Jeep CJ7 Audio Upgrades For Metairie Client

A client came to Prestige Car Audio and Marine to upgrade the performance of the audio system in his 1983 Jeep CJ7. A radio and speakers had been previously installed, but he wanted a lot more performance than those could offer. He had a few special requests for us: Whatever we did had to be waterproof, and he wanted as much leg room as possible in the back seat. We came up with a unique proposal to make the jeep look and sound great! The client loved our plan, so we booked an appointment to start the transformation.

Dash

The dash, as it was presented to us, was a mess.

With the new dashboard installed, the Jeep looked much cleaner.

The original factory dash had been cut to fit a 1-DIN CD player, and someone had wedged some speakers into it as well. All the wiring was a mess, and the dash didn’t fit back in place properly. Given that the dashboard itself is a relatively simple component, we ordered a new one and transferred his gauges to the new unit. No speaker or radio cutouts were going to be required for the new system.

Console

The factory console gave us the measurements we needed for fitting our new console to the floor.

Our console design is sleek and compliments the Jeep interior.

Our technicians color-matched the JL Audio speakers grills.

Next, we removed the factory center console. With detailed measurements in hand, we started to design a unique replacement. The new console would be home to the entire audio system – the source unit, amplifier, two pairs of speakers and a subwoofer. We constructed the console out of vertical MDF boards that are laminated together. This process is often referred to as the Stak-Fab method. It’s a great way to incorporate curves into a design that would otherwise require the use of many small, angled boards and countless hours of sanding. Once complete, we treated the enclosure to a thorough coating of Rhino Liner to ensure it was water-resistant.

Source

We included a dedicated location for a source unit inside the new center console. The client liked the Sony MEX-M100BT source unit. This is a unique product, in that the built-in amplifier is capable of producing more than twice as much power as a conventional source unit. We used this power to drive each of the speakers we installed in the Jeep. The client can operate all functions of the radio remotely through the Sony SongPal App on his smartphone. Since the radio makes some real usable power, we fed it, and the nearby subwoofer amp, with Stinger power and ground wiring.

Speakers

Front and rear passengers are treated to great sound from JL Audio speakers.

We installed two pairs of JL Audio M770-CCX-SG-TB 7.7-inch speakers in the console. One pair is in the front and another is in the rear. The speakers fire outward from the console, providing each passenger with his or her own music experience. We took the JL Audio speaker grilles apart and painted the center section to match the metallic orange finish on the vehicle. We also installed white LED lights to the underside of the grille. When they are switched on, you can’t see the LEDs, but they illuminate the speaker cones for a very dramatic effect. We added additional white LEDs under the seats to keep the theme going.

Subwoofer

At the back of the center console is a chamber to house the system’s subwoofer. A single 10-inch Audiomobile Evo 2410 D4 is located in a small sealed enclosure and fires downward into the floor. We left enough space between the enclosure and the floor to let the bass exit easily and fill the Jeep with sound.

The subwoofer is powered by a water-resistant JL Audio MHX300/1 inside the console with the radio. The amplifier produces 300 watts into the 2 ohm load.

Extras

The Poison Spyder front bumper gives this Jeep an aggressive look.

We were careful to match the new front bumper to the side-steps, so the exterior looked cohesive.

The rear seat was installed from the factory in a position that provided very little legroom.

We moved the rear seat backwards, giving much more legroom.

While the Jeep was in the shop, we took care of the rear seat legroom issue by moving the seat back a number of inches. We also installed a new Poison Spyder front bumper to give the Jeep a more aggressive look. The tubular design of the bumper matches the existing side steps on the Jeep.

Client Loved His Jeep CJ7 Audio Upgrades

As with every system we install here at Prestige Car Audio and Marine, we wrapped up the installation with a thorough tuning and listening session. Since the client was also from Metairie, Louisiana, it didn’t take him long to come pick up his truck once we were done. He loved the way the new system sounded and the way it looked.

If you are interested in something unique for your vehicle, drop by or contact us here.