Have you ever wondered if you could perform a car stereo installation yourself? The fact is that you can do it yourself, so spend that money on your hardware! Don’t throw money away on labor. Besides the money savings, doing a car stereo install yourself can be a very gratifying experience, not to mention you will be able to learn a lot from it as well. Nothing quite beats the feeling of beholding your “creation” in action, operating smoothly and perfectly.
When you are installing a car stereo you have to ascertain what kind of system you’re going to install in your vehicle. If you are a novice, it is better you attempt a car stereo install if it’s just a simple system. You might prefer to leave the complex stuff to the audio professionals, like installing sensitive equipment such as LCD panels, motorized parts etc particularly if it calls for the creation of custom panels and such.
Receivers or head units are among the easiest to do when installing a car stereo. Fortuitously, just about all units abide by the same size standards (DIN). In a lot of cars, when the factory radio is tak en out the aftermarket radio receiver will fit in the empty hole. In many other automobiles, a special kit is called for if the factory hole is too large, or not deep enough. In a few instances the dash has to be modified by cutting it and making it larger. If this is the case for you, any car stereo store should have the kits required for the modification. For more information click on el camino car cover.
There are two main types of mounting systems in a car stereo installation. ISO mounting is when the radio can be attached to existing factory radio brackets, which is the case in most Japanese automobiles. Ring mounting is when an aftermarket radio goes with a metal ring that is mounted to the factory radio hole or with an aftermarket kit through flexible tabs. In a lot of cars, dash and trim rings must be filed to expand the radio hole. When the ring is installed, the radio receiver slides in and is confined by snaps. In most situations, special tools are needed to remove the radio.
In a simple car stereo install, you’ll likely be utilizing speakers that accommodate a factory location. Just make certain there are no gaps or holes. Occasionally constructing a wood or fiberglass baffle aids to reduce holes and brings about a much better sound. But always be mindful when using power tools close to speakers. Car stereo warranties typically don’t cover holes in speakers.
A car stereo install has to be done well to deal with vibrations and other noise sources in its environment. Even though it is unimaginable to do away with these altogether, there are products that will greatly diminish the noise and rattling, especially on non-luxury automobiles. Linings, sprays and adhesive material and even carpet applied onto the panels can make huge difference.
How To Heat An Electric Car
If you live in a climate where it gets cold, you are going to need to learn how to heat an electric car. A gasoline or diesel-powered vehicle uses waste heat from the internal combustion engine to heat the car. Being that the engine will be removed for your electric conversion, this is not an option. There are several heater options available to the home builder.
Fluid Heater
– A fluid heater uses the stock heater core, a reservoir, a small pump and a heating element. A small amount of fluid is heated and circulated through the heater core allowing you to use your heat as you would in a gas car.
Ceramic Heater
– A ceramic heater is an electric element that typically replaces your heater core behind the dashboard. This can be a more difficult installation than a fluid heater but has the benefit of functional simplicity. There is no fluid, the ceramic element is heated by electricity which is abundant in an electric vehicle. Although there are ceramic heater kits available for electric cars, this is something that can be done with an element from a cheap ceramic heater from Amazon. This is the method I have chosen for my home-built electric car and I will post a how to when I install the heater.
Pre Heat
– Run an extension cord out to the car and put a ceramic heater in it for a few minutes before you leave in the morning. Obviously the heat will not last long but this method may work well for somebody with a very short commute.
Seat heater
– This will not heat the whole car but heated seat covers are available and a warm bum can make a world of difference on a cold day.
Coat
– Pretty self explanatory. If you just don’t want to install a heater of any type a good warm coat can do the trick if you don’t live in a very cold climate.
For my conversion, I will initially be using a coat. I will install a ceramic heater into my electric car when I have the time. I am not prioritizing this as it’s not essential to the car’s operation and it doesn’t get too cold where I live! These are liquid propane hoses that need to be strategically ran to prevent rocks, curbs, and other irregularities with the road from damaging the hoses. The engine will need to be modified according to the specifications of the car propane kits instructions. You also might consider installing an electronic shut-off valve, which will provide an added safety to isolate the propane from the engine and stop the flow of propane when the vehicle is not turned on. Look near the filter and check for leaks. Also, be sure to adjust the timing so it is set to idle a little bit slower.
