Ideas for Stereo System for 2007 Precedent

[OutCole'd]

Originally Posted by Chipster27

I just installed an Elite dash in my Precedent and really like the fit and the placement of the speakers. You lose all the cubby space behind the dash, but the Elite dash does have a cubby compartment and an open tray on the top.

Here's mine. I removed the bottom cubby space and custom fabricated a switch plate and housing wrapped in carbon fiber. I also build some speaker pods to go behind the speakers because I wanted to give them a closed space for better sound instead of all the dead space behind the dash.

You are obviously compensating for being hung like a light switch.

Looks great buddy, I can't wait to "borrow" it this Summer.

[Chipster27]

Originally Posted by OutCole'd

You are obviously compensating for being hung like a light switch

Not with my golf cart, but everything else I own has those implications.

[Down South]

I ordered the carbon. Now to select a radio W/CD player and speakers. I'm thinking a marine radio since my cart sits in the weather at the camp ground and some type of speakers that can handle moisture.
What kind of radio antenna are you guys using?

Chipster, nice job on building the switch plate and housing to fit that cubby space.

Ordered my fender flares too.

[8-point]

"Marine" radio and speakers is the way to go. My antenna is equal to this one which is mounted horizontally behind the dash:

Amazon.com: Boss MRANT12 Marine Dipole Hideaway Antenna (Black): Electronics

Amazon.com: Boss MRANT12 Marine Dipole Hideaway Antenna (Black): Electronics

That's a real nice looking dash you got coming, the "Elite" ...got me thinking about changing, but the one for the DS doesn't look that good.

And you'll enjoy those fender flares, just mounted mine last night...

[Chipster27]

Originally Posted by Down South

I ordered the carbon.
Chipster, nice job on building the switch plate and housing to fit that cubby space.

Thanks. The face of the switch plate was used from the old cubby tray so it matches the rest of the dash. Carbon would have been my second choice but since my car was going to have silver on it I went with silver.

Don't be discouraged when you open the box and the dash seems very thin and flimsy, once you install the dash it becomes very rigid

With respect to the antenna, I wasn't going to use one. My radio has a USB connector for my iPod and if I run my iPhone it will control Pandora from my iPhone. Although a radio might not be bad....

[lowkota11]

Chipster,

What did you make the cubby hole mounting plate out of? Really like the way you have kept things clean and well laid out. Thanks for any info.

[Chipster27]

Originally Posted by lowkota11

Chipster,

What did you make the cubby hole mounting plate out of? Really like the way you have kept things clean and well laid out. Thanks for any info.

Thanks. I removed the existing cubby hole/box and cut it up to make the face place. I then constructed a new box out of MDF and used the faceplate I created on the new box.

The one thing I didn't like was the fact that the faceplate was curved on the sides. I just didn't look like it fit right so I tossed it and fabricated a completely new faceplate out of 1/8" MDF then painted it with the "hammered" silver paint. Here's a pic of the old faceplate being glued to some MDF, the box I constructed the old faceplate (you can see the rounded sides and finally the new faceplate made from MDF then painted with the hammered silver paint.

[lowkota11]

Excellent Craftsmanship and job well done. Very jealous. One other thing, what material and procedure did you use behind the dash? The part that holds your power converter and accessory wires. Thanks a bunch

[Chipster27]

Originally Posted by lowkota11

Excellent Craftsmanship and job well done. Very jealous. One other thing, what material and procedure did you use behind the dash? The part that holds your power converter and accessory wires. Thanks a bunch

Thanks! I used MDF. Appreciate your comments about the work. I made most of these parts 2-3 times because I didn't like the way they fit, looked or the function. Drove my girlfriend nuts because she kept saying, it's good enough. The irony is that most of this stuff won't be seen
Pics below:
Cardboard template for MDF
MDF piece cut - First generation. i didn't like the fit and made another one
Wiring on the underside of the MDF
Wiring behind the dash. Most of this is under the MDF. The yellow and black wires were cleaned up on final assembly.
Wiring in to fuse/power distribution block

[Down South]

Originally Posted by Chipster27

Thanks. The face of the switch plate was used from the old cubby tray so it matches the rest of the dash. Carbon would have been my second choice but since my car was going to have silver on it I went with silver.

Don't be discouraged when you open the box and the dash seems very thin and flimsy, once you install the dash it becomes very rigid

With respect to the antenna, I wasn't going to use one. My radio has a USB connector for my iPod and if I run my iPhone it will control Pandora from my iPhone. Although a radio might not be bad....

Got all the "Stuff" in. The dash came with no instructions. Did yours?