1966 Coupe - Looking for Radio Advice

PoppyMod · Oct 10, 2010

tx65coupe said:
Thats kinda what I thought it was. It was a neat idea. I guess thats what the Mach 460 or Mach 500 stereo system was back then.

My last post made more sense when I was typing it. It was supposed to be two separate statements. The second about the retro radios.

"What other units are there". A Google search will undoubtedly turn over a few rocks. Most all of the Mustang vendors carry vintage/retro units and most all are made by Kenwood, I believe.
Personally, I chose to have my OEM (a donor) upgrade with modern functionality including a MP3 port. This is the most expensive, but, you retain you OEM look.
BTW, I think, I still have several retro radios for sale that I have used over the years before doing the conversion.

mycaptainchris · Oct 10, 2010

sparx said:
No I am an old bugger, no Ipod!
To prove it I recall the 4-Track tape player, came out before the 8 track!
Of course I also recall when there were NO tape players period.

I recently converted my parents to ipods and they're still trying to decide if they prefer beta over VHS. Try one you'll be hooked.

2+2GT · Oct 10, 2010

tx65coupe said:
That old school reverb system is pretty cool.

I have heard some people speak badly of those units too. What other retro style units are there? Also, I still don't see how the display on that one works.

Oh- The knobs work as original, except the right outer is balance, while the OE was usually a dummy. I forget which is the fader. The AM/FM slide switch works, too.

The pushbuttons don't tune the radio, they are the controls for the remote CD changer. I think they also control your iPod, if you get the USB adapter.

I have worked on a number of these, already installed, and a few the owners complained they sounded lousy. In all of those cases, it turned out to be wired wrong. I'm not saying they don't go bad, I've just never seen it, FWIW.

horseballz · Oct 10, 2010

Another source for radios that fit:

RetroSoundUSA.com - 1968-79 FORD F250 & F100 Truck Retrosound Model One Am/FM Radio w/ Infinimount Bracket System

I don't know if they are any better quality than the Custom Auto Sound. All I know is what's on their website. They look OK.
HTH,
Gene

66 Restomod · Oct 11, 2010

I went with non-standard speakers in hidden locations, left the stock radio in the dash, but installed a new more functional radio under the dash. I think it looks pretty good, very stock appearing, and was inexpensive. I have some more info here, if this helps: stereo install in 66 coupe

tx65coupe · Oct 12, 2010

PoppyMod said:
"What other units are there". A Google search will undoubtedly turn over a few rocks. Most all of the Mustang vendors carry vintage/retro units and most all are made by Kenwood, I believe.
Personally, I chose to have my OEM (a donor) upgrade with modern functionality including a MP3 port. This is the most expensive, but, you retain you OEM look.
BTW, I think, I still have several retro radios for sale that I have used over the years before doing the conversion.

Which ones do you have for sale? Can you post or PM me the model numbers and how much you want for them?

afreejack · Oct 12, 2010

I went with a custom audiosound USA-66 with speakers in the front kickpanels. I like the fact that it looks like it's original but it isnt. The radio did come with a 3.5 mm plug that you can plug into any mp3, ipod, or portable tape player and listen through the stereo (I routed mine to inside the glove box so I can just put the ipod in there instead of laying it on the rug) or you can get a cd changer or ipod hookup. The "preset buttons" on the front are not presets, but are actually controls for a cd changer or ipod (with the correct cable).

The only mistake I made was using a hidden, powered antenna. The reception just sucks. when I get around to it, I'll be putting a regular antenna on the car soon and, hopefully, that will take care of it. For now, we dont bother listening to the radio when we drive it.

PoppyMod · Oct 12, 2010

afreejack said:
I went with a custom audiosound USA-66 with speakers in the front kickpanels. I like the fact that it looks like it's original but it isnt. The radio did come with a 3.5 mm plug that you can plug into any mp3, ipod, or portable tape player and listen through the stereo (I routed mine to inside the glove box so I can just put the ipod in there instead of laying it on the rug) or you can get a cd changer or ipod hookup. The "preset buttons" on the front are not presets, but are actually controls for a cd changer or ipod (with the correct cable).

The only mistake I made was using a hidden, powered antenna. The reception just sucks. when I get around to it, I'll be putting a regular antenna on the car soon and, hopefully, that will take care of it. For now, we dont bother listening to the radio when we drive it.

Do those radios support a power antenna?

Loup-garou · Oct 13, 2010

Since you've gone to all the trouble of fixing that hacked dashboard, you should definitely go with one of the purpose-built head units that have been mentioned here (Custom Autosound or Kenwood). I'd get one that has a rear accessory jack (3.5 mm stereo plug); that gives you the ability to input .mp3 files from a player (or, if you have a smartphone, you can stream tunes from Pandora - very neat trick).

Right now, Crutchfield has a great price on a piece of equipment called the Kenwood KOS-A300 CarPortal. It plugs into that rear accessory jack and allows other gear to be hooked up, whether an HD radio tuner, an iPod, or if you want to keep it simple, a thumbdrive loaded with .mp3 files. The Kenwood unit comes with a small LCD screen and control knob which could be hidden in a console, with a bit of ingenuity. Original price was approx. $300 for the KOS-A300; now it's $80.00 new in the box.

Just thought I'd mention it; the Kenwood CarPortal system is well-suited to "hidden" installations in these classics.

sparx · Oct 13, 2010

Thanks Loup

I am trying to find a Kenwood old looking radio for my 1966, but so far no luck.

I am not sure I can trust CAS.

EDIT: OK I found Kenwoods made for 66 Mustangs, at Champion Mustangs.
64-66 Kenwood 801 Radio, CD Control (Chrome Face) Kenwood 801 Radio, CD Control (1964-66, Chrome Face) [KNW-801-5C] - $269.99 : Champion Mustang, Online shopping for Exterior & Interior Parts, Accessories, Air Conditioning, Resto-Mod & more
But at the bottom of the page is states: "Supplied by CustomAutosounds"

WTF?

sparx

tx65coupe · Oct 14, 2010

That Kenwood one is what I always wanted to get. I used to have the basic Kenwood that was all black that had the same buttons. What we need is that Kenwood unit with Ipod or USB connections.

iskwezm · Oct 14, 2010

afreejack said:
The only mistake I made was using a hidden, powered antenna. The reception just sucks. when I get around to it, I'll be putting a regular antenna on the car soon and, hopefully, that will take care of it. For now, we dont bother listening to the radio when we drive it.

I had the same type of antenna and it does suck. I now have a mast antenna extended and ran under the dash.Make sure it has a good ground. Or you can use a boat type adapter that just grounds the antenna plug

afreejack · Oct 14, 2010

Poppy, I should have said "amplified". Its one of those that is basically a block that you put hidden somewhere. with a 12v lead hooked up (mine is hooked up to the keyed 12v power for the radio.) for "amplification" (I put it in quotes because I don't think it's amplified in any way, shape, or form.

iskwezm, I plan on doing the same thing when I get around to it. I'll definently make sure it's grounded too.

Steelcityfan29 · Oct 14, 2010

Custom Auto Sound is an excellent company, I was an installer and salesman and they also are a subsidiary of Kenwood Sales.. so they are the same company.

hivewax · Oct 14, 2010

Year One has lifetime warranty on Custom Auto Sound Kenwood radios. That's where I got my CAS Kenwood KNW801A radio back in '05. Returned it once with no questions asked. I don't know if policy has changed since then.

tx65coupe · Oct 15, 2010

hivewax said:
Year One has lifetime warranty on Custom Auto Sound Kenwood radios. That's where I got my CAS Kenwood KNW801A radio back in '05. Returned it once with no questions asked. I don't know if policy has changed since then.

All I see on Year One's website in Ken Harrison radios.

Kman · Oct 15, 2010

I have had the USA-66 in my 65 for over three years now. I have one dual cone dash speaker and two 6x9's in the rear deck. Far from earthshaking but it sounds decent and no issues at all with the radio so far.

Loup-garou · Oct 16, 2010

sparx said:
Thanks Loup

I am trying to find a Kenwood old looking radio for my 1966, but so far no luck.

I am not sure I can trust CAS.

EDIT: OK I found Kenwoods made for 66 Mustangs, at Champion Mustangs.
64-66 Kenwood 801 Radio, CD Control (Chrome Face) Kenwood 801 Radio, CD Control (1964-66, Chrome Face) [KNW-801-5C] - $269.99 : Champion Mustang, Online shopping for Exterior & Interior Parts, Accessories, Air Conditioning, Resto-Mod & more
But at the bottom of the page is states: "Supplied by CustomAutosounds"

WTF?

sparx

Odd, I don't remember many complaints about these "retrofit" radios when they were marketed under the JVC and Kenwood brand names. Custom Autosound, though, has certainly been slammed in forums such as this. Now it turns out that CAS is a Kenwood subsidiary - hmm.

Well, I did notice that the prices for those Kenwood/CAS head units (which are based on older designs which sell for a pittance compared with the newer stuff) are still priced waaaay up there, especially for the '65-'66 models. Expletive deleted.

Have a look at the Retrosound products. Their solution to the early models' radio knob placement is a unique one. I like that they come with a remote control and a SD card / USB flashdrive reader which the user can hide (in the ashtray, for example). Google "RetrosoundUSA" for the website. Some Mustang vendors have these radios priced less than the CAS models. Don't know about their products from personal experience, but it looks like something worth researching.

PoppyMod · Oct 16, 2010

Kenwood Radio

Hey folks,

For anyone interested, I may have one or two laying around if interested. PM me if interested.
Just a thought.

Chris67stang · Jun 13, 2011

I am about to install a CAS radio in a 67 Mustang. There was a (cheap nonworking) CD player installed in it when I got it. I noticed a Hide-Away Antenna under the dash. I also noticed another antenna wire running to the lower kick panel, it stops on the other side with a odd connection. There does not appear to be a old antenna location on the front fender. What do you recommend as the best antenna option, Hide-Away(where to install) or exterior Vertical Antenna?

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