cam at all times. Very easy, just the three wires.

Leo, I'd like to see your mounting of the sirius, your way sounds a heck of a lot easier! Mine was brutal trying to cram in... Congrats! BTW My system took a couple weeks to install! Kudos.

[CBT]

Looks sharp, nice detail photos :beer:
I think justbob told me a couple weeks back that he was talking to me "thru the radio", I had no idea that stuff was even possible. Shows how much I keep up on stereo technology, lol.

[LeoVampire]

I have a question for all you aftermarket stereo guys with back up cams.....I just put a DVD/cd/mp3/bluetooth/and a buch of other stuff, in my Burb....it has and AV in and AUX inputs in the back of the stereo....can you just plug in a back up cam and its good to go...or what?

Congrats on the new system Leo....I think I will be picking up some new speakers next for the Marauder to go with the Subs. Sometimes the bass is to deep for the rest of the speakers to keep up.

My head unit has a wire to run to the back up lights to activate the back up cam operation and there is an RC plug in the head unit for the camera. But each unit is different so double check your book to make sure or look it up on the manufactures web site.

[LeoVampire]

Sean, simple as plugging it into the video IN RCA on the head unit, positive from cam to back up lights, and ground to body. OR if your head unit has a feed hooked up to reverse lights then simply hook the positive to 12V source and have the capability of using the cam at all times. Very easy, just the three wires.

Leo, I'd like to see your mounting of the sirius, your way sounds a heck of a lot easier! Mine was brutal trying to cram in... Congrats! BTW My system took a couple weeks to install! Kudos.

If you take down the cover panel that is under your steering wheel you will see where I mounted the unit. On each side of the steering wheel there is a steel bracket with a bolt hole in it that you can use.

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[LeoVampire]

Looks sharp, nice detail photos :beer:
I think justbob told me a couple weeks back that he was talking to me "thru the radio", I had no idea that stuff was even possible. Shows how much I keep up on stereo technology, lol.

That is the hands free tech that is out now. When a call comes through your phone that is linked to your head unit it automatically switches to your phone you can just talk and hear who ever is calling through your speakers in the car. Once the call ends the unit goes back to what you were listening to.

On my head unit @ the bottom of the screen it still shows you information on the navigation as well or you can split the screen to see a full viewalong with the phone controls.

[CBT]

That is the hands free tech that is out now. When a call comes through your phone that is linked to your head unit it automatically switches to your phone you can just talk and hear who ever is calling through your speakers in the car. Once the call ends the unit goes back to what you were listening to.

On my head unit @ the bottom of the screen it still shows you information on the navigation as well or you can split the screen to see a full viewalong with the phone controls.
Crazy how much technology grows by leaps and bounds. Your set up looks awesome. :beer:

[LeoVampire]

Crazy how much technology grows by leaps and bounds. Your set up looks awesome. :beer:

Thanks CBT for the compliment but I am not happy yet with the looks in the dash. I used blue board and made a mold of what needs to be made for each side of the head unit to the dash and I am having a plastic injection mold place make me pieces to fill the gaps on the sides I will just have to paint them to the color I want once they are ready.

Then I will feel good about the full install.

[justbob]

I'm not happy in opposite ways LOL I need to pull mine out about an inch!

I can't believe how small that Sirius box is.

[LeoVampire]

I'm not happy in opposite ways LOL I need to pull mine out about an inch!

I can't believe how small that Sirius box is.

Pioneer seems to use a much larger Sirius control box than Kenwood I noticed when looking @ them on Crutchfield.