Currently installed an ele non- premium Ford radio. 1992 era. Plentiful. Works great amped up.
Simple to wire up once all wire codes are known. Different versions, interchangeable.
Aftermarket newer radios, especially chrome, look out of place in old cars to me.
Factory radios are simple to use. Basic buttons and menus for adjustments. Less distraction.
From the way i have read and seen, the 80's ele version radios amp the rear only.
Radio has built in 2 ch amp for rears. Center dash amp for fronts only (ele radios non-shaft DIN).
They say shaft radios were 4 ch.
Non prem ele radio has 8 separate +/- wires for all channels exiting the radio.
PremSnd has only 7. Diff is 1 wire (to center amp) for both ft spkr grounds.
Looks to have provision for normal 2.
Could temp. connect the fronts direct to the rears and hear what happens.
Run new wires to ft speakers from rear speaker connections.
Tap into rear speaker wires somewhere to power the front speakers.
Connecting F+ to R+ together may drop ohms too low, chance of overheating amp.
R+ to F- should be ok. Reverse. Series wiring vs parallel.
Problem with this is f-r will be out of phase. Weak bass, stereo separation, no fade adj.
A new small 4 ch amp can correct this.
Better result. Separate wires for all, as before.
Bought a JBL 4 ch amp and got everything adjusted real close using the amps controls.
Comfortable clear loud in car at 12 to 1 o'clock vol, straight up bass/treble. Can feel bass a little.
No thump, vibration, rattles.
Variable crossover adjusts to limit ft bass, variable gain adjust for f-r sound level match.
Recertified, direct from JBL site. Discontinued. Was great deal 89.00. Analog. Fairly large size.
https://www.amazon.com/JBL-GTO-504-H.../dp/B007GYU2P6
Almost the same:
https://www.amazon.com/JBL-GX-A604-4.../dp/B00I5WEB8C
Of course many other good ones are out there. Smaller digital too.
All will need new power and ground wiring.
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