Thread: Easiest, Best, Cheapest Way to Add Music to Car?

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Hey all! I'm pondering how to be able to play music in/from my Henry J at car shows. The dash isn't going to accomodate anything so it needs to be a free-standing thing, battery operated as there is nothing to plug into on the dash either. I don't want to get into trying to wire anything in, either. Something simple. I listen to music at my shop on XM radio, at home on my computer on CDs or Pandora radio. I don't own an MP3 player or anything high tech. Thoughts? I don't want to spend a lot but I'd love to be able to play some music when I'm showing it!

Thanks

Angela

whoops.

Here ya go...


http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...ct_id=10072259

All right, all right.... I said cheap but not a toy! And I don't think the pink & white will quite fly with the car. But thanks, its a good starting point!

A cheap boom box would work, maybe w/ detatchable speakers. It will take a load of batteries though, won't it. Hmmmm.

Angela

This actually would look cool, I'd have to get an iPod though.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...ct_id=10737379

Angela

go get a really good boom box and mount in the back seat area. did a coupe that way and it was killer. plus you could take it out and use it elswhere.

damn my fingers type faster than my brain reads. you got it covered . i had one of those silly big chrome things. way cool.

I made a 12v powered ( accessory plug powered ) boom box.. simple cheap car radio ( $30 unit, cassette/analog tuners ) 2 cheap speakers.. used some old K mart speaker grilles ( mounted externally and attached with wood screws )... did accidently wired it backwards and burnt the stereo up.. I had both pos and neg wired with black wire. and had no tracers

Originally Posted by yellowhenryj

This actually would look cool, I'd have to get an iPod though.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...ct_id=10737379

Angela

Angela,
I'd be willing to bet that if you go to a local cruise or show and let it be known that you need an accessory plug (cigar lighter in the old days..) wired in for a boom box, but that you don't know how to do it to look professional and don't want to trash the car or smoke the wiring you will find a local Des Moines area rodder that will help you out. This is a five minute job for the basic wiring, and an hour or two to make it professional, "hidden" but accessible. Heck, Good Guys Heartland Nationals is in two weeks and you will have 3-4,000 rods & customs hitting town!!

Advanced Auto has a cigar lighter unit for less than $5 but you need to find a spot on your fuse panel that can handle 20-30 amps. Since I don't have an electric fuel pump (stock mechanical SBC) I am using the wire in my kit that would have been for an electric fuel pump but on your HJ you probably have the original wiring loom so you probably need someone who knows the HJ loom to install just one wire to the cigar lighter which will be grounded to the metal dash. The neat thing about a cigar lighter is that you can use it for several accessories, sweeper, small air pump, digital locater, cell phone charger, a separate CD/radio or light an occasional cigar! The Henry J looks great!

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Heck, just gimme a call.... I'll ride shotgun and sing to you!!!!!

Hey, I didn't say it was a GOOD idea, just an idea!!!!!

You'll have to sing loud!!

Angela

Not a bad idea, really! I'm going to try to go to my first show tomorrow if the weather allows so maybe I'll check into that! Thanks

Angela

Perhaps at the car show you will find out the names of some car clubs in your area, Car clubs are great for comradery and a great place to learn. You will also make contacts who can help you with things on your car. Car clubs often travel together to shows and events. It's so cool to travel in a convoy of classic cars. Another benefit is you have others with you in case something goes wrong.

Pat

Thats a good point! The other night when I took the car out I thought, if this dies in an intersection, who am I going to call? Its definitely a good idea for me to make some contacts here who can help me make decisions or deal with any problems that come up.

Watching the weather, if this rain clears up I'll head out to the show in a bit. I really want to do this today, with it Father's Day & all.

Angela

I've been using a little boom box ever since the wife destroyed the 78 'bird.

Getting a bit tired of buying batteries for it.. even the cheap ones at the Dollar General get expensive after a while.