Took some pictures yesterday - I'm no web designer, in fact there isn't an artistic bone in my body - so please - focus on the pictures, not the layout!

I wish I had taken pics during the entire operation, but - I didn't.
My installer rocks, he did a fantastic job - "Audio Lines" in Burnaby (uncompensated plug!)

BTW, the entire floorpan and all 4 door have been dynamated also.

The dummy stock facplate is excellent. Kudos on a fine looking (& I'm sure sounding) install.

-Zeke

Okay, yeah, that dummy stock faceplate is THE BUSINESS. Very nice. I also like the tweeter locations in the doors. Very slick.

Sweet dummy faceplate. You gotta great gig goin' on there...

Okay, Sphengali, I've linked your site from the FAQ as an example of a proper stealth installation.

Damn fine stealth install. I originally planned to do this with my double DIN Volvo install (which, incedentally, included an Alpine HU also (and a Pelican 1400, but I dont have that yet)). I just couldn't stand to tear up my stock radio when the damn thing lists for like $800. Tearing that up would just kill my resale value.

Anyone know where I can get a dead Volvo SC816 radio? Yeah, didn't think so. So, until I find one, my stealth idea (which sphengali beat me too) will have to wait.

Yes, I had a hard time bringing myself to chopping up my factory radio unit too - I justified it like so:

• When I sell the truck in a few years, will I 'really' want the Alpine HU then, or will I be ready to upgrade to something else?
• Will the purchaser of my truck prefer a decent head unit, all wired up, with new speakers, etc - amp ready, or a POS factory head, that sounds like death?
• Factory head - worth a lot of $$$, yes.. My Rio - priceless...
  

I grabbed the screwdriver and exacto blade, and went to work, baby!

Saying that - I did 'try' to get a used one, but the wreckers that I called (ok, only two of them - I was kinda all worked up about starting the project!) didn't have anything available...

Yes, I had a hard time bringing myself to chopping up my factory radio unit too - I justified it like so:

If I hadn't been able to find that coverplate part for my stealth install, I might have done the same thing. In fact, it's still rather tempting, I was very impressed with your job.

If I hadn't been able to find that coverplate part for my stealth install, I might have done the same thing. In fact, it's still rather tempting, I was very impressed with your job.

Thanks Tony - I first encountered a stealth install when I was about 18 (12 years ago - yikes!) at a "Sound Off" car audio competition here in Vancouver. One of the competitors had dummy stock face plate with a 1/3 of a chopped CD mounted to the backside - he would slip it in when the player was off, and it was suspended there in place. That really stuck with me - and I've been doing it in ever car I've had since.. only had one stereo stolen so far, and that was the time I was lazy and didn't put the rotten plate on...

Good reasons! Honestly, my original reason for creating the dummy face plate was to fool the dealership into thinking I hadn't messed with the "precious electrical system" for fear of voiding my sweet 100k mile warranty.

Hoping to still finish in second place with the dummy face plate idea, I spent about 2 hours online last night before finding a GREAT website of salvage places all over the country that listed and categroized their parts. I got about 150 hits for Volvo SC-816 radios and sent out about 15 e-mails to see if anyone had a dead one. I don't have the link to the site offhand but when I go home, I'll post it. It'll let you all know if that service connects me with a dead radio or not.

I managed to get a tremendous volume of salvage inventory from across the country by searching at the following site:
www.car-part.com

I think this site is part of a massive pile of sites which all have the same design and, seemingly, the same content. This is the only useful site of the bunch, however. I will let you all know if I get any success in finding a dead radio for use as a dummy face plate.

dude, this is bad ass, I have been wanting to do this to my '96 explorer sport for years...
Local audio shop here in marietta ga, said they could do it for $300 total..
I still would have to buy a sweet amp andrear sub..
thanks for getting me back into wanting to do this

I have been wanting to do this to my '96 explorer sport for years...

Glad to hear it! Here's a couple of other tips - if you have the factory sub installed in the cargo area, you need to get to a wrecker (or Ford if you are rich!) and get the 'pocket' piece from a truck that didn't have the factory sub - the reason is that you need the 'trim ring' from the pocket for the JL stealth box sub install - you can do it without it, but it's more work for the installer, and I think it looks better with it - as you may notice, I don't have it - my installer just 'did it' without without talking to me, and now it's a bit too late - but no big deal. When getting the ring, be sure to remove it 'carefully' from the pocket - it has these rotten little 'speed clips' that really aren't speedy, but boy do they clip! It's very easy to break the tab on the ring as you remove the clips...

The face plate - I have two pads of high density foam stuck on either side of the face plate, little trianges, with the > end pointed towards the front - that is what holds it in place - it's an absolutely perfect fit. I got the foam from a Dlink DSS 8+ switch I bought, it was supposed to be used for the bottom leg pads, but I found a better use for 'em!

You'd think JL would include the piece.

You'd think JL would include the piece

It would have been nice, but I can see the rationale - as far as I know, only the Eddie Bauer ed. and Ltd came with the premium sound system (hahaha what a joke!) that included the sub - all other models have a factory pocket, that of course has the trim piece required. As Ford wants over $200 Canadian <insert U.S. dollar jokes here> for it, it's understandable that JL don't include it - pretty hefty tab for everyone to pick up, just for those who have the ltd. or Eddie Bauer ed trucks..

If I had read the .pdf off the web site first, I would have picked up on it and got one ahead of time - wrecker only wanted $20 for it anyway....

sadly, I have the 2 door sport version.
All I have in the back well is this stupid empty space to put crap..
Been planning on putting one of those subs that crutchfield sells in there.
Which system are you using as the mains?
the factory one or the empeg?

All I have in the back well is this stupid empty space to put crap..

It's the pocket that you want, my friend! You need to get yourself a stealthbox that will drop right in there - goto JLaudio and check it out - Take a look at the site, and let me know - you should have an empty pocket on the back passenger side of the cargo area... please tell me you do!

Using the Alpine as the "mains" as it has the triple pair 4v outputs, and the tuner.. I have 'defeat' on so that the empeg still utilizes the 20band parametric eq, and the Alpine just acts as a pass through and crossover for the signal. I highly recommend the stealthbox, great sound, not boomy, no rattling - just good solid base... yea!

hmm.
I am happy with teh sony equipment I have in there now.
Head unit is a few years old, but is still fine for me..
it's a cr-x720 I think, 30watts a channelx4
auto switch controller, to switch between my mini discs and cd's.
Mini disc changer is a 6 disc one.
Cd changer was the top of the line retail one in 96..
crap..my stuff's 6 years old..
and yes I have the empty pocket opening.
All it is is a bungee net to secure things with.
I know crutchfield sells a similar or identical looking sub box for that space.
Just not sure what I want to do with it all.
I still listen to cd's, so I would really like to keep the sony stuff, but the sound quality out of the empeg is far superiour..
so not sure..

I wonder if I can get a cheap subwoofer for that compartment from like the eddie bauer explorer and hook it up with a nice amp??

I wonder if I can get a cheap subwoofer for that compartment from like the eddie bauer explorer and hook it up with a nice amp??

Youch, don't do it man! The sub that comes with the ltd and Eddie Bauer is a massive steaming POS - it sounds like death warmed over. It's not even a proper sub, just a crappy 6" round speaker, with either a resistor/passive crossover attached - you could likely find one at a wrecker, but I bet they would charge you a hefty sum for it!

hmm..k...what about that one that crutchfield sells thatfits into the backwell there, and is a powered sub?!

You know, after you mentioned crutchfields Explorer box in a previous message, I went looking for it - couldn't find it anywhere! The only maker I know of is JL, and they have two different ones, their premier StealthBox, and the Vantage - which looks like a plastic shell, that you can slip your own sub into .. cheaper way to go.. check it out at JLAudio

http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-3KXGyQtY50t/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=10&g=77100&I=236FEX10A&o=m&a=1
it's an mtx audio..MTX Amplified ThunderForm