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- Joined
- Aug 28, 2024
- Messages
- 83
- Points
- 101
- Age
- 47
- City
- Matagorda
- State - Country
- TX - USA
- Vehicle Year
- 1996
- Vehicle
- Ford Ranger
- Drive
- 2WD
- Engine
- 2.3 (4 Cylinder)
- Transmission
- Manual
- My credo
- If you expect the worst and hope for the best, you're already planning for failure.
Making this thread as kind of a place holder to document the step by step and process of upgrading my '96 XLT Supercab Ranger to a more modern audio system. I'm still in the planning stages and things evolve as new information becomes available. I have changed the overall design at least 3 times and what my goal is, isn't some kind of crowning achievement or award winning set up. More like a clean modern system with full audio capabilities and when I feel playful, to hear some thump and see a mild vibration in the mirrors lol. Some one prior to me owning the truck has already ruined the factory system by cutting out the original harness connectors, added aftermarket head unit, ran different (yet poor quality) speaker wires and replaced one of the door speakers with an aftermarket brand (guess the original blew). Once upon a time (early 2000's) I was a certified installer and things have changed quite a bit since then. I've been studying and researching new tech, tuning and new fabrication techniques that weren't as prevalent or weren't available back in the day. I've also learned to have a hell of a lot more patience in my older age and can therefore have cleaner and more eye pleasing results.
I have a map of what I want, an idea of a budget and I know I will be building a custom sub enclosure. The original plan was to incorporate the sub into the custom center console I have planned, but for the tuning and sound I want, it's just wasn't going to work out. So as of now the custom center console will be just that, a center console. Going to do a full interior revamp at some point as well so I'll need to keep that in mind when planning and designing things. This project truck is overall going to be my proof of skill to myself. If you're interested, follow along. I may create a YouTube to post videos of certain aspects at some point. Pics will be posted as well as a blog type update. Maybe once the audio system is complete I can clean it up and make a full tech article.
Side note, understand that this build is to my satisfaction. If you have positive or helpful notes, feel free to add them. If you're only contribution is talk down or be unhelpful, then start your own discussion please. Otherwise, I'm looking forward to this whole process.
I have a map of what I want, an idea of a budget and I know I will be building a custom sub enclosure. The original plan was to incorporate the sub into the custom center console I have planned, but for the tuning and sound I want, it's just wasn't going to work out. So as of now the custom center console will be just that, a center console. Going to do a full interior revamp at some point as well so I'll need to keep that in mind when planning and designing things. This project truck is overall going to be my proof of skill to myself. If you're interested, follow along. I may create a YouTube to post videos of certain aspects at some point. Pics will be posted as well as a blog type update. Maybe once the audio system is complete I can clean it up and make a full tech article.
Side note, understand that this build is to my satisfaction. If you have positive or helpful notes, feel free to add them. If you're only contribution is talk down or be unhelpful, then start your own discussion please. Otherwise, I'm looking forward to this whole process.
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