I'm now onto working on the interior of my 85 convertible. When I bought my car the stereo was missing, I have since found a factory Ford Premium stereo. I went to install it and found sometime before I bought it somone had done a hack job on the wires, I then noticed that the factory radio plug was intact and sitting off to the side, so i guess all the hacked wires I see where added (I guess). Did ASC add them? Does anyone have some pictures of the harness where the factory or Kenwood stereo plugged in on a 85? Also, I want to use the factory speaker wires but someone had run seperate wires to the rear speakers, those wires somehow got cut before I bought it so I want to locate at use the original speaker wires instead. Did ASC cut and remove the factory speakerwires, or did they just unplugg the factory speaker harness and coil up the wires and tuck them away somewhere in the rear storage tub area? Also, one last question. In order to install the stereo it is supposed to slide in from the back, it looks like I need to unbolt part of the dash to make room, any tip or tricks on doing this easily?
Any help on this would be appreciated.
Thanks
Stereo install questions
Stereo install questions
Last edited by red390gt on Wed Mar 28, 2007 8:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I can't help too much as my car's audio system was gutted and a total hack job put in it's place. I also have a coupe while you have a vert.
What I did on my car though is to go back to using the stock Ford wires.
In the stock Ford wiring there is the main radio wiring harness and then there is a small harness that will patch the premium amp in with the radio and the main harness. On a non premium radio setup, there is no amp and the radio plugs directly into the main harness.
I found a good amp harness and cut it to wire in my asc Kenwood radio and a set of potentiometers (they regulate the front speakers which were WAY too loud). The amp harness let me plug directly into the Ford wiring without any cutting of the main harness.
asc Used a small Alpine amp in some cars (seems like 85 verts got this alpine amp if they also got the alpine radio). I located one of these amps and tried it but it added absolutely nothing power wise to the Kenwood so I ditched it.
Now the 80's Kenwood radio is about 10w-12w/channel max power I think. So the Ford wiring should be plenty in my case.
I got replacement 6.5" rear speakers and 3.5" front speakers (both Kenwood). The replacement fronts were insanely loud. So much that even fading with the radio had little effect. Two pairs of 8ohm pots wired in two parallel sets can be used to drop the power to the fronts. This is what I did and I dialed in the perfect balance. Now my fader on my radio works perfectly. The two potentiometers are velcroed way up and under the dash.
And yes, you need to put the radio in from the back...loosening the dash can help a lot. Some people claim they can get them in without doing it...but it's always a rough job.
-Mike
What I did on my car though is to go back to using the stock Ford wires.
In the stock Ford wiring there is the main radio wiring harness and then there is a small harness that will patch the premium amp in with the radio and the main harness. On a non premium radio setup, there is no amp and the radio plugs directly into the main harness.
I found a good amp harness and cut it to wire in my asc Kenwood radio and a set of potentiometers (they regulate the front speakers which were WAY too loud). The amp harness let me plug directly into the Ford wiring without any cutting of the main harness.
asc Used a small Alpine amp in some cars (seems like 85 verts got this alpine amp if they also got the alpine radio). I located one of these amps and tried it but it added absolutely nothing power wise to the Kenwood so I ditched it.
Now the 80's Kenwood radio is about 10w-12w/channel max power I think. So the Ford wiring should be plenty in my case.
I got replacement 6.5" rear speakers and 3.5" front speakers (both Kenwood). The replacement fronts were insanely loud. So much that even fading with the radio had little effect. Two pairs of 8ohm pots wired in two parallel sets can be used to drop the power to the fronts. This is what I did and I dialed in the perfect balance. Now my fader on my radio works perfectly. The two potentiometers are velcroed way up and under the dash.
And yes, you need to put the radio in from the back...loosening the dash can help a lot. Some people claim they can get them in without doing it...but it's always a rough job.
-Mike
1985 ascMcLaren Coupe - Midnight Blue
Under Restoration
Under Restoration
Mike,negusm wrote:And yes, you need to put the radio in from the back...loosening the dash can help a lot. Some people claim they can get them in without doing it...but it's always a rough job.
-Mike
Thanks for all your input, you have been very helpful in all my posts, you always reply with helpful information.
When I grabbed the Factory premiums stereo, I got it out of a car at the junk yard so I didn't care about being careful when I removed it. Now that it's time to install it in mine it looks like there is no roon to slide it in. I'll do what you said and loosen the screws that hold the dash on so I don't break anything while installing it. Looks like I am in for a fun time.
Radio
I'm not 100% sure if the 85-86 McLaren cars got the electronic radios that the Mustangs got in 85-86. Most of the verts I have seen photos of have the old two post manual tune radios. You can identify the electronic radio dash by the 2 verticle screw holes in front of the radio bezel. I believe the bracket for the electronic radio attaches from the back side. It's supposed to be a DIN type chassis but probably not really due to the rear attached bracket. I hear it's tight fit from the rear but not impossible.
My car appears to have cut speaker wires (yellow I think) at the radio plug probably done at the ASC factory. My guess these cut wires were for the rear speakers which were no longer used with the seat head rest speakers. Then there are the dash speakers that were replaced with the door speakers and another harness. So there was no use for the Ford speaker wiring as it was going to the wrong locations.
After at least 3 owners, my car came with a 90s Blaupunt radio that didn't work until I found the removeable face plate under the seat , an amp that didn't work and paper work for a different amp. My guess it had an amp originally but no idea on the radio (no amp under the dash pad from Ford).
There was a harness listed on the special parts list but I think it was for lighted rear view mirror.
My car appears to have cut speaker wires (yellow I think) at the radio plug probably done at the ASC factory. My guess these cut wires were for the rear speakers which were no longer used with the seat head rest speakers. Then there are the dash speakers that were replaced with the door speakers and another harness. So there was no use for the Ford speaker wiring as it was going to the wrong locations.
After at least 3 owners, my car came with a 90s Blaupunt radio that didn't work until I found the removeable face plate under the seat , an amp that didn't work and paper work for a different amp. My guess it had an amp originally but no idea on the radio (no amp under the dash pad from Ford).
There was a harness listed on the special parts list but I think it was for lighted rear view mirror.
Kevin Gold card MCA Judge for Fox Body
85 ASC Vert #612205
88 ASC Vert #542 20,550 miles
84 SVO 24,000 miles, 84 GT Turbo Vert.
03 Mach I, 89 LX Vert, 74 Mustang II
14 CA Special, 69 Mustang coupe, 07 GT500
67 T-bird, 15 F150 Tuscany, 16 F250
85 ASC Vert #612205
88 ASC Vert #542 20,550 miles
84 SVO 24,000 miles, 84 GT Turbo Vert.
03 Mach I, 89 LX Vert, 74 Mustang II
14 CA Special, 69 Mustang coupe, 07 GT500
67 T-bird, 15 F150 Tuscany, 16 F250
I snapped a few pictures last night of what I have to work with.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2448357/4
What is this black box in the picture below for? Is it a relay?
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2448357/4
What is this black box in the picture below for? Is it a relay?
good question
I don't recall seeing that under there the last time I worked on mine or any or the for that matter. Looks like 2 relays. Maybe rear window defrost? Could it be Ford power top relay? What color are the wires and connectors? I don't see anything in the EVTM.
Kevin Gold card MCA Judge for Fox Body
85 ASC Vert #612205
88 ASC Vert #542 20,550 miles
84 SVO 24,000 miles, 84 GT Turbo Vert.
03 Mach I, 89 LX Vert, 74 Mustang II
14 CA Special, 69 Mustang coupe, 07 GT500
67 T-bird, 15 F150 Tuscany, 16 F250
85 ASC Vert #612205
88 ASC Vert #542 20,550 miles
84 SVO 24,000 miles, 84 GT Turbo Vert.
03 Mach I, 89 LX Vert, 74 Mustang II
14 CA Special, 69 Mustang coupe, 07 GT500
67 T-bird, 15 F150 Tuscany, 16 F250
I happened to check out ascmclaren.com and noticed he has a "Black Box relay" listed in his parts section, anyone know what it's for? It is listed on this page:negusm wrote:That's a head scratcher.
http://www.ascmclaren.com/electrical.htm
Here's a picture off Hanks site:
I figured out that this is part of the stereo system.
Last edited by red390gt on Fri Mar 30, 2007 1:30 pm, edited 2 times in total.
I spent more time last night on the stereo wire harness issue (all the cut wires). The harness is seperate and contains 11 wires, I looks like it had several plugs cut from it, I think seveal went to the amp and several went to the stereo. The harness looks like it was something add, maybe by ASC? The reason I say it was added because none of the colors match the wire colors I see listed in the Ford manual, so I am guessing ASC went with their own harness instead of using a Ford harness. Anyone know anything about the harness I am referring to? Anyone have a schematic for this harness? It looks like I just need to figure out what plus I need to re-attached so that I can plug in the new stereo.
no one here seems to know much or they are just not speaking up... i would say give hank a call he for sure will know about that black box and i bet he knows some stuff about the harness too... also try Mikes site i think he has the radio manual posted on it maybe the harness you have is a kenwood one and info might be in the manual on the wires and colorsred390gt wrote:I spent more time last night on the stereo wire harness issue (all the cut wires). The harness is seperate and contains 11 wires, I looks like it had several plugs cut from it, I think seveal went to the amp and several went to the stereo. The harness looks like it was something add, maybe by ASC? The reason I say it was added because none of the colors match the wire colors I see listed in the Ford manual, so I am guessing ASC went with their own harness instead of using a Ford harness. Anyone know anything about the harness I am referring to? Anyone have a schematic for this harness? It looks like I just need to figure out what plus I need to re-attached so that I can plug in the new stereo.
sorry i cant help anymore then that
~Peter
1985 ASC McLaren Coupe
1985 ASC McLaren Coupe
I just spent some time scanning Mikes website but didn't find any schematics so I ordered one from Helm.tfs2121 wrote:no one here seems to know much or they are just not speaking up... i would say give hank a call he for sure will know about that black box and i bet he knows some stuff about the harness too... also try Mikes site i think he has the radio manual posted on it maybe the harness you have is a kenwood one and info might be in the manual on the wires and colorsred390gt wrote:I spent more time last night on the stereo wire harness issue (all the cut wires). The harness is seperate and contains 11 wires, I looks like it had several plugs cut from it, I think seveal went to the amp and several went to the stereo. The harness looks like it was something add, maybe by ASC? The reason I say it was added because none of the colors match the wire colors I see listed in the Ford manual, so I am guessing ASC went with their own harness instead of using a Ford harness. Anyone know anything about the harness I am referring to? Anyone have a schematic for this harness? It looks like I just need to figure out what plus I need to re-attached so that I can plug in the new stereo.
sorry i cant help anymore then that
From what I know from the cars I have/had. Both of my 85 Verts came with Kenwood radios. These radios are the old post style radios. The 85 Coupe came with an Alpine radio again post style. A metal plate was used behind a wood grain cutout the same grain as the dash wood.
The black box relay on Hanks site I am pretty sure is the one that sits in the trunk of the convertible on the drivers side by the wheelwell. If that relay goes bad the top won't work.
Those near the radio may also be for the top as I think in 85 the power for the top came from the stock rear defrost power that was unused in the ASC.
Oh yeah those relays may also be for the heated seats I am getting old and can't seem to remember the way I once did...
The black box relay on Hanks site I am pretty sure is the one that sits in the trunk of the convertible on the drivers side by the wheelwell. If that relay goes bad the top won't work.
Those near the radio may also be for the top as I think in 85 the power for the top came from the stock rear defrost power that was unused in the ASC.
Oh yeah those relays may also be for the heated seats I am getting old and can't seem to remember the way I once did...