So a couple friends and I did stereo system upgrades recently (my buddy has the 95 Sahara in the background) I based the equipment on some suggestions on this board, budget, and desire to keep a factory look. I snapped some pics along the way, although not as many as I should have!
Here’s the list of what I installed:
Head Unit - Alpine CDE 172 BT Alpine Head Unit
Amp - Soundstream Picasso Nano amp
Front Speakers - Kicker 5 1/4“ CSC5 Front Speakers
Rear Soundbar Speakers -Kicker 5 1/4” CSC5 Rear soundbar speakers
Sub (retrofit into center console sub) - Kicker CompRT 6.75”Console subwoofer
Amp wire kit - TopstrongGear 8 Guage Amp wire kit
First thing I tackled was where to put the amp! Some on this board suggested under the steering column, so that’s where I started. I ran into an issue where it looked like there was already a small “box” installed on a bracket in that location. I discovered this was a factory installed satellite radio module. I decided to remove the old module and attempt to use the mounting bracket from it for a nice clean install spot. I did use a cutting board with some spacers to allow the amp to “breathe” on all sides.
Next I mounted the amp in the factory bracket location under the steering column.
Next came soldering and heat shrinking all connections for the wiring.
Ran all the wiring within the dash for the speakers, to the amp, and routed to the head unit. It was at this time I tackled the center console sub. I forgot to take pics during this as well as during routing the wiring up the roll bar and into the soundbar (speaker pods). I removed the center console to run the speaker wire under it and hide the wiring. The sub install required snipping some of the interior baffles of the factory sub box, but I was able to screw into the previous sub mounting hole. I removed the old amp from the center console box and covered the hole with Eastwood sound deadening material. I then reinstalled in reverse order.
After reinstalling the console sub and running all other wires I was able to install the speakers. I used Crutchfield relocation brackets for the front speakers. The rear speakers fit perfectly into the pods.
I ran the power wire through the firewall in the driver footwell by carefully cutting a slit into the hardtop washer fluid line grommet.
As you can see in the second pic above, I put sheath around the 8 gauge wire to run through the engine bay. I then mounted the inline fuse with 3m two sided tape to the firewall above the battery. I connected the wire by bolting onto the positive connection in the fuse block.
Finally I installed and connected the head unit and began the fun of fine tuning the amp!
Here’s the list of what I installed:
Head Unit - Alpine CDE 172 BT Alpine Head Unit
Amp - Soundstream Picasso Nano amp
Front Speakers - Kicker 5 1/4“ CSC5 Front Speakers
Rear Soundbar Speakers -Kicker 5 1/4” CSC5 Rear soundbar speakers
Sub (retrofit into center console sub) - Kicker CompRT 6.75”Console subwoofer
Amp wire kit - TopstrongGear 8 Guage Amp wire kit
First thing I tackled was where to put the amp! Some on this board suggested under the steering column, so that’s where I started. I ran into an issue where it looked like there was already a small “box” installed on a bracket in that location. I discovered this was a factory installed satellite radio module. I decided to remove the old module and attempt to use the mounting bracket from it for a nice clean install spot. I did use a cutting board with some spacers to allow the amp to “breathe” on all sides.
Next I mounted the amp in the factory bracket location under the steering column.
Next came soldering and heat shrinking all connections for the wiring.
Ran all the wiring within the dash for the speakers, to the amp, and routed to the head unit. It was at this time I tackled the center console sub. I forgot to take pics during this as well as during routing the wiring up the roll bar and into the soundbar (speaker pods). I removed the center console to run the speaker wire under it and hide the wiring. The sub install required snipping some of the interior baffles of the factory sub box, but I was able to screw into the previous sub mounting hole. I removed the old amp from the center console box and covered the hole with Eastwood sound deadening material. I then reinstalled in reverse order.
After reinstalling the console sub and running all other wires I was able to install the speakers. I used Crutchfield relocation brackets for the front speakers. The rear speakers fit perfectly into the pods.
I ran the power wire through the firewall in the driver footwell by carefully cutting a slit into the hardtop washer fluid line grommet.
As you can see in the second pic above, I put sheath around the 8 gauge wire to run through the engine bay. I then mounted the inline fuse with 3m two sided tape to the firewall above the battery. I connected the wire by bolting onto the positive connection in the fuse block.
Finally I installed and connected the head unit and began the fun of fine tuning the amp!
