Great write up, thanks!

I also used the existing front and rear speaker wiring for the front speakers; I jumpered the front to the rear at the speaker ISO connector in the dash, and used the rear speaker wires in the trunk as the run for the front speakers. This saved a lot of headache.

Yep, that's a nifty trick. I did the same thing in my Accord. Saved running one set of speaker wires.

-- they're a bit too small (thanks, Crutchfield. That's not what you said when I bought them!)

This is a surprise. Crutchfield is usually pretty good about this stuff.

I also intend to call my dealership and inquire about buying a DIN cover for use when the empeg's with me.

I think I still have mine from my '88 GTI. If you have trouble locating one, I might be willing to part with it. On second thought, it probably wouldn't fit or look right, being from a decade-older model of car.