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Hatchback Stereo Install.


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Spent the weekend with the '86 hatch. I am posting this to create a thread with details for not only my hatchback, but also for EA81 owners. Please feel free to use this thread to post details about your own stereo install. I only ask that it be specific to the EA81 genre.

The hatchback has the usual front speakers for the EA81 bodies; 4x6 on the passenger vent side, and an odd 2x3ish on the drivers side of the dash. The rear is like a 4-4.5" pair located above the rear fender area. All run via a "common ground" wiring set up.

The above said, here are some pictures of my current project. The rear speakers have been replaced with 5.25" speakers. The fronts use a 4x6 and a 3.5" (I simply did not want to fight putting a 4x6 in on the drivers side). All have new wires running to the head unit. I also installed Raamat as I went along to help improve the acoustics and sound deadening. There will be an 8" Image Dynamics sub installed in the rear.

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Edited by TheYeti
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Here is a picture of the stock harness.  I know there is no constant since the stocker is an old push-button.  Here is the information:

The top harness in the picture is for speaker line-out and nothing else.

 

Bottom harness in the picture has the following:

 

Red with blue stripe- Illumination (when lights are turned on).

Red with green stripe- The test light would dim and brighten with the dimmer knob, so I think this is the wire that will dim the stock radio with the dash.

Blue- switched/accessory (+12v)

Black- ground

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Edited by TheYeti
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The head unit is in and everything works. The console is just a little more blue than I would like, but not too bad (the camera light makes it look REALLY blue). I was able to use part of the old stock harness, but as posted in other threads, a wire for constant needs to be run to the battery or tapped somewhere. I ran a wire to the battery along with the power cable for the amp. I will post these details when I get around to building the enclosure for the sub.

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Edited by TheYeti
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The enclosure is made from a 10" concrete tube, fiberglass, 3/4" MDF, and Rammat. All of this stuff was sitting in the garage. The MDF is cut to make the ends of the enclosure. Once the ends are in place, I pour some fiberglass resin in the tube and roll it around the base and sides. The resin will creep into any gaps and help to create a strong, air tight seal. After it cures, I used the fiberglass and material to line the walls of the tube to create a more rigid and durable enclosure. A couple of layers should be adequate. The Rammat is placed over that... just because I felt like doing it :). I used a Dremel to cut the hole to install the wiring connection.

 

For this install, I mounted my enclosure to a platform. This gives me a place to mount the amp, and provides a solid base that won't slide around in the back. Here are some pictures.

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Edited by TheYeti
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