Upgrading sound system - 84 Celica

My Celica currently has only a radio and cassette deck, with one working speaker. I want to upgrade to a decent system with a subwoofer. Should i do it myself, or buy the parts and pay someone to do it? How hard is it to do it yourself? (this is my first car and ive only had it a week)

Fitting a new stereo yourself is easy, as it sounds like nothing is working from your current system, its probably better for you to blank off all of the wires used by your radio and forget about them buy an install kit which will supply you with power wires a couple of speaker wires, an earth wire and a signal wire (for electric ariels), the only wire you might wanna keep hold of is you ignition controled wire, that only becomes live when your ignition switch is on. (this is only needed if you want your radio to turn off when you turn your ignition off, if you want your radio to stay on all the time then forget this too, just blank it off).

You will need another install kit to run your amp, needed to power the sub. My only advice is be patient, make a good job of it, and dont run power wires near speaker wires (interferance)

The only problems you may come across are,
1. finding a live feed for the power wire, its best to run one direct from your battery and go through the bulkhead via the wiring loom access (you might be able to find a live feed by a unused fuse in the fuse box)
2. Getting the speaker wire through the rubber hood that goes between the door piller and the door, a right pain in the ass on my car.

Its a good weekend job.

whats up,

i have 6x9s in the back of my 84 celica and i just took my solobaric L7 out for the winter and sold it.i usally start new every summer.wit subs.but i had the same problem.none of the wires worked in my car except one mr my front ones so i re wired all my speaker wires.but i still havent replaced the front speakers yet they are still.stock.i had 2 15 solobarics l715s 2 2000 watt amps 2 sony 6x9 a jvc head unit.i still have every thing eccept the subs i just sold.but if i was u i would rewire the whole car with new speaker wire.its real simple in these cars.expecally the front u need like 3 feet wire.any way wish u luck if u need help feel free to ask.

and if u live in NJ i can help u hook t up if you like

The 84 celica I have was given to my by a guy who loved audio stuff, here is a lil mod he did.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/11000820050111111654000-med.jpg

The car had a 8 speaker system with a custom 2 12" sub system in the back. There was no space in the trunk. So i took it all out. If you want to buy the box i can sell it to you.

Hey guys
Thanks for the advice, but i have one final question.
My celica came with two empty speaker grills in the back, at each end of the spar that holds that fabric cover over the bootspace. Inside there are brackets for 5x7" speakers (roughly). Is this standard, or has someone put them in there and taken the speakers out later? Because 5x7s are much more expensive and harder to come by than 6x9s, so im wondering if it would be possible to put a new bracket in to put in 6x9s. If any of you guys have this in your car could you let me know whether you think 6x9s would fit in those factory grills in the back?

Thanks

Oh and incidently I live in Sydney Australia, so sorry but ill have to say no.

yea no problem. If you want i can take pics of it. As for the bracket just jimmy rig it, anything works as long as it's sturdy. You can probably remove the brace and bolt it to the wood just add some large washer for support.

Hey, i JUST bought a 89 GT (celica ofcourse) two days ago...well, 1.5. Its my first car :) and i loe the handling. The previous owner took out the two rear speakers and the front one is offset to the right speaker. The radio is the stock prologic cass. I live in LI, NY, for civic_racing_01, and i hope you could extend the same courtesy to me as you did to Jay88. I bid on these 4 new xplod speakers for $20 and lost by 50 cents on ebay (wanted to cry). Ihave the same basic question as Jay88 does. Also, i wanted to know how i could get a RCA 1/8 line in, or, even better, a laptop to be my radio without buying an amp. And if i have to buy an amp...how to do it anyways. Thanks alot for all your help.

Using a laptop for ypur radio shouldnt be a problem, a little strange but not a problem. I nstalling an amp is easy, you just need a power source which you can get from tapping into the fuse box and finding a spare fuse gap, you`ll need an earthing point which is basically the whole car. Then you`ll need to run spealer cable to you car speakers, obviously, (dont worry about missing the xplod speakers, they are naff) then just connect the speaker out port on your laptop to the input of your amp, depending on the output level of your laptop you`ll need to use either the high level input or low level input. Or you could just buy a car radio that plays MP3 discs which will prbably cost you the same if not less than buying an amp?

Hey, thanks for your reply. I'm actually trying for a carputer along the lines of near total integration. The computer is just something i know, love working with, and is more...me friendly (in terms of absolute customization nd abilities) over a car stereo. And the fact that i have 2 cds to call my own, 1 cassette, and a 40gig laptop drive waiting for another broken screen laptop has alot to do with it:-D. Now, i have to ask you this: what ARE a good set of speakers that can be had for cheap/inexpensive? I dont' need top of the line, i mean, tis an 89 that i'm fixing up, but midrange is good. Also, waht's a good amp to get? I hae a firend who's seeling a JBL/Audiobahn system, but its $400- outta my price rang,e, but i think i can find a buyer. Thanks again for your help. I hope i can count on it in the future:-). Also, if you come across a good speaker systm and amp for a great price, please, let me know. Struggling college kid just wants to listen to some tunes. OH, another thing. I plugged the tape deck adapter into my MP3 player and it was highly distorted- nothign i did could take out the static. do you have nay ideas. The stereo is stock and the MP3 player is the rio riot. Alsp, how do you make your power antennea work? Thanks. Peace