Keeping originality... as promised dAVE

[FOMOCOHO 882]

When I changed the stereo in my '82 XE Fairmont Ghia I didn't want to cut or chop anything as it is an original JG32 car with factory manual, which are hard to find these days.

 

Even though this was done along time ago, I had the foresight to understand it may be more valuable as original, the door cards were really good with no holes and the original Pioneer radio/tape-deck was also in good condition.

 

So I sourced pioneer 4" speakers that were chunky enough to handle the new deck output but fit in the front speaker slots. I also found a set of grills that already had broken slats from my old XD and cut & fitted the speakers and kept the original grills and speakers in a box for safe keeping.

 

 

No damage done. They were beefy top of the line 4" 2-way but will be the weak link so had to be replaced once. The second set should last longer since I appreciate my hearing now. 

 

The rears sourced were 6" Pioneer 3-way, again as beefy as I could get that would just bolt into the original headrests, no cut & shut.

Hence my doors and door cards have no holes at all.

 

 

Bit of a shampoo and they should look like new.

 

Next was the deck. Back when I did this the car was a daily and top-of-the-line pioneer still had a tape-deck... and they were so chunky you didn't need a power amp. Thing weighs a ton! It was back in  the QR days before the removable front thing which was so impractical since it weighed a ton. Also has 6-stack in boot so had all bases covered. Just no bluetooth back then. But it still looks period enough with the car and can play cassettes!

 

So I sourced another escutcheon from the wreckers and modified that & spot welded the cage in. The front panel was available new from Fords at the time. The old deck was removed and put in a box for safe-keeping.

 

 

New deck fitted...

 

Cradle without deck...

 

As far as cassette decks go this one is the most advanced, even searches a tape but that will wear the heads, so best to just FF>>.

Radio has superfringe too & BSM for country/interstate travel. It just goes off for a radio tape/deck era machine & has full remote & CD stacker for more modern stuff.

 

 

All the wiring was done with XE Ford connectors with easy access. The whole escutcheon can be removed in a couple of minutes with no swearing or cursing. It would not take long to unplug & remove this one & replace the original, that was the idea maybe for car shows or whatever.

 

 

The original Pioneer stereo in storage...

 

 

 

So there you go dAVE, no originality upset and reversal in extra quick time!