Chris, the 8 track is WAY cool! Dad used to have a few 8 tracks back in the day, by Glen Campbell, The Lettermen, etc... not exactly what comes to mind as Z car music, though....

I've heard that some of the newer head end units, as they are called now, feature a USB port. So maybe the thing to do is to install it in the glove box or under a seat where it's not noticeable. It should be easy to add an amp to this setup, too.

Has anyone found a modern speaker that will fit in the stock speaker mount? I'm wondering if there is a good 2-way or 3-way speaker that would work. A modern speaker might help improve the sound.

Get a head unit with an IR remote, mount the radio under the seat, clip the remote to the seatbelt! Poof handy controls that are easily hidden! Mount a piece of clear tubing to the ir sensor on the radio face, and run it inside the rocker and through the dash to the center vent. Position the end of the tubing just behind the vent where adjusting the vent will not move the tubing.

The IR signal will follow the tubing to control the head unit.

Will