Project CompuMach: 2004 Ford Mustang Mach 1 - Total In-Dash install complete! - Page 4

tj!2k4 · 10-30-2005, 07:21 AM

i originally had the gps on the rear deck and it worked decently, but after i installed the metal louvers, the reception was horrible.

then it dawned on me that it might work in the trunk because it was fiberglass... and i was happily pleasantly surprised wjen it did, and actually worked better than inside the passenger compartment.

the only other thing worth mentioning is probably to mount it closer to the inside edge of the trunk (ot at least not directly under the spoiler since you don't want any extra potential interference..)

ibanez737 · 10-31-2005, 11:41 AM

You're helping a lot pyros and I see what you're saying now. What kind of amp did you get for the highs? Also, what sound card are you running?

EDIT: I've been wondering but I've had this thing setup in my car by my amps (guy before me had done a lot of audio work I think, rear seatbelts out, etc) and I finally found out that it is an adjustable line output converter from installedge.com . There's nothing else in the car that is beyond factory except this (no subs, addl amps, etc). I have no idea where it's leading or anything, but it's just there. Now I'm rather unsure what this really does, but from what I've read, it gives RCA outs without doing much other modification besides tapping into the factory speakers. Could this make my install easier at all? Or should I just get it out and put everything back to stock. PS: I am very unfamiliar with car audio..I can install a headunit and thats about it =)

ibanez737 · 10-31-2005, 03:52 PM

OK, I'm looking at the 70-5520 from metra. I'm guessing this is the regular wiring harness that does not include the RCA's:

I took a screen shot of the other one on Metra's site.

I'm guessing I need the second one, Pyros?

EDIT: This is the one I ended up buying a while ago for the 2000-2001 because someone said it worked for them on another board:

Do you think this one is usable at all?

pyros · 10-31-2005, 05:09 PM

tj!2k4: what did you use to mount it?

ibanez: the adjustable line output converter basically does what the wiring harness for the amps will do. how to use it in your application, I have no idea without seeing how it is wired. I'd just spend the $20 and get the amp wiring harness...

the 70-5520 is correct for the 'regular' harness. I use this for ground and ignition. I also use the power off this to power my lilliput.

The other wiring harness for the 2000-01 will not work. like i said, the connectors are different. the part number you need is 70-5521, you can see it on metraonline.com. The only way the 00-01 MIGHT work is by cutting off the connector and tapping it into the wires on the factory harness since the connectors are different. I dont know if the wiring is the same or how you'd even match up the wires, so I wouldn't touch it.

I'm not 100% sure on the specs for the amp for the highs. You don't need anything too fancy since the stock speakers can only handle so much. You basically just need a 2 channel amp. Do yourself a favour and read up on all the basics on car audio before you buy one. To get a 2 channel amp to work, you need to run the two left channel speakers in parallel or series (i forget which it is..) and the two right channels in parallell or series also. If you dont want to get all technical, just get a 4 channel amp (a 25x4 or 50x4 should do fine) and run the speaker wire from the trunk to the speaker connections on the 'regular' harness.

The sound card I'm using is a SB Audigy NX (external usb 2.0).

tj!2k4 · 10-31-2005, 05:49 PM

@pyros: 3M Dual-Lock. It's like velcro, but is not plastic hook and cloth loop; it's got plastic interlocking teeth.

Not to add to the confusion, but regarding wiring harnesses: I used the Metra 70-5519 in my 03 GT (was Mach460 w/ 6 CD changer) and am running H/U-less. It looks like the 3rd harness in ibanez737's post. The back of my radio looked like this

Big-ups to tmar89 for helping me out with all the initial audio stuff, cause I'm a car stereo retard.

ibanez737 · 10-31-2005, 10:03 PM

So, you're saying i have to mess with the other 4 speakers somehow or make some connections to the new amp from other things besides the tweeters? Why is this?

EDIT: I think I see what you're saying. Forgot we have the 4 highs instead of 2 =) So I'm assuming run them in series, like so?

Also, I'm wondering, if you have the two RCA's coming from the sound card to harness, but you have two RCA's at the harness that are male as well, how does that end up working?

pyros · 11-01-2005, 11:23 AM

tj!2k4: the 03 and 04 harnessess on the mustang are different, hence the different part numbers.. the one i listed has 03 and up but its only 03 and up for other fords/mercurys and 04 and up for mustangs. The back of my radio is a bit different then yours.... I'll try to get a few pics. Thanks for the link on the velcro, I have some of that, I think I'll try that tonight!

ibanez: the 'regular' wiring harness has the wires for the speakers that are non-amplified. just run speaker wire from these to your amp. I believe i hooked up the two negatives together and the two positives together for each channel. If your diagram is right for series, I guess I wired them in parallel. I wired them and checked them with a multimeter for resistence to make sure both were 4ohm so I dont fry the speakers or amp. For the RCA's, you just get an apdaptor that is male on both sides and it hooks up fine.

ibanez737 · 11-01-2005, 12:11 PM

pyros: makes sense, how much do multimeters run? Would it be best to find an amp with a high pass crossover (I think that's what it is). Also, the 4 woofers are good to go as far as impedence being at 4 ohms since we're not messing with them much? And I'm assuming I need the power running to everything in order to test the impedence with the multimeter?

EDIT: Does the 5521 harness come with just the RCA outs or do I need the 5520 as well for the power/ground/accessory/speaker lines?

EDIT EDIT: Also, when I get these harnesses, what is happening on the other end of the wires (where they all meet in the plastic housing that should plug into the headunit) ? Do I need to cut them and make connections elsewhere to the factory harness?

pyros · 11-01-2005, 10:38 PM

ibanez... a multimeter can be as cheap as $5 or as expensive as $100 depending on what you get. My basic digital one only cost me about $20CDN. 4 ohms is what my highs are running on. I did some research on them and thats what the best bet is. You do not need power running to anything to check the impedence/resistence. You just need it wired up, and you can test it.

The 5521 harness is only the amp integrator harness. The amp harness connects to the end of the wires that plug into the factory cd player. So when you unplug the harnesses from the factory cd player, you plug them into the harness. There should be two harnesses on the back of your cd player and the male antenna end. One harness will hoook up to the 'regular' harness (which has the speaker wires for the highs, power, ground, ignition, accessory, etc....) and the other harness hooks up to the amp harness which will give you the rca's. You do NOT need to cut anything, that's the whole point of the harnesses

BLAZZER · 11-02-2005, 02:12 AM

How is the wifi reception?
Are you running any protection software?
Just finished my install and wondering if I should Go with wifi!

ibanez737 · 11-02-2005, 02:45 AM

Ahh pyros...I will name my firstborn son after you. Much appreciation for your help. I'll be sure to have more questions lined up for you soon

pyros · 11-02-2005, 10:59 AM

blazzer: the wifi is ok, i only use it to load new music/videos onto the computer. I haven't tried it for anything else so I dont know. As far as protection, none since its a closed system.

ibanez: no problem.. 'pyros' would be a cool kids name lol

ibanez737 · 11-02-2005, 11:38 AM

I'm sure the gf will love it haha. I've been ordering some parts and hopefully I'll get them in to start all the wiring/dash work, still holding off on the hardware. I'm curious if you have issues with the sound being too soft? I heard some people having problems with the audigy making it softer than stock with factory amps. Idk if it's the sound card specifically or the audigy series. I'm also curious where you have the amp mounted for the highs. And when I wire the highs to the amp, it's just straight speaker wiring to the amp? no RCA whatever? Just power/ground for the amp and then speaker wire to the +/-? I'm probably going to have some more in detail questions about working with bondo later on.

ibanez737 · 11-07-2005, 02:08 AM

I am lost without you pyros!

scott_fx · 11-07-2005, 03:18 AM

great install. i love it when an install looks like it belongs