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Upgrading My Truck’s Stereo System: A $15 Project That Packs a Punch

Hey folks, Ed here! Welcome back to Bullnose Garage. This weekend, I’m diving into a fun little project: upgrading the stereo system in my truck. I’ve got a brand new head unit that only cost me $15 from Amazon, and it’s supposed to have that retro look with Bluetooth and hands-free calling. But let’s be honest, for that price, I’m not sure what to expect!

When I unboxed this head unit, I was surprised by how lightweight it was—there’s hardly anything to it! The real challenge is to see if this budget-friendly option can actually deliver on its promises. Alongside the head unit, I’ve got a rather pricey dual voice coil speaker designed for classic vehicles like mine, which cost around $80 to $90. This speaker integrates both left and right channels into a single dash speaker setup, which is crucial for a vehicle with limited space for audio upgrades.

The plan is simple: get this head unit installed and see if I can finally enjoy some Pandora while cruising around. I also have a set of basic JVC 6.5-inch speakers that will be going in. They might not be top-of-the-line, but they should do the job until I’m ready to invest in a serious audio system with subwoofers and amplifiers.

The Installation Process

Starting off, I need to remove the door panel. It’s a straightforward process—just a couple of screws and some clips to pop off. If you have an older truck like mine, I highly recommend picking up some replacement clips because they tend to break easily during removal. Trust me, nothing’s worse than a rattling door panel!

Once I got the door panel off, I took a look at the existing speaker setup. The current speakers weren’t too bad, but I wanted something better. Swapping out speakers is generally a simple task: just match the positive and negative wires and you’re good to go. If you’re doing a straightforward replacement like I am, there’s really not much to it.

However, as I got deeper into the project, I realized the previous owner had made some modifications that left me with a bit of a wiring mess. They had cut some speaker wires and disconnected the top speaker entirely. This meant I had to do some troubleshooting and potentially rewire everything back to the way it should be.

Troubleshooting the Wiring

It’s not uncommon to run into surprises when working on older vehicles. I discovered that not only had some wires been cut, but the harness that should have been there was missing entirely. Instead of getting frustrated, I decided to take it as a learning opportunity. If you’re ever doing a similar project, always remember: never just cut wires—invest in a proper harness adapter to save yourself a lot of hassle later on.

Once I sorted out the wiring mess, I was ready to install the new speaker. It’s a nice dual voice coil unit, which should give me a better audio experience overall. Although it may not provide the full stereo effect, it should help create a fuller sound when paired with the new head unit.

Testing and Results

After everything was wired up and secured, it was time to test the system. I was pleasantly surprised—despite some dimming issues on the display, the sound quality exceeded my expectations for such a budget-friendly setup. I was able to connect my phone via Bluetooth, making hands-free calling a breeze.

All in all, for $15 on the head unit and $25 on the speakers, I’d say this weekend project was a success. It’s a significant upgrade from the stock setup, and I’m thrilled to finally have Bluetooth in my truck!

I hope you enjoyed this little journey into my weekend project. If you have any questions, comments, or thoughts, feel free to drop them below. Thanks for tuning in, and I’ll see you next time!


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