Nice job Brian. I installed a USA 1 in my 71. Now I wish I would have had you put a better unit in for me so I'd have a CD player. Ever think about going in the business? Terry

Looks great Brian, I'm finally getting ready to do mine, Alpine head unit, Infinity Kappa 4x6's in front, 6x9's in back, 360 watt Alpine amp. I was concerned with the final fit for the rear speakers, and having enough room left for my T-Tops. I don't think there's any difference between your 73, and my 74. How Is the board you used for the rear secured ? That's a great idea that my resolve my problem.  I was considering on buying the rear boom box from Ecklers for $200   Thanks to you, I can spend the money on something else (for the car of course)     

Adam,

If your speakers are wired/phased correctly, then your problem could be that either, the radio isn't strong enough to "push" your speakers, or, the speakers aren't strong enough for the radio. Just my 2 cents ! 

Warbird is right Adam. You need to check your componant wattage to make sure they're close to the same. You may need a small amp as I did. I have 200 watt speaks, 100 watt deck and a 100 watt amp. Sounds really good. "T"

[QUOTE=warbird]Looks great Brian, I'm finally getting ready to do mine, Alpine head unit, Infinity Kappa 4x6's in front, 6x9's in back, 360 watt Alpine amp. I was concerned with the final fit for the rear speakers, and having enough room left for my T-Tops. I don't think there's any difference between your 73, and my 74. How Is the board you used for the rear secured ? That's a great idea that my resolve my problem.  I was considering on buying the rear boom box from Ecklers for $200   Thanks to you, I can spend the money on something else (for the car of course)     [/QUOTE]

Warbird, The shelve is a piece of 3/4 cabinet board and sets on the wheel wells. The T-tops fit under them with room to spare. I have had it there for several years an it has never moved so I never attached it to anything. I paid $15 a piece speaker boxes. The speakers are 4X10 good for 90 watts each. I don't have any front speakers.  

[QUOTE=my7T1]Nice job Brian. I installed a USA 1 in my 71. Now I wish I would have had you put a better unit in for me so I'd have a CD player. Ever think about going in the business? Terry [/QUOTE]

Terry, Its not that bad of a job. If yo lived close I would help you but I don't need to start a new business adventure.

Adam wrote:  I installed it myself, which is probably the problem, right?  How would I know if it is mounted correctly or not?

There should be a bracket that hooks to the back of the unit to keep it from bouncing up and down, but if you aren't noticing a lot of play between the radio and the console, or the console hasn't cracked you've probably got it secured okay.

I'd look for the phasing problem others have mentioned first, or just buy a newer CD unit.

Adam,

If you installed your rear speakers in the factory locations, even if they are "in phase" as described above, you still will not get the volume or bass that you are expecting from a new system.  The reason is that the sound waves coming from the BACK of the speakers can spill out around the speaker mounting plates and enter the passenger compartment to compete with the sound waves coming from the front of the speakers.  They are close to 180 degrees out of phase with each other, so they cancel out most of the sound.  To correct this situation, you must ensure that no sound waves from the back of the speaker can enter the passenger compartment.  I suppose you could build your own custom speaker mounting plates to replace factory plates and make them the perfect size and shape to better seal-up the back of the speaker, but that sounds pretty iffy and/or difficult to me.  The method I chose was to remove the doors over the battery and storage compartment and replace them with doors made from 3/4 inch plydoor.   I covered them with carpet and installed my 6x9 rear speakers in them.  (I don't have them hinged.  They just sit in place where the old doors were.)  To remove the old doors, you remove the trim ring around them, remove the wire hinge for the doors and the doors come right out.  Then, reinstall the trim ring withgout the doors.  Just one idea...  Others have built and/or installed custom speaker boxes in the rear or installed a Bazooka bass tube in the back.  Good luck and let me know which route you choose and how it works out!

[QUOTE=Redwingvette]

[QUOTE=my7T1]Nice job Brian. I installed a USA 1 in my 71. Now I wish I would have had you put a better unit in for me so I'd have a CD player. Ever think about going in the business? Terry [/QUOTE]

Terry, Its not that bad of a job. If yo lived close I would help you but I don't need to start a new business adventure.

[/QUOTE]

Thanks Brian,

I have just one more question. Did you cut the sides of the platform in any particular curve or angle to fit over the wheel well, or are they straight ?

warbird38455.7320833333