Factory Radio

[MK-2000]

I want to put in a new radio in my 97 sho but the kits that are out there look like crap. What am i to do ...are there any kits that will make it worth me putting a new radio...if not i was thinking about hooking up and amp a new speakers to my factory radio i got now????

 

[99V8SHO]

Unfortunately you either need to convert to manual climate control then use a unit made for the SLO, or make one up yourself, like in front of the shifter, where the ashtray currently resides.
But apparently MilTownSHO has something cooking up so we will see what he has to say.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

V8 SHO radio mods are covered in-depth at http://www.v8sho.com

 

[MilTownSHO]

But apparently MilTownSHO has something cooking up so we will see what he has to say.

There is one in the works, it's been fiberglassed and being put in a test car. I saw it, looks AMAZING. The guy making it is currently looking for a molding company to start production.

I'm talking to him now in fact, he doesn't want to show it until it's done. I have seen it though, looks completey factory!

EDIT: I have now convinced him to send me some photos in the near future!

 

[Vroom]

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE PICS! :thumbs_u:

 

[mcgilles]

I second that. post up some pics of that kit when possible, I'm looking forward to it coming out. when might that be anyway?

 

[mcgilles]

do you know if the new kit will be a complete replacement oval? or something like a new faceplate and instructions on how to replace the faceplate and remove radio related equipment from the oval we already have? any clue as to what the cost of this kit may be?

 

[MilTownSHO]

do you know if the new kit will be a complete replacement oval? or something like a new faceplate and instructions on how to replace the faceplate and remove radio related equipment from the oval we already have? any clue as to what the cost of this kit may be?

Yes its a complete replacement oval, no special instructions, already preassembled and looking factory. You just have to remove the old one and install an aftermarket deck in the space provided.

He said he had pictures but had to buy a new cable, I'm trying guys!

It's almost done in prototpye phase, he's just looking for a place to make the molds. I'll double check on the price.

 

[SHO99]

Use RCA amp converters and keep stock radio

I went through the same issue. Keep the stock stereo & 6 disc changer. Get yourself 2 or 3 RCA amp converters to power the amps. Nobody is ever gonna break in your car because they think nothing is there.<br>
I have 2 phoenix gold amps powering Boston seperates in the front and rear as well as a 12"JBL sub. I have been told on more than one occasion the clarity is unbelievable. Don't need to replace the deck. The digital dash is too nice to replace with turn knobs.

 

[iwantashomtx]

I am the creator of the kit and i hope this brings a much wanted product to the floor i have not yet decided on pricing as it is probably going to be a limited run but in comparison to the dash kit for a regular gen 3 that goes for 60 to 80 dollars in the store it will be more than that it will be eventually made out of abs plastic just like the factory radio i want it to appear as if it was almost oem. Once i recieve request for orders i will continue to calculate the demand against the cost it will be for me to produce this dash kit. The kit is a direct replacement the only requirement is to take the electronic climate control guts out of the old radio and into the new dash kit. So once i figure out my manufacturing cost i can come up with a reasonable dollar amount. I am usually on shocago as 12voltsho i check that the most if you want to contact me thats the best place. Thanks guys ill keep you posted.

 

[mcgilles]

awesome! will you give good idiot proof instructions on how to move the HVAC stuff over? I tried taking one of those ovals apart once, and I never figured out how to do it. any idea how long before its available? let see some pics when you get a chance!

 

[iwantashomtx]

abosolutely will include instructions you have to however leave in the radio pad but it folds over just fine and the back casing will remain as well. Being that this is a side project that got started for a guy in shocago i never really meant for it to be more than a one time thing for him but since i want to make a mark in this community because i love sho's i decided to start plans about 6 months ago to design something that i could mass produce since im new to this whole manufacturing and finding a company to make a copy mold of abs it may be some time unless someone has insight on that and i have really had not much time to work on it all the time being as i have more side jobs doing custom sounds and alarms that i know what to do with lol . If i receive a high demand i will get moving alot faster.

 

[MilTownSHO]

I have the pictures but it's not working and I'm to tired to mess with it.

I will post them up tommorow!

 

[Mr. SHO]

I went through the same issue. Keep the stock stereo & 6 disc changer. Get yourself 2 or 3 RCA amp converters to power the amps. Nobody is ever gonna break in your car because they think nothing is there.<br>
I have 2 phoenix gold amps powering Boston seperates in the front and rear as well as a 12"JBL sub. I have been told on more than one occasion the clarity is unbelievable. Don't need to replace the deck. The digital dash is too nice to replace with turn knobs.

I agree. I have done quite a few high-end installations in various cars over the years, and I have to say the stock unit in the SHO is hardly lacking in sound quality. If you need more power, add a good amp or two or three, and use line output converters if necessary (if the amp doesn't have speaker-level inputs). Just make sure the wiring is solid and clean, and you will have a very nice setup. Replace the factory speakers too.

 

[luigisho]

Well consider me a definite in the interest department for the new kit. Hopefully the more eyeballs that see this the more chance there is someone will know someone who can get this stuff run off in reasonably short time period. Has this stuff been posted at tcca and on the other lists?

 

[luigisho]

Would you need CAD or 3D CAD measurements to get this manufactured? Just wondering out loud.

Have you tried to reach any of these companies?

http://www.quickparts.com/
http://www.3dimensional.com/index.jsp
http://www.thomasregisterdirectory.com/plastic_fabricators/abs_plastic_fabricators_0022018_3.html

http://www.emachineshop.com/
http://www.injection-molded-plastics.net/page2.htm

 

[mcgilles]

yeah, the head unit is pretty nice, but the main reason for adding aftermerket stuff is for the features, my head unit can read mp3 CD-RWs, and I have a 6 disc shuttle that can do the same on each disk. its got stuff like time correction and everything else. you measure teh distance to each speaker in the car, and program that into the head unit, and it time corrects each speaker to it sounds perfect by the time it gets to your ears. cool stuff! I love my installation, but in all honesty, if I had known in the beginning that line level converters are not the low quality pieces of junk that they once were, I probably would have used them instead of having to get so creative. but all though I really like the install I did, I am still going to pick up one of these kits as soon as they are available, I already have the whole plan worked out for how I want to redo the entire setup. and I can't wait for it to be available!

I second the question has this been posted on the TCCA and other groups? its not just for the SHO group, every high end Taurus/Sable owner that wants a system is going to want to get in on this oppertunity to buy the kits.

 

[iwantashomtx]

The head unit is not in anyway a sound quality unit i am sure you have had a descent sound system incorporated with you factory radio but the fact remains your frequency response is limited so much so you are acutally not hearing a part of the music your playing which in all honesty does not make for good sound quality. I have this situation all the time my stock sounds good they i convince that person its not as good as they think by just improviing your audio frequency response and lowering your distortion levels you are night and day better you could have just the factory speakers and add a radio to your gen 3 and you would in my opinion be pretty impressed with the difference. As well when you do use convertors such as high to lows you lose some of the signal the more things you use to interpret the audio signal the worse that musical signal gets. Example takeing a record vinyl record copying it to a computer then taking that digital info and turning it back into music put on a cd. I would give anyone 100 dollars to listen to a vinyl record thats in perfect condition and compare it to cd the record will sound alot better. Now i may have a little higher taste in audio because its my profession so if its good enuff to have the factory i totally understand.

 

[luigisho]

I've heard from at least 5 other owners from the v8 list that would be interested in a kit. I'm sure the Taurus Car Club of America website will yield more as well. How many are we talking about to get this thing moving?

 

[iwantashomtx]

I honestly dont know how many it will take to make the process of building it worthwhile thats what i want to find out to be honest. With regular taurus there is already a kit becuase to my knowledge the regular gen3 does not have digital climate controls.