Stereo Mods
by Brian

My experience has been with the JBL Premium Sound System found in the88 model LSC. This system is decent for a stock system. It is difficult to add componants due to the common ground wiring setup. It is possible to add a subwoofer. I have to admit I did not install my own amp. The wiring for the stereo is a mess from the factory. If you can afford it, have a reputable install run you remote wire and inputs from the stock amp. It is VERY IMPORTANT to use a line out converter when adding an additional amp. I will try to trace everything the installer did to my car and post it here. Until then, pay someone else to install your amp. Let it be their butt if they mess up your system.

Once your speakers are in place, the true audiophiles may opt for the next project. If you look at the back seat from the trunk, you will see a material resembling dryer lint. This material is sound deadener. Removing this material will allow the bass to flow more easily into the passenger space. DO NOT REMOVE THE RUBBER MAT!! It serves as a barrier for moisture and and other nasty stuff that gets in you trunk. First remove the rear seat bottom. A quick yank will remove it from it's place. Next pull the seat back forward. There is no need to remove the rear seat back, tilting it forward should give you pleanty of room. Start at the top and begin loosening the sound deadener from where it is stapled to the rear deck. I reccommend removing the sound deadener in as few pieces as possible in case it must be reused. This material is difficult to cut, so try to rip carefully. Pull the material loose from the outside after the top is loose. Here is the important step: Remove the sound deadener from only the BACK of the rear seat. Do not remove the deadener from UNDER the seat. I have not noticed any extra road noise with the removal of this material. I DID notice my speakers seemed louder and more powerful.

The next mod is for the serious BASS HEAD. When you removed the sound deadening material from the rear of the back seat, you may have noticed a piece of vinyl stretched across the back. This is the inner liner for the rear fold down arm rest. Take a regular head screwdriver and begin prying at all the staples holding the vinyl in place from the middle of the armrest up. To get the vinyl at the top to loosened, use a seam ripper (or a razor blade) and cut the threads. Now the vinyl is free to be rolled down behind the seat. Only roll it down half way. There is a flap in the rubber mat behind the back seat. Use a piece of tape to hold this flap up. You should now be able to fold down the rear arm rest and look into your trunk. Now for the fun part. Fold down the rear arm rest and set your volume to 6.9 on the Richter scale. You should hear an improvement in bass volume and strength. The trunk works great to channel the bass forward. It may not sound that loud outside the car but inside it should be ear splitting. Happy thumping.

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