Stereo systems

I wanted mine to be hidden.

The control unit drops down on sliding rails.

The amp is mounted on an aluminum plate attached to the cross member behind the dash.

@Franks356 posted:

I just ordered my JPS speedster which should be ready in 10 weeks.    Where is the best place to purchase a stereo system for the car?    

I hope you are correct, 10 weeks.  That seems rather ambitious.  I'm hate to be so pessimistic, but want to establish realistic expectations so that you don't hate the hobby before getting your feet wet.

Again.  I hope I'm wrong.

As for your original question, I suggest you drive it first.  I tried a radio system.  Found out my AirPods made the drive more enjoyable as they minimized the wind buffeting.

Buffeting. As in Jimmy. Buffering is something else. (The number of bytes your ram stores so your audio doesn’t sound choppy)

My JPS came with a "factory" installed sound system, very basic.  Hidden under the cowl, very neat install.  Pretty nice thing, was pretty functional for the time it was made 2006 +/- Full disclosure: I think maybe the radio and player options on that system have about 2 hours total air time so far.  Listening to tunes while driving a speedster really is neither very possible, nor very desired.  Wind noise, and the sweet (I'd hope) resonance from the engine, not three feet from you, offer plenty of acoustics.  Just sayin'  Your mileage will certainly vary.

I actually use my stereo a lot.  It’s nice to have some tunes on top-down drives.  My system is all Pioneer, both head unit and speakers.  The head unit is AM/FM/CD/AUX mounted right under the dash, but all I use it for is for bluetooth from my phone.  The speakers are 8” round bass/mid/domed tweeter units in the doors and sound good even when pushed.  My exhaust is pretty loud so I have to run the stereo volume up around 34% but that’s ok.  

If I were installing a system today, I would go with a hidden head unit and bluetooth and be done with it.

I am not a fan of a head unit in our cars they just look out of place. When I had my car built I had an Out of Sight Audio system installed. There are 2 speakers in the doors and 2 in the footwell and provide enough sound even at 60mph.

https://outofsightaudio.com/product/mark-3/

I'm with Kevin on using ear buds or some kind of noise canceling ear phones for my music. I like how simple it is to pull up my iTunes and listen to my. favorites. It also helps save the ears from wind noise that over time will effect your hearing.

@Michael McKelvey posted:

I wanted mine to be hidden.

The control unit drops down on sliding rails.

The amp is mounted on an aluminum plate attached to the cross member behind the dash.

I haven’t really missed not having a stereo in mine.  I pay so much attention to the car when I drive, both because I like it and it feels like it requires me to pay attention.  I like your setup though!  Do you have hidden speakers too?  Where and what kind?  How is the sound?  I see speakers on the secretaudio website.  I’m still not sure about the idea for me, but it could be nice on long drives.  AirPods are a solution, of course.  Did you look at totally hidden Bluetooth stereos?

My speakers are 1/4" thick flat panels with a thing on the back that vibrates. I have two small ones under the dash and a big one in the back that is both left and right. They are inside aluminum picture frames.

@Joe Fortino posted:

I am not a fan of a head unit in our cars they just look out of place. When I had my car built I had an Out of Sight Audio system installed. There are 2 speakers in the doors and 2 in the footwell and provide enough sound even at 60mph.

https://outofsightaudio.com/product/mark-3/

I also have one of those installed in my 1941 Cadillac. Love it because you can't see it and it only takes a small credit card size remote to operate it.

@Butcher Boy, when I was a kid delivering newspapers one of my customers had a '41 Cadillac convertible.  I used to love it when they left the garage door open so I could see it.

@Michael McKelvey posted:

@Butcher Boy, when I was a kid delivering newspapers one of my customers had a '41 Cadillac convertible.  I used to love it when they left the garage door open so I could see it.

Yes, They are great cars for delivering papers !!  Lol  This one is a car I built for my wife. She fell in love with "Ruby May" the first time she saw her. It took 2 years to build and now has a new chassis, LS3 with a 4L60 trans, 4 wheel disc, air, quick ratio power steering, independent front with leaf springs in the back with a Ford 9 inch, sway bars front and rear and stainless exhaust and headers. The trunk is huge ........... just the right size for a shopping trip. Now she has room for all the shoes and purse's and then soon ...........

She lets me maintain it and I get to drive it every now and then. It will be our road car on a trip to BC Canada in July.

@Butcher Boy it would be interesting to see photos of your whole car collection.

I think Dave should drive that Caddy to this year's Tour de Smo'.  I'm sure it could handle the curvy roads.

@Lane Anderson posted:

I think Dave should drive that Caddy to this year's Tour de Smo'.  I'm sure it could handle the curvy roads.

Lane, I would love that !! If I wasn't short on time, I'd think about it. It handles like a go cart and loves twisty roads. For a big car it can move.......... !! It has been across the country 4 times and it a great road car. Maybe the following year I can make that happen. My wife has been talking about doing the bourbon trail back east. So maybe we could blend those runs together. Call it the "Smokey Bourbon fun run "

Ruby is in the shop right now getting a new alternator and the radiator fixed. My friend Roy Brizio is doing the work. I don't have a lift yet, so getting under her isn't possible at home. I was at his shop a few days ago and had a chance to clean the undercarriage. She will be ready before I take off for Maui.

@Butcher Boy posted:

Ruby is in the shop right now getting a new alternator and the radiator fixed. My friend Roy Brizio is doing the work. I don't have a lift yet, so getting under her isn't possible at home. I was at his shop a few days ago and had a chance to clean the undercarriage. She will be ready before I take off for Maui.

"My friend Roy Brizio ........who happens to be one of the most respected Hot Rod builders....... is doing the work"

I second the posting above....I'd love to see your collection

Drool...  I'm in lust, er, I mean love!

@Michael McKelvey posted:

@Butcher Boy it would be interesting to see photos of your whole car collection.

Here you go Michael,

" Ruby May"  the1941 Cadillac, "Elroy" the 1932 Ford Roadster, "Mildred" the 1950 Chevy Belair, "Maynard" yellow 1931 Ford Sedan, "Gustav" aka GusGus 1957 Speedster, "Otto" 2012 BMW 1600GTL

I also own a 2018 Honda Ridgeline named "Pearl", a white 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee named "Casper" and a white 2021 Subaru Outback named "Forest" that is my wife's DD.

And BTW I'm insurance poor...............

@Kevin - Bay Area posted:

"My friend Roy Brizio ........who happens to be one of the most respected Hot Rod builders....... is doing the work"

I second the posting above....I'd love to see your collection

Correct Kevin !! Roy is a special guy and has been my friend for over 50 years. His Dad, Andy Brizio, Roy and myself have been cross-country many times to national events and cruises.  Also we were all in the same car club together, The Bay Area Roadster. Andy passed away last year, Roy is still in the club, and after almost 20 years I left the club to enjoy other interest. I have been fortunate over the years to meet and become friends with many of my Hot Rod hero's of my youth. We are losing many of them as they age out. Just lost Gene Winfield a few days ago.

ButcherBoy . . . seems like a pseudonym for Jay Leno.  The man has some very exclusive rolling stock.  and all look to be 10 point.  The Caddy looks spotless.  Very impressive.

@Butcher Boy posted:

Here you go Michael,

" Ruby May"  the1941 Cadillac, "Elroy" the 1932 Ford Roadster, "Mildred" the 1950 Chevy Belair, "Maynard" yellow 1931 Ford Sedan, "Gustav" aka GusGus 1957 Speedster, "Otto" 2012 BMW 1600GTL

I also own a 2018 Honda Ridgeline named "Pearl", a white 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee named "Casper" and a white 2021 Subaru Outback named "Forest" that is my wife's DD.

And BTW I'm insurance poor...............

Nice collection, I love that Chev Belair 👍

You're almost at the Mr Miyagi level

Holy Crap! Where have you been hiding Maynard!!! Love it (them!)

@JMM (Michael) posted:

Holy Crap! Where have you been hiding Maynard!!! Love it (them!)

I have had Maynard for many years. He was my first Hot Rod. I bought him from a guy who was moving to Texas and didn't want to take it with him. It sat in a field for a few years and was a project car of his. So, I bought it from him for $1,500 in 1970 and started working on him. Some 10 years later, my Dad asked if I was ever going to finish the car. I was working a 9 to 5 job as a meat cutter, raising a family and buying a house at the time and just couldn't get ahead enough to finish it. My Dad being an old school dry lakes racer offered to help. So a few more things got done and it was running and would move under its own power. Still needed a lot of work ......... My Dad moved away to retire in the Gold country of N. California. Now 10 years later, the sedan still sat 1/2 finished. My idea of making this a family car to go to events had changed. My Dad passed away, never getting to ride in the sedan. In a safe deposit box my Dad had left an envelop with $60,000 marked Model A on the outside. It was his wish that I finish the car. So I began thinking of what I wanted the car to look like. My Dad loved the drags and would take me to the drag strips in the 60's. I started looking at old car magazines from the 60's and made a choice to build a Highboy sedan, with whitewall big and little tires, a Chevy V8 with 3-2's, a quick change reared, a 5 speed Doug Nash trans, a two inch chopped top, seamless body on 1932 rails, painted bright Yellow with white interior. All of this came about when I met Roy Brizio. The car has over 65,000 miles on it and has been everywhere, in all kinds of weather. It has won many awards and the best being a Pro's Pick at the Street Rod Nationals, Also picked as one of the top 100 cars by Rod & Custom magazine. I would never sell Maynard because of what the car means to me. However, I recently gifted him to my manager of 30 years, for the great job he has done over the years. He knows what the car means to me and I know he will caretake the car as I would. I know my Dad would be proud of how it came out, and also of my gift for a job well done. Now I can enjoy watching Steve my manager, enjoy driving Maynard.

@Butcher Boy posted:

I have had Maynard for many years. He was my first Hot Rod. I bought him from a guy who was moving to Texas and didn't want to take it with him. It sat in a field for a few years and was a project car of his. So, I bought it from him for $1,500 in 1970 and started working on him. Some 10 years later, my Dad asked if I was ever going to finish the car. I was working a 9 to 5 job as a meat cutter, raising a family and buying a house at the time and just couldn't get ahead enough to finish it. My Dad being an old school dry lakes racer offered to help. So a few more things got done and it was running and would move under its own power. Still needed a lot of work ......... My Dad moved away to retire in the Gold country of N. California. Now 10 years later, the sedan still sat 1/2 finished. My idea of making this a family car to go to events had changed. My Dad passed away, never getting to ride in the sedan. In a safe deposit box my Dad had left an envelop with $60,000 marked Model A on the outside. It was his wish that I finish the car. So I began thinking of what I wanted the car to look like. My Dad loved the drags and would take me to the drag strips in the 60's. I started looking at old car magazines from the 60's and made a choice to build a Highboy sedan, with whitewall big and little tires, a Chevy V8 with 3-2's, a quick change reared, a 5 speed Doug Nash trans, a two inch chopped top, seamless body on 1932 rails, painted bright Yellow with white interior. All of this came about when I met Roy Brizio. The car has over 65,000 miles on it and has been everywhere, in all kinds of weather. It has won many awards and the best being a Pro's Pick at the Street Rod Nationals, Also picked as one of the top 100 cars by Rod & Custom magazine. I would never sell Maynard because of what the car means to me. However, I recently gifted him to my manager of 30 years, for the great job he has done over the years. He knows what the car means to me and I know he will caretake the car as I would. I know my Dad would be proud of how it came out, and also of my gift for a job well done. Now I can enjoy watching Steve my manager, enjoy driving Maynard.

That's about as nice a story as I could hope to read

I agree.

Me too.

I could tell it was something special, but I had no idea it was THAT special. What a cool car and story!

@Butcher Boy posted:

I have had Maynard for many years. He was my first Hot Rod. I bought him from a guy who was moving to Texas and didn't want to take it with him. It sat in a field for a few years and was a project car of his. So, I bought it from him for $1,500 in 1970 and started working on him. Some 10 years later, my Dad asked if I was ever going to finish the car. I was working a 9 to 5 job as a meat cutter, raising a family and buying a house at the time and just couldn't get ahead enough to finish it. My Dad being an old school dry lakes racer offered to help. So a few more things got done and it was running and would move under its own power. Still needed a lot of work ......... My Dad moved away to retire in the Gold country of N. California. Now 10 years later, the sedan still sat 1/2 finished. My idea of making this a family car to go to events had changed. My Dad passed away, never getting to ride in the sedan. In a safe deposit box my Dad had left an envelop with $60,000 marked Model A on the outside. It was his wish that I finish the car. So I began thinking of what I wanted the car to look like. My Dad loved the drags and would take me to the drag strips in the 60's. I started looking at old car magazines from the 60's and made a choice to build a Highboy sedan, with whitewall big and little tires, a Chevy V8 with 3-2's, a quick change reared, a 5 speed Doug Nash trans, a two inch chopped top, seamless body on 1932 rails, painted bright Yellow with white interior. All of this came about when I met Roy Brizio. The car has over 65,000 miles on it and has been everywhere, in all kinds of weather. It has won many awards and the best being a Pro's Pick at the Street Rod Nationals, Also picked as one of the top 100 cars by Rod & Custom magazine. I would never sell Maynard because of what the car means to me. However, I recently gifted him to my manager of 30 years, for the great job he has done over the years. He knows what the car means to me and I know he will caretake the car as I would. I know my Dad would be proud of how it came out, and also of my gift for a job well done. Now I can enjoy watching Steve my manager, enjoy driving Maynard.

A like doesn’t do this post justice. Hoping to meet you one day soon @Butcher Boy. You sir, are a class act.