This is directed mainly at the vanners that had vans in the years '75-'77. Or fixed up vans in that time period!!!, but all are welcomed to help!!!!

I figured while my van is still at the custom shop (going on one year now), but that is a different story!!!

I thought I would build up the stereo system. I want to keep it as period correct hence the '75 to '77 vanners, but if you have any input feel free to jump in.

I know it won't sound like today's set ups and I am not looking for that. I want to play my radio/8 track player and have it sound the same as it would have then.
Cruising the highways and just liven free!!!!!
Heck I listen to Big Band on Pre War tube radios and enjoy that!!!!

I have so far is a NOS '76 Craig radio/cassette, a NOS Craig Quadraphonic 8 track, 5 Craig 24w amps, 1 Pioneer 24w amp, 4 Craig 2 way 6x9's, 2 Craig 2 way convertible deck mounts, 2 other 2 way conv. deck mounts, 4 Craig 5 1/2" round, and 2 Pioneer 2 way 5 1/2 round. All are between '75-'77 and in great condition.

I have been figuring out where I should mount all this. I put the radio in the dash, the 8 track is going into a overhead with two round speakers facing down, doubling as the CB speakers, the doors get 1 round speaker each, the back corners as well as the front of the bed just off the floor will get the 6x9's and 2 more round get mounted in the roof in the middle of the van. As for the amps I am going to mount them on a board and mount that in a side panel so they are easy to get to.

OK now that is what I have and my plans to do with it.

If you used something different, mounted different or a way to improve what I have already let me know.

Again I want to keep this with in the '75-'77 years and what you or you know someone built then.

And again I know it won't sound like today's. I don't want today's sound, I want yesteryears sound. Call me crazy, heck I have been called worse then that!!!!


Thanks for the help and input!!!!!!!



Richard

Sounds cool. I can't be much help but I love the fact you are installing all old school equipment. Will love to see pics after the install!

Your plan sounds good. I might add a couple headphone jacks in the overhead console. Lots of vans had headphones in the day.
Not sure how good those old speakers will sound, but on mine, I am running new Alpine speakers and my vintage Craig grills fit on them fine. Just a thought if your speakers don't work out.
Keep us posted. Hope you get the van out of the body shop soon. Brad

Pricey, but vintage and cool:

1977 KRACO 8track/CB/AM-FM unit

Cool vintage Pioneer car stereo:

CLICKME

Pioneer equalizer/booster

You could get THIS and put a record player in your van (the unit has phono in jacks!)

Vintage Craig amp 2x30 watts or 4x15 watts

Thanks for all the replies, thought there would be more since this site is filled with original 70's Vanner's. The lucky ones to see vannin' in its heyday.

SaabGuy; Thanks and I sure will!!!!!

Lordmodelbuilder; Thanks for reminding me about the headphone jacks. Seen articles for Dodge conversions that show a jack at all seating areas. As for the speakers that is a good idea. I am hoping these that I have will last. They all are in excellent shape.

Reed; Thanks for the links. I have a 1975 Cobra 138 CB already. I am going to stick with the stereo unit I have now, unless one comes along that fits in my years and has Matrix (synthesized Quad) And the other stuff is too new. I am trying to keep with in '75-'77. Yet if I didn't have my stereo and CB that combo ot the one that Mopar put out like it would be tempting. Yet by you posting it someone on here might be interested not knowing they existed or was just looking for one. Thanks again for your help!!!!!

Oh I forgot to mention, I got a 1974 Sony Trinitron 12" color TV that works great. What I like about it, is that you can take it out of its case and mount it in a cabinet or a rear over head.



Richard

I always used the Pioneer KP 500 , great radios.
They came 8 track and no tape deck too.
These early Super/tuners were the best.

I seem to remember Craig and Pioneer were the same company till they split?

I also ran the famous Clarion equalizer -booster amp (the black one with red lights moving up and down both sides of the front).Together this combo with the world famous Jensen Co-axials or tri-axials made a top notch stereo.

All this was late 70s,to early 80s.


I still have my last KP-500, was going to use it in one of mine but it only has one negative speaker line, cant use it to run the more modern amps.


I just saw one of those pioneer EQs in a car.


That type Craig amp was not a very good one. All it did was give you way more volume and get very hot.

Actually you can, Scosche has a line level to RCA convertor that will work for you , I am pretty sure. I would contact Scosche and verify, it is part number LOC80

Crutchfield link

I didn't have a van back then, but a friend got one ('74 GMC G30 shorty) that had a mini-fridge sized cabinet right behind the driver seat full of home stereo equipment including two items that I feel truly represent '70's stereo equipment:

A TEAC reel to reel tape deck and a Heathkit stereo reverb/time delay "sound shaper".

The tape deck may not fit your plans and car audio time delay units may not have been available yet (i got a Alpine unit in '78), but reverb units were.