FordExcursions.com Forums
olfc
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• boston, MA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/5/2004 |
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• 7 posts |
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 Posted:1/6/2004 12:56 |
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also, if you mention my company, olfc you will get a 15% dscount on all equipment purchases. these guys sell a lot of good brands and do fabulous install work. the X is the 4th truck they have done for me.
2003 ltd, grey, limited slip. V10, banks tubes and exhaust, donohoe racing edge 4.5" lift kit, weld stonecrusher wheels, 17x10, bfg 35", bilstein x6, 4 up front, 2 back, chipped, airaid intake, trailready heavy duty bumper, hella 4000, piaa 520, hella ff75(backup lights), full sound and video stealth install. Built this trtuck with support from Ford and all vendors for exposure to Hunting and Fishing enthusiasts on the show circuit. |
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excursion_man
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• Dallas, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 8/2/2002 |
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• 53 posts |
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 Posted:1/6/2004 15:18 |
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For all you guys wanting to keep your current radio...Check out this guy! He makes the best converters in the Business!
http://www.davidnavone.com/adaptor_products.htm If you get a cheap one it will make a popping noise when you turn it on!
For those who hate cutting factory wires I would recommend contacting a junkyard and trying to get the factory radio harness cut out of an X. That way you can get the speaker output from the radio to send to the converter and use and aftermarket plug to connect the speakers to the amp. I did this with an Eclipse a few years back and it worked like a charm!
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Todd Brandt
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• Geyserville, CA, USA |
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• Registered on 12/30/2003 |
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• 18 posts |
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Posted:1/6/2004 16:16 |
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I e-mailed davidnavone.com, thanks for the information. Could you tell me a little more about why it would benifit me to get another factory harness out of a junked X like mine? I am not a stereo guru, and will be finding someone qualified to do my install, but I would like to start buying all the components, and learn along the process. [email protected]
Thanks |
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excursion_man
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• Dallas, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 8/2/2002 |
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• 53 posts |
• 1
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Posted:1/6/2004 18:02 |
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| Quote: |
I e-mailed davidnavone.com, thanks for the information. Could you tell me a little more about why it would benifit me to get another factory harness out of a junked X like mine? I am not a stereo guru, and will be finding someone qualified to do my install, but I would like to start buying all the components, and learn along the process. [email protected]
Thanks |
Well I guess it depends on what you are doing...The Ford Radio doesn't have RCA's which we already know...To add those you will need a converter box to take your speaker level outputs to your converter box. This will require you to cut the factory wires to send the signal to the converter. Then you would normally run the amp outputs to your factory wires head to the speakers if you don't want to run your own wiring through the car.
Is any of this making sense? My point is that you use the harness from the junkyard to plug into the back of the radio (Will need to run power to that harness) and run that to the converter. Then you take an aftermarket kit used for an after market stereo plug that into the original harness in the car and hook up only the output wires from the amp. This way you don't cut anything and when you are done you just plug everything back in with no problems.
I have just seen hackjobs before when people have had this done. I am not saying it is the best but probably the only way I would do it.
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Todd Brandt
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• Geyserville, CA, USA |
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• Registered on 12/30/2003 |
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• 18 posts |
• 1
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Posted:1/7/2004 15:13 |
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I understand what you are describing now. I guess you could also tap into the OEM signal at the factory speaker locations, then send the signal to a converter, into the amp, and then from the amp back to your aftermarket speakers. This would eliminate the need to cut wires underneath the dash, and let you put it back to the stock condition if you ever needed to. Just a thought. Thanks for the information. |
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Cody Wendt
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• Omaha, NE, USA |
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• Registered on 1/7/2004 |
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• 9 posts |
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Posted:1/8/2004 16:09 |
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Numerous ways....
1.) Use amplifiers that have the converters built in. You'll know if they do if they advertise that they have "Speaker-Level Inputs". You could then tap into your existing speaker wiring and run it directly to the speaker-level inputs of the amp. Not many amps come with these inputs anymore but they're still available.
2.) Most factory radios emit very low wattage signals (except the Mach radio found in some Fords). Many times, the existing speaker wiring can be tapped into and ran to a RCA plug which is then plugged into the Line-Level inputs of the amps. Turn the gain all the way down on the amp and it puts it at about the right level for listening. This is probably the least recommended method. DEFINITELY not to be used with low $$ amps.
3.) As mentioned above, tap into the existing speaker wiring and run it to a Speaker-Level to Line-Level converter. Then you just need an RCA patchcord to run between the converter and your amp (in addition to the power, ground, and remote turn on, which you will need to run no matter which method you use).
As a side note, 3M makes a connector that is quite convenient when splicing into wiring. It simply clamps around the wire and lets you plug a 1/4" male spade connector into it. No cutting and splicing required. Then, when you want to remove everything, you can simply unlplug your wiring and just leave the small clamps in place. If they weren't yellow, they would be hardly noticible and allows you to leave all of the factory wiring intact.
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Todd Brandt
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• Geyserville, CA, USA |
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• Registered on 12/30/2003 |
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• 18 posts |
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Posted:1/12/2004 09:39 |
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Thanks for the information. Does anyone know the best repair manual out there for the X. Taking apart doors, factory wiring, Etc...... |
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Raymond Golson
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• Piscataway, NJ, USA |
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• Registered on 8/19/2002 |
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• 68 posts |
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Posted:1/12/2004 11:05 |
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Todd,
Got this from Bill over on DieselStop.Com, he has the sub set up in his spare tire spot, looks just like the real deal 
The sub is an easy one to do if you made boxes before. Mine worked out to
be two 31" dia sheets of mdf wrapped with two sheets of 8" bender board.
Bender board is a 3/8' sheet of mdf with cut marks through it. It.s hard to
find but you can make your own with mdf. Cut 3/4" mdf with a table saw
every 1/2" at about 1/2" deep. wrap glue and nail then reseal the cuts with
wood filler. seal with silicone and your done I have a few pics.at
www.mobileaudioworld.com under king suv that should help. I'm now working
on a sub box for the rear doors that I should have finished soon
Bill, thanks again for the information!!  
2000 Excursion Ltd 4x4, Air Raid, Good Year 305x70x16 on stock rim, Reflex shocks, ACCER DVD system, JVC audio system, stainless steel bug shield - TRADED! Black 2003 Excursion Ltd 4x4, loaded! SWAPPED! White 2003 Excursion Eddie Bauer, loaded also! Will stay stock for the winter months ahead! |
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LANDYOT
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• Subscriber since 11/23/2003 |
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• Newport News, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 7/15/2003 |
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• 1,110 posts |
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Posted:1/12/2004 14:50 |
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Todd - You can't beat the factory service manual AND wiring diagrams from HelmInc.com The CD version (pirated copy?) sometimes available at eBay is "OK", but I like to be able to flip back & forth between hard pages ... especially more convenient when perusing the wiring diagrams. The factory manuals are expensive (I think I paid around $240), but mine have already saved at least three times their cost in service work I accomplished myself. |
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Todd Brandt
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• Geyserville, CA, USA |
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• Registered on 12/30/2003 |
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• 18 posts |
• 1
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Posted:1/29/2004 09:27 |
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Do most stereo shops fish new wire into the doors when upgrading the speakers and sound system? Is it difficult to get new wire into the doors? I need to know what to expect, and what to ask for when I take my X in for the new components (Speakers, Amps, Subs). |
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