Hasn't happened yet...

With my new job, I've been lucky enough to get a work truck. This thing is really nice for work, but I'd love to get my empeg in here considering how much driving I do each day. Because sound quality isn't my main concern, I'm looking to add either an aftermarket HU to provides amplification for the empeg OR use the empeg as an AUX-in for the factory HU. (Both of these solutions are cheaper than buying a 4-channel amp, wiring kit and speaker wire.)

1. Replace stock HU with aftermarket HU + empeg. If I do this, I'll need a place to fit these. The GM HU isn't as big as two DIN units, so one would be able to fit in the dash and the other.....? I did find a center console that looks like it could fit a HU here. And it looks like it's actually pretty cheap for what you get but will require some fabrication for the floor mounted 4x4 shifter.

2. Use the empeg as an AUX-IN. I found a little gadet here that will allow me to use the empeg as an AUX-IN (I think it will work with my factory HU). I'm leaning towards this route since 2-head unit's wont fit in the factory spot - why buy an aftermarket one? But, I'm still left with the problem of "where to put the empeg".

So, once I find a place to mount it, I'll be in luck. Does anyone know of a "pod" or something that will allow for the empeg to be stored? Any ideas?

my friend instaled his with that aux cable.works pretty good.he put the empeg in the bottom compartment but he had to do some cutting.there is pictures of my install in my 2500 hd at riocar.org i think it is the best way to go.you can always put the stock head unit back when you have to return the truck.

I'm avoiding replaceing the factory head unit because then I'll need to buy a dash adapter, an amp and the wiring.

I just can't seem to find the part number for that bottom center console that holds the AUX tape deck. Once I find that, I'll be all set. I drive my WRX like 2 days a week, so I never get to play w. my empeg. But I drive my truck nearly 40 hours a week for work, so I'm really itching to get this thing installed.

Any boat owners know where to get those plastic clear lids that close over HU's? I want one to keep dirt out. My new job is with a construction company (talk about a 180 from cubicle life) so the truck is always dirty.

I wonder if you could use one of marks docking stations.

Hmm.... All I'd have to do is get power to is and my truck has 3 of those accessory power jacks... so a dockingstation and a power invertor (or rewire)... hm...

I have one on order, but I'd have to get another....

Good idea.

Your boat comment made me check out west marine's supply of these kind of things, and they did have one interesting item. Poly-Planar seems to be the manufacturer, and they also have a stand alone water/dust cover that I didn't see on West Marine's site. I think the WC400 might be the perfect enclosure for makeing a portable car kit for the empeg, but it might be excesivly deep.

Matthew

Matthew_k, The more I'm looking into this, it looks like the best route! It's only about $50 and will completely protect my player. I'll probably just use the remote to control it so it never sees any dust. Too bad it only comes in white, but that's livable. Looks like the only hard part will be bolting it to the floor w/o hitting anything important under the floorboard. Thanks for finding that for me..

Looks like it'd be a good solution for people with "non standard" installs. Like someone with an old Bronco or Jeep could mount a head unit to the floor.

OK, it looks like this is going to work. I've got a way to mount the empeg and I found a device that will allow the empeg to work as the source for the factory HU.

I'm now wondering how to get the other wires hooked up to the empeg. (power etc). I can't just buy an adapter from Crutchfeild because I'm not replacing the factory HU. Do I get power, accessory power and headlight sense from the dash or fusebox? Sorry, I've done 2 empeg installs, but never one like this.

What device are you using to play through the stock headunit? You may be able to tap off of the wires coming in/out of the adaptor.

When I had 2 units in my VW Polo I removed the pins from the stock docking connector one by one and soldered in (carefully) wires from an aftermarket ISO connector to the "throat" part of the pins on the stock connector, and then reinserted the pins into the stock connector. Didn't even need any extra isolation (shrink tubing), as the back of the stock connector was "compartmentalized" (ie provided isolation between pins).

You could do it less hackish by buying an ISO plug and 2 ISO connectors and fashion a Y-connector, ISO style...

Beware that sometimes the stock wiring isn't all that good (though the empeg doesn't draw very much power) and might have problems supplying and/or properly grounding 2 units. Running new wires for power and ground might be a good idea.

You need to decide (or combine using diodes) which HU that turns on your amp and only wire that one up.

/Michael

OK, you guys are onto something....

I'm using a GM9-AUX converter. Basically, it allows you to hook anything to the GM factory radio as an AUX input via RCA's. You plug this thing into the back of the stock radio. It has two connectors on it 1) the RCA's for the RioCar and 2) A 9-pin connector for the factory CD changer or "slave" Tape Deck.

Since my truck didn't come with the Tape Deck, this 9-pin thing is being un-used. It's the only connector that would hook into the Tape Deck so it has to provide power and illumination (and stereo out). I called the company to find out what the pin-out was for this connector, but they were not able to help me. He kinda told me which wires were the ACC power and the Main 12 power, and he had a guess at the ground. I might just experiment with the two suggestions he gave me for the power leads (has to be one or the other) and then I'll use chasis ground. The only thing I'm iffy on is whether or not I'll be able to get headlight sense off of this connector. I don't own a multi-tool either. Anyone have any experience in tracking down wires?

Again, the empeg will just be a Source, so it won't need the remote amp turn-on wire so that should simplifiy things "a bit".

See if the 9 pin wires are somethin like the following:

Pin 7: Pink - Radio On signal
Pin 8: Grey - Instrument Panel Lights (Dimmer)
Pin 9: Bare - (Drain wire)
Pin 10: Some Color - Right Audio
Pin 11: Brown/White - Left Audio
Pin 12: Some Color - Neg Audio
Pin 13: Black - Ground
Pin 14: Dark Green - Serial Circuit
Pin 15: Orange - Battery Voltage (Constant)

Cool! I'll give that a shot!

Instrument Panel Lights (Dimmer) is not the same thing as "Head Light Sense" wire on the empeg right?

Instrument Panel Lights (Dimmer) is not the same thing as "Head Light Sense" wire on the empeg right?

Actually, it should be the same thing.

Yes they are one in the same.

On some cars the dimmer/dash lighting is pulsewidth controlled, so in the middle ranges of the selectable range you can get unstable behaviour from the empeg dimmer (at least that's the case for my VW Polo). A headlight sense might be a on/off thing instead of 0-12V continuous. Manufacturers are bound to not all use the same terminology, so YMMV...

/Michael