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MG MGB Technical - Fitting cd player in MGB

I have just spent the last two hours or so trying to find any info in the archives on how to fit a stereo/cd player to an mgb, with no luck. Can any one out there give me the low down from start to finish on how to install and connect the player. As stereos now are more modern than when the MGB was produced. Thanks in advance. Glenroy
Glenroy

There is loads in the archives about what to fit and where.
The first question is what year is your car. Over the years the location for the radio was changed. On later models an ‘in-line’ fuse was installed ready for a radio installation. Later cars had speaker holes in the doors too.
Some folks have suggested that you can cut the rear bulkhead to install some speakers. I would strongly suggest that you don’t to that because this is a structural part of the car.
Cecil Kimber

Sorry I forget to mention it is a 1969 roadster
Glenroy

The 69 doesn't have the wire that Cecil mentions, but even where the wire *is* provided behind the console (white/green) for ICE it isn't fused. It comes direct off the ignition switch and is powered in the accessories position. A branch of that *is* in-line fused to green/black but that feeds the wipers, heater fan and electric washers for the 71 model year and the remainder of CB production. After that the wipers etc. reverted to being powered from the ignition and not the accessories and the in-line fused green/black was deleted again, the white/green running simply from the ignition switch direct to an unused (from the factory) bullet connector behind the console.

Unless the unit is fully removable you will probably need a permanent powered supply for the radio memory as well as a switched supply for use. The former can be taken from the purple wire behind the console feeding the courtesy light on later models, but would have to be picked up from the the headlamp flasher feed by the steering column or fusebox on earlier models. The switched supply can be taken from the accessories position of the ignition switch for the 69 and 70 model years, from the ignition feed before that. Both wires from the unit should have their own in-line fuses, these are rated much lower than the fuses on the car.
Paul Hunt

Glenroy,

Just fitted mine but not stardard wiring, so far just used wire from aftermarket hazards and also fan switch wire, together with earth. now looking for suitable aerial position and mid range speakers somewhere behind rear seats with sub woofer in boot.

Paul
Paul

Glenroy,

As your car is a roadster you may not want to put your radio/CD on full view in the dash board.

Many years ago I mounted my ICE on the floor under the drivers seat. I had to operate it by feel only but that was easy once I got used to it.

On a 69 car I would put the speakers on the side of the foot wells under the dash.

I would not use expensive kit as it is wasted due to the lovely exhaust note.

If you don't agree I recommend a Peco HDR and a tunnel.

David
David Witham

Or wire an I=pod feed into your new or existing stereo. You can bury all the electronics in the trunk (sorry, boot) and just have a jack and volume control visible in the console
greg fast

Thanks for all the info, much appreciated, i still have abit of time before i start fitting cd player, interestingly i just got an ipod for christmas so thats another option. Thanks again
Glenroy

I purchased the after market plastic underdash coverings that were originally made of cardboard material. I purchased the round 6 and 1/2 inch speakers.Using a dremel tool, I cut out the openings the the underdash coverings to accomodate the speakers,
mounted the speakers, wired the speakers and mouted the
underdash coverings beneath the dash. Some modification my be needed depending on the year of the car, but this in conjunction with speakers mounted in the doors provides a great sound even with the top down
and eliminates the need to cut the metalwork between
cockpit and trunk area. Did this on my 75 and 77 MGB
C.A.H Chuck

I've just bought an MP3/WMA player which is also a transmitter so you can have all the music you want playing through your existing FM car radio without having to carry a load of CD's with the inherent problems of storage & thieving etc.
Great reproduction and only 75mm x 35mm ( 3" x 1.5")
Ideal for tavelling & has sd card storage for more music which the whole lot fits into a shirt pocket.
Wayne Styles 1

Glenroy,
congrats for the iPod. Now just get a period radio-cassette player and look out for the TransPod, a car-adapter fr the iPod with either a cassette-adaptor or an FM-receiver to transmit the iPod-signals to a selectale FM-station.
I just found a Transpod on eBay for the huge sum of 9.00 Euro (cost new about 70 $) and now can fit a nice period Blaupunkt to my 69 CGT and still have all my music with me!!
Joern-M.

Does my positive ground MG negate all iPod and MP3 options?
Brian S.

Brian - No, the iPod or MP3 should work fine in that they are not depending on the chassis for ground. Just wire a plug of some sort that connects positive to positive and negative to negative, plug in your head set and have a ball. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

I'm using the iPod with an iTrip to broadcast to the original Motorola radio cassette in my 80 GT. Seems to work equally well with aerial up or down and gives better quality than the cassette adapter alternative. A friend who lives inside the M25 says he has trouble with pirate radio stations on this frequency but out here in the sticks people seem to have better things to do.
Vic
V Todman

I fitted an old Kenwood power amplifier into the glovebox (still plenty of room for gloves or the odd tool) and then when I get into the car, just plug my iPod straight in. More volume than I need even with the top down (1967 roadster) and safer than fitting a CD player. Speakers were already fitted by a previous owner into the side trim behind the seats.

In the original radio slot, I fitted a period Motorola 1070X MW/LW radio wired into the original, refurbished centre speaker for genuine mono! As I'm not fussed about picking up FM radio, this serves me well as I can still listen to sport/chat/travel reports on MW.

When I want to access one of the 10,000 songs my iPod holds, then in it goes - the obvious advantage is that it comes with me when I leave the car with the top down as no-one is any the wiser and I doubt they would want to steal a 1980s power amp worth about £5 on eBay anyway!

Only dilemma is still where to put the MW aerial so currently it gets poked out the top of the passenger window, sandwiched against the roof and the glass if I want to listen to the radio... just can't bring myself to start cutting holes in the bodywork!

If anyone would like pics, then email me and I can send some.

Martin
Martin Port

Martin,

What size are the Speakers fitted into the side trim behind the seats?

Have same dilema re aerial, at least subwoofer is straightforward.

Paul
Paul

Paul
Speakers are about 5 inches in diameter. Can't tell you exact spec because the car isn't with me today (wimped out with the forecast and left her tucked up in the garage - tomorrow beckons though!). If you want specific size and power then I can let you know tomorrow if you like?

I used to have an aerial mounted on the back wing of my old BGT, but that seemed to look okay with the fixed roof. On a roadster I am concerned that it will look a bit pronounced once the hood is down. There are aerials that fit under the car but they are extremely expensive.
Martin
Martin Port

Just finished installing a new AM/FM/CD player in my '78 Rubber Bumper. Got it from Pep Boys. Very little modification required. Had to file the existing radio "hole" to accept the player. Rather than mess with existing electrics, I ran a new switched and a new unswitched lead from the fuse block. Instead of drilling holes in the back for rear speakers, I got a carpeted speaker enclosure with two 6 x 9 and tweeters. Ran new speaker wires under the carpet for the rear speakers and leave them loose. The whole thing is portable. I just unhook the speaker wires from the box if I want to remove them. The problem I'm having now is matching new door speakers with the current market speakers. Found some good sounds, but they are all too deep for the door. Only have about 1 1/2" to play with until the window mechanism interferes with the rear of the speaker. All three 5 1/4" speakers measured 1 7/8" to 2 1/4". Any ideas?
Shook

I put some kenwood speakers into my door mounts using 1/2 inch ply spacers in front of the door panel. 1st brings the magnet forward enough to clear the window, 2nd goes in front of the speaker plate to give clearance to refit the original cover over the tweeter. This still gives enough clearance for my leg. It looks less than perfect at the moment, but once trimmed with vinyl I think it will be unobtrusive.
Vic
V Todman

Martin,

Any details or info you have will be useful as I was thinking that 6ins would be maximum speaker size.

I also wondered if the cheaper windscreen type aerial could be fitted under car.

Paul
Paul

How is everyone out there? Thanks for all the info that you guys are writing. It more than I expected. At present I am in the middle of changing the clutch on my MGB so fitting the cd player has to wait a few weeks. But I am going to copy all the feedback given. Happy motoring.
Glenroy

Am looking at some kit for 67 mgb roadster. Have found a company, Dension, which manufactures a link between iPod and certain head units. It allows the head unit controls to scroll thru iPod playlists etc. The iPod will sit in the glovebox out of harms way.

I am looking at either the Becker Mexico or Blaupunkt Woodstock DAB. Both suit the black crackle finish of the '67 dash
Dean

This thread was discussed between 01/01/2005 and 21/01/2005

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