Hi everyone, I'm excited to have picked up an empeg during the fire sale and want to install it into my 2001 mustang cobra. Has anyone successfully installed an empeg in a 2001 mustang with the Mach stereo? I searched the message boards and didn't find much info. Is it even possible? From what I understand the mach amps require 5-7 volts input and the empeg outputs 4. The speakers are also low impedence and not compatible with normal amps, or so various people have told me. I was really hoping to just swap in empeg for the mach head unit. Will that work? Or am I doomed to buy new amps and speakers? Thanks very much in advance for your help! -Mike

I think your best bet is http://www.go2pac.net/flash800.html
(Their OEM-1 interface has gain adjustments)

If you email them they should be able to give you part numbers for their adaptors. They don't sell direct but you you can buy their stuff from http://www.tune-town.com (Who can also look up the correct part numbers)

That's how I hooked up to my BOSE stereo and it works great!. I'm pretty sure you can do the same with a MACH system. Good Luck.

My friend Tod just ordered his OEM-1 from Tune Town.

We're hoping his 99 Durango really has the Infinity amplifier in there already, or this is going to be frustrating. Crutchfield didn't seem to know many details about his car when we called, which is surprising. I'll let everyone know next week how it goes.

At first glance I thought I'd be able to help, as my Empeg is in a '99 Mustang. But I chose not to get the Mach 460 based on my thinking that I'd be adding aftermarket components, and I had heard the Mach 460 is extremely custom and difficult to deal with. If I were you (and I'd love to be you because you're driving an '01 Cobra ) I would stop by a local audio shop and tell them the story. They'll know the Mach 460 inside out, and should be able to tell you what you'd need. It's possible the amplifier takes 5-7V in, but there might be a preamp in there which takes 4V and ups it to the aforementioned 5-7V. This could be before or after all of the speakers are in the picture. Whatever the deal is, they should be able to help you out. I paid $40 for my install and it's flawless.

I have some bad news for you. I recently went through the same thing you're going through with my 2001 GT Convertible. It turns out the Mach 460 system changed from 2000 to 2001 and it isn't easy to simply add an Empeg to the rest of the system. In 2000 and earlier Mustangs, all amps and crossovers were external to the head unit. Installing the Empeg was a simple matter of wiring up an adapter harness from one of the 3rd party harnesses available. The levels out of the Empeg were just a hair less than the amps wanted and everything worked fine. Unfortunately in the 2001 (and later I assume) Mustangs, they changed things to a single head unit which appears to contain the crossovers and amp for the tweeters. I theory I suppose you could add an amp and crossover to use the factory speakers. In my case, I decided I was better off replacing everything and added my own amp and new front speakers. I also decided to forgo the rear speakers in the hopes of a better front soundstage. Let me know if you have any questions if you decide to go that route. - Eric

I just installed on a 2000 GT - to get round replacing the Mach system I had a new Radio\CD installed (with Aux In), hooked the empeg into the Aux in, then installed the coverter between the Radio Out and the factory amps.

Upside - it works and is easy to go back to factory if I sell the car

Downside - was just as expensive to install as buy the empeg (but worth it)

HTH

WAAAY off topic, but check out www.auto.com for the latest on the 2003 Cobra - 390 hp! wow! I have spy pics i took myself of the next Mustang Eliminator if anyone wants...

The problem is the changes that Ford made in the Mach audio system between the 2000 and 2001 model years. I had a 1998 GT that was a breeze to install. I didn't need anything but the Empeg and the wiring harness.