I am quite lost installing an amplifier in my 240z

[simzger]

hi there

i own a series one 240z, all stock, and want to add an amplifier and speakers and have some questions i'd be very glad if someone could help.

maybe it is important to say that i want to play music from my ipod, which connects directly to the amp, so there is no need to alter the stock stereo and the stock speaker on the left rear, it will just be left stock, and stay there.

this is my plan:

1) my amplifier goes either under the driver or the passenger seat. this is the amp i have. its height is 1.75 inches: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-CaKncmNlJE6/p_108KAPPA5V/Infinity-Kappa-Five.html

2) from that amplifier, there will be an aux cable where i can connect my iphone / ipod to the amp.

3) i got this panel from MSA for the back: http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/50-5351

4) i got these kick panels from derek for the front, http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?41202-Low-profile-kick-panel-speaker-pods-now-available

i also do have fitting 5-1/4" speakers for the kick panels and 6x9" for the back panel, both made by JBL.

i also do have an amp wire kit, something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Pyramid-PBIN3-Amplifier-Installation-Wiring/dp/B0002OPKCW/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1324133960&sr=8-8

the alternator on my z was upgraded a 60 watt one.

i have never done this. i think i will be able to put the amp under the seat, and install the speakers. but as for the rest (wiring) i have no clue. as the z is all stock right now, it's of utmost importance to me that nothing is irreversibly altered when doing this. also, it's important to me that the cables are hidden. i think hiding the cables to the back is not that much of a problem due to the carpet, but what about the speaker cables to the kick panel speakers? or the power supply from the engine compartment to the amp under the seat? i am not even sure if the height (1.75") of the amp is not too much for placing it underneath the seat.

can anyone tell me how to proceed to get this to work, and make sure that the cables are hidden as good as possible? are there existing channels to put cables through? how will the power come to the amplifier?

i am a little lost and will be thankful for any help. btw i am not very Z savvy.

thank you very much

simzger

Edited December 17, 2011 by simzger

[cozye]

You will have to take the carpet and vinyl up to run the wiring. You may be able to fish it under the vinyl, I believe it's glued down on your car. The scuff plate on the door jam will come up and allow you to run the wire in the corner. It's not that difficult really. Personally I think running your iPod straight off the amp is a bad idea. You will have no control over any audio settings, you will be amplifying from a source that was meant for headphones. It will probably sound like crap. You will have to control volume and song selection from the iPod, which will be cumbersome and dangerous while driving. You won't be able to adjust even the most basic of functions like fade, etc..

Just spend $200 more on a head unit that does iPod controls and be done with it. Take your stock stereo and put it away. It's all reversible and shouldn't affect value

[cozye]

And technically, unless you want a sub you don't even need an amp. 22w head unit will fill the car with sound sufficiently. I put a sub in mine, but it's a powered sub so I still don't have a separate amp and it's plenty loud

[simzger]

You will have to take the carpet and vinyl up to run the wiring. You may be able to fish it under the vinyl, I believe it's glued down on your car. The scuff plate on the door jam will come up and allow you to run the wire in the corner. It's not that difficult really.

hi cozye

thanks for the reply.

however it is still not very clear for me. so i will attach the cable to the car battery. but how will i get the power cable from the engine bay into the cabin? and where will the cable enter the cabin? and from there, where exactly do i hide the cable? is there a way without ripping out any vinyl that is glued to the car? maybe by just hiding it under carpets? or putting it beneath the middle console?

best

simzger

[simzger]

Personally I think running your iPod straight off the amp is a bad idea. You will have no control over any audio settings, you will be amplifying from a source that was meant for headphones. It will probably sound like crap. You will have to control volume and song selection from the iPod, which will be cumbersome and dangerous while driving. You won't be able to adjust even the most basic of functions like fade, etc..

Just spend $200 more on a head unit that does iPod controls and be done with it. Take your stock stereo and put it away. It's all reversible and shouldn't affect value

hi cozye

as for the headphone source, i think that should be fine. otherwise i could use this: http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Unlimited-iPod-Connector-Cable/dp/B000CBFVXS/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1324143400&sr=8-7 which uses the ipod dock connector and converts to cinch, this should bypass a potential quality problem.

as for the controls, i was thinking of this:

so i can control the ipod from my steering wheel.

sound controls like bass and such are not that necessary for me, i will just set it once, and if it needs further adjustment i could do it in the ipod with its equalizer.

i think this solution is good as many of my friends want to plug in either their ipods or whatever device.

[cozye]

Depends on the draw of the amp. A small amp you should be able to power off the acc circuit. You can go direct to the battery, but you will want to power the remote power wire to something off the ignition so it turns off the amp when you shut the car off. This is what I did for my powered sub. As far as hiding the wires, there are many options. If you can get the carpets up you should be able to run most of it along side the factory harness on the passenger side of the car in the floor near the inside of the rockers. It will become obvious when you dig into it. For the remote power source you can splice off the radio power wire or tap off one do the white ignition wires near the fuse box. Just get a voltmeter and verify it shuts off when the car does and that it's hit in the acc position

[jackboxxx]

Hi Simzger

I have the same speaker unit in the back of my 71 Z car, but I left my stock unit in the dash as you plan to do. I instead installed an inexpensive kenwood headunit in the same box with the 6x9 speakers...see pics below...the kenwood came with a remote control, so...I can control the basic functions from the front seat....I just click the remote over my right shoulder...it works out pretty well..once you have all your preset stations and sound levels configured...its easy to control. you would want to find a headunit with an i pod dock input of course...

As for wiring I followed the factory harness on the drivers side..INSIDE the quarter panel, then it comes out at the bottom of dogleg area, runs under the vinyl along the floor at the scuff plate, behind the left kick panel and up to the steering column area. I did NOT need an amp...the headunit supplies 25watts a channel x 4 ( plenty for the 2 kicker 6x9's )

So, rather than go to the battery, I used "t tap connectors" into the constant 12v for memory and ACC wire for power supply. I did not cut wires. its been 4 years since i did this, and no problems at all. If I was doing a high powered amplifier setup I would of course run to the battery..and put a fusable link inline..do not hook up your amp to the ignition harness...I still have the factory am radio hooked up to the stock speaker, so I can turn it on for nostalgia if I wanted too...

[cozye]

^^ this is a good idea. Much less wiring, will probably sound better. You could probably even mount the deck in a small box behind the seat.

[jackboxxx]

^^ this is a good idea. Much less wiring, will probably sound better. You could probably even mount the deck in a small box behind the seat.

it was a simple install...just the 2 wires going forward....for his application with the kick panel speakers he will need the extra 4 wires going forward for the speakers...

[esmit208]

Simzger

The center console comes out easily and has plenty of room underneath it if you do decide to go with a new head unit. After the wires exit the rear of the console it is just a matter of running them through the aforementioned dogleg into the quarter panel and then rearward. I already have done my 1970 (see AVATAR) like that. The main harness firewall location has plenty of room to run an additional wire through to the battery. AND BY ALL MEANS DON'T CUT AND WIRE INTO THE IGNITION HARNESS. Solder all connections. NO BUTT CONNECTORS. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to go to a professional installer with your plan an $200 or so.

[simzger]

hi all

thanks a lot for your answers.

i will have some time the next couple of days and look into the options.

best

simzger

[simzger]

hi there

i had some time this week and i checked out my car and the short version is, that i still do not know how to proceed.

the first issue is that the amplifier will not fit under the seat. that's because i was stupid and only considered the width between the seat rails, but totally forgot about that structural piece of metal (i think it's called seat support) that limits the space big time.

Therefore i will have to think of a different place to put the amp. it's not very big (7"W x 1.75"H x 14"D) - does anyone have a good idea where to put it? I think behind the seat would be a good idea, currently there are plastic tool box things there (i have a series one), i may remove one and put the amp there. i don't know how to tighten it down there as of yet though.

what gives me more of a headache and i would appreciate help is how to do all the cable stuff. i am not very z savvy and have no idea how to proceed.

i have some questions:

- after i connected the power cable to the battery in the hood, how do i get it into the inside of the car? what hole do i use?

- where will the power cable then enter into the inside of the car? by the glove compartment on the passenger side? or somewhere on the driver side?

- from there, where exactly do i go with the cable to get it to the amp behind the seat in a stealth way? through the middle console?

- from the amp behind the seat, how can i get cables to the speaker panel in the back in a stealth way?

- from the amp behind the seat, how can i get cables to the kicker panels?

- how can i ensure the amp turns off when i turn off the car? what do i have to solder exactly? and where? i have no knowledge about electronics.

i would appreciate it very much if someone could help me. i am a total dummie and i know this is a lot of info that i am asking for but i am sure it would also help others who try the same thing.

thank you very much

simzger