TC's "61derful" - A 61 Short Fleet Show and Competition Sound Build

[par4tom]

Background on This Truck - this truck was purchased by my dad back in May of 1966, and has been in the family since then. During this time, it has seen many years of use as a farm truck and has gone through two or three medium restorations.

Since about 1998, the truck has sat in my dad's garage and was being used as a storage bin for bicycles, toys and various varment droppings.

Back in 2012, my dad had had some health issues and so on a lark, I unloaded all the junk, pushed it out onto the driveway and proceeded to clean it up a bit. Had I known on that day the direction this truck in my life would take I probably would've taken a couple of pictures or pushed it off a bridge!!!

However, like a lot of you guys out there, you never really know what you're getting into until it is too late and you've been sucked into this serious addiction that should require massive amounts of counseling or public floggings.

My original intent was simply clean it up a bit fix a few carburetor and vacuum leaks and get that thing running again. However, as you will soon see I was not successful in stopping at this point.

Background on me - I am 53 years young and have loved cars and trucks just like a lot of you guys out there going back to the days when I was a kid. I actually learned to drive on this truck at about age 9 or 10 when my dad would take me out to teach me how to drive.

During the 1980s, I fell in love with Chevy trucks and my first truck was a 1975 Chevy stepside. Also during the early 80s, car stereos were becoming all the rage and I was always tinkering.

In the late 1990s, I built my first competition sound system and competed for a couple of years. I was fortunate enough to go undefeated on the competition sound so good here out on the West Coast during that time. I always felt that there was a higher degree of satisfaction when you did the work yourself versus jobbing it out to a shop someplace.

Somebody must've liked my work because in 2000 my car was featured at the consumer electronics show in Las Vegas. A couple of years later I was asked to build a truck for CES and while at CES I was asked by a producer from one of the FAST ANd FURIOUS movies to build a truck for their upcoming movie.

Now… Before anyone thinks that I am some hot-shot builder I can assure you that I am not. I'm just an enthusiast who loves great cars and trucks and loves what you guys are doing here on this forum. I hope I can give back to some here on this forum as much as it has given me.

Sound systems do not appear to be a the most popular topic here on this forum. I'm hoping that more guys will take an interest in creating incredible sound systems in these incredible trucks through this thread...

So without further ado and a lot of detail work still to go here is my build thread...

God's Best To Each One of You!

Tom

Early pic November 2012 - bit of rust along with 52 years of oil, grease and dirt

[par4tom]

Here are some pics from my first car show. Out of about 450 cars, I was one of about 20 to win an award!!!

[par4tom]

Another angle Attachment 1526067

[par4tom]

Interior shot with IPAD Mini in the center console

[par4tom]

Headliner with Tweeter on Far Side in the A pillar. I plan to cover the bottom portion of the pillar in the next few weeks.

[par4tom]

Another

[Low Elco]

Good looking stuff! HOw do you find the Pioneer HU comparing to pre-Ipod Alpines? You know, the good stuff? I'm on the hunt for another circa 2003 alpine hu now. CAn't wait to see more!

[par4tom]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Good looking stuff! HOw do you find the Pioneer HU comparing to pre-Ipod Alpines? You know, the good stuff? I'm on the hunt for another circa 2003 alpine hu now. CAn't wait to see more!

There really is no comparison anymore. While the earlier generation Alpines were great units, the latest generation of headunits with DSP allows you 1/3 octave equalization for 6 channels, variable crossover points, superior high quality d/a converters that are more musical than the old generation of d/a converters. Plus...this head unit has a microphone and pink noise generator that will solve all of the in-cabin acoustical problems including time alignments.

I never thought I would see the day that you could get all of this in a head unit. Plug in the mic...tape it to the headrest and in about 45 seconds the entire spectrum is swept flat including time alignment...

If you're not into all of this to this level...then the older Alpine units are still some of the best ever made. Especially the F1 series...

[Low Elco]

Originally Posted by par4tom

There really is no comparison anymore. While the earlier generation Alpines were great units, the latest generation of headunits with DSP allows you 1/3 octave equalization for 6 channels, variable crossover points, superior high quality d/a converters that are more musical than the old generation of d/a converters. Plus...this head unit has a microphone and pink noise generator that will solve all of the in-cabin acoustical problems including time alignments.

I never thought I would see the day that you could get all of this in a head unit. Plug in the mic...tape it to the headrest and in about 45 seconds the entire spectrum is swept flat including time alignment...

If you're not into all of this to this level...then the older Alpine units are still some of the best ever made. Especially the F1 series...

I've been into this for a while. Current truck has an Audison Bit Ten, stock HU, JL 360/4, JL 1000 for the sub, focal separates in the front, focal coax in the back doors, and 2 infinity DVC 10's. Less than happy, particularly with the midrange. Every time I've installed my own stuff, it's been good. EVery time I've paid, it's not gone well. Anyway, I'm considering a new HU. Thanks for the advice.

[par4tom]

The Audison Bit 10 is a piece I have not messed with before, however when I was still with Zapco we had come out with the DSP-6...so I am familiar somewhat with what the digital processors can do with a Tos-Link Input. I know a lot of guys like the Audison Product. Correct me if I am wrong but I think it also processes a stock headunit signal like the JL Audio Clean Sweep?

Pioneer has two HU's out right now with the DSP processors built in. In addition, they supposedly had done a ton of work on the DA Converter section in their headunits to ensure absolute sonic nirvana. I can't speak to that part but I did notice that a LARGE number of national competitors were all using the Pioneer head units.

I had hoped to use my old Zapco DAII Converter, but honestly the Pioneer unit I have (and I have the entry level DSP HU and not the PRS 99) has way more than I would ever need and way more than the Zapco could ever match.

In fact, its pretty amazing how much processing they can put into a head unit these days. Makes me feel old!

JL Audio - great company, great products. Innovative power supplies on their amps and sound good!
Focal - The name speaks for itself and I have done a couple of systems with their speakers. Very nice...I prefer the soft dome tweeters instead of the metal ones.

As far as midrange/midbass. That is always the trickiest part. It will make or break your system. I had an older Acura Legend with the German Made Diamond Audio Hex series in my competition car...I was never blown away by the performance. I had them in the kickpods but they were never great.
Kind of hollow...

You might want to take a look at the link here to Glass Wolf's page...he does a better job of describing what needs to happen to get great mid-bass and mid-range. And its not necessarily throwing more money at it...

Let me know how your system progresses...looks like good stuff! I really enjoyed your build thread! Nice to see the family involved...

[61K10]

great job--nice tk. one little question, your license plate. Is that one of ca new black plates?

[par4tom]

Originally Posted by 61K10

great job--nice tk. one little question, your license plate. Is that one of ca new black plates?

That is one of the new plates. You can go to the DMV website and order. They will not reissue your old plates if that is what you are trying to do. That is what I wanted to do but they won't do that. Personalized plates only...

To restore my old plates - $400.

To buy new personalized plates - Around $50! And the new plates look better than the restored old ones...

I was cheap...wanted to save money.

[DaddyOh]

Very nice... will be following along. I like the LED 'touch', I also have something planned with an Arduino and LED strips.

Looks like you will be a good resource for audio questions... haha. Won't be doing anything to your caliber but am looking for a bluetooth capable amp to stream directly from an iPhone - to do away with a head unit - any thoughts on the Infinity K4, or similar?

[par4tom]

Originally Posted by DaddyOh

Very nice... will be following along. I like the LED 'touch', I also have something planned with an Arduino and LED strips.

Looks like you will be a good resource for audio questions... haha. Won't be doing anything to your caliber but am looking for a bluetooth capable amp to stream directly from an iPhone - to do away with a head unit - any thoughts on the Infinity K4, or similar?

DaddyOH...

I'm old school so I haven't kept up with a lot of the latest technology. For reference, this is the first time I have ever done an install with an IPad or Ipod unit. 10 to 15 years ago...the compressed musical formats to save space on the device were no match to CD's.

Today, you can rip hundreds of CD's and store them bit-for-bit and have them all on the Ipad. I'm learning this new tech...

In my system, I am using a full digital output via the USB into a USB direct input into the Pioneer. No more a/d/a conversions. Plus...my IPad has GPS and all the expandability for apps...I'll keep you posted how this develops.

But the best sound cars in USA have all moved to this technology...I'm trying to keep pace.

Infinity...good brand and should be good for street beats!! Blue tooth does use compressed formats but I doubt you can hear the differences between compressed and uncompressed in a moving car...

[DaddyOh]

Thanks for the info, appreciate it. Will be following along on your iPad adventures... Been considering one for gps capabilities and run something along the lines of MotionX. Need to find a good set-up on a gps that does 'on the fly' course re-routing when it 'notices' traffic on current route and provides voice command. Rented a car recently that had an in-dash unit with all the bells/whistles and my wife said she wanted that......

[markeb01]

Beautiful accomplishment!

[Low Elco]

Thanks for the props! I've had trucks before with waaaaay less than I've got in this one that tickled me pink. IDK. My son's s10 with a box I built, $25 swap meet speakers and $225 worth of Black Friday Hifonics amp and Kicker subs sounds better tham mine does... He has my old Alpine HU, though. I'm almost pissed enough to tear into it, we'll see. Very much enjoying your audio contributions.

[par4tom]

Thanks Elco...I enjoyed your posts on your truck and appreciate the comments.

Look forward to following more of your work...
Tom