Wanted - Gathering info for Car Audio story

[da-chief]

Today I put a Pioneer FH-S52BT stereo in my 2000 Ranger. I was kinda suspecting something would not be as easy as advertised: "any double din radio will go right in". No, It will NOT.
Be prepared to remove the radio bezel, break it down to it's main part, gather a Dremel or similar cutting tool, and grind off the excess plastic on the upper and lower
lip" of the radio opening. The advertised installation kits are also useless, as they will not fit thru the opening at all, even after the trimming. Oh the kit fits the radio, but that 32nd of an inch or whatever, makes a world of difference in trying to get the aluminum rectangle thru the radio opening. To make my radio mount with some rigidity, I took a pair of Stanley brand L brackets, about the 1 inch or 1 1/2" size, bend one leg back over itself, and cobbled my mounting brackets. It looks fine, but it is about an hours worth of careful measuring bending, drilling, etc. The wiring is the easiest part, the speaker color codes seem to be standardized, so that is good, and the power connections come down to the familiar red (on when truck is running) yellow (on all the time for "the time" (clock) and black for ground. I hope this helps.

 

[bobbywalter]

Damn it ....I just threw away all of my mark 7 and t bird stuff.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

My previous ranger (same as my current one) had a 10" Sony Xplode subwoofer in bazooka tube, I think it was maybe 16" long. kinda just lived in the extracab. I powered it with a Sony Xplode 4 channel amp, 400 watt. Upgraded the head unit and door speakers. Sounded great and the subwoofer really thumped. If I do it again I will remove the driver side jumper seat and fit a subwoofer into it.

My buddy's '94 ranger extracab had a 15" sub in a big square box behind the driver seat, with a 1000watt amp. It was a bit much.

 

[Curious Hound]

I think my next Ranger will be extended cab and Ill just get some kid to sit in the back and play banjo.

 

[89Twincharge]

I know gen 2 factory behind the seat boxes can be modified to fit 6" pretty easily. There's already a indentation where the factory speaker sits that if you trim accepts a 6" perfect.. have to use aftermarket speaker grills that come with most speakers and have to cut factory wire and use one small and one big female spade connector and some self taper screws!

 

[Dirtman]

I think my next Ranger will be extended cab and Ill just get some kid to sit in the back and play banjo.

View attachment 60780

I just bought a banjo! Would you take a middle aged weirdo with a beard instead of a kid?

 

[Curious Hound]

I just bought a banjo! Would you take a middle aged weirdo with a beard instead of a kid?

I told you could ride with me at the anniversary trail ride in Ohio and you didn’t show up. I don’t know if I could rely on you when I need music.

Besides, then there would be a Ranger with 2 middle-aged bearded wierdos in it. Might be more than the world can handle.

 

[Dirtman]

I told you could ride with me at the anniversary trail ride in Ohio and you didn’t show up. I don’t know if I could rely on you when I need music.

Besides, then there would be a Ranger with 2 middle-aged bearded wierdos in it. Might be more than the world can handle.

I can't help it there was a dang hurricane!

And the world absolutely needs more beards...