RX7 Premium Stereo Refurb & Install

"MM54" (mm54mk2) 08/10/2018 at 19:50 • Filed to: FB RX7

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My RX-7 came with the base model stereo (being a base model in all ways, this makes sense). Over the winter, I fixed some hacked up wiring to get this working again. That said, the 33-year-old dial tuner wasn’t very good at holding stations, the 5w amps were easily drowned by highway noise, and overall it was dirty and old (and missing the volume knob!). Also only one of the mechanical presets worked, and the tuning drifted pretty badly .

I couldn’t find the original of this so I cropped it from a kinja-crop of the original, hence the potato quality

A forum member was parting out an ‘85 GSL-SE - the top trim level. This included the full premium stereo, which has much better (remote) amps, a digital tuner, and a 9-band graphic EQ because it’s 1985. Also a joystick-based fade/balance control, but I bypassed that (I like my coin holder and the head has face/balance control on it, too ).

The guy also sent 2 joysticks (neither of which I used) and chopped out a big chunk of wiring harness for good measure. Thanks, I guess.

Coming from a parts car, it wasn’t in all that great shape, but I knew this going in to it. Not being in a rush, I figured I’d clean it up and so on before installation. It was verified as working (tape deck unknown ) by the seller.

I proceeded to completely dismantle each of the three units (radio, tape deck, and EQ). After cleaning them electrically (pots, switches, etc) attention was turned to the face of the units and knobs. The switches and knobs went into the ultrasonic cleaner, which did a pretty good job.

As can be seen above, the actual face plates (which after some fanangling can be removed fully from the units) are a shiny metal with a satin layer on top. This top layer was hazy, embedded with dirt, and peeling in spots.

Starting with the tape deck (because it’s the same as the one in-car so worst case I have a replacement) I tried a special blend of 14 herbs and spices ( and some elbow grease) on the face plates. Miraculously I was able to safety strip off the old satin finish without damaging anything else (a few spots of screen-print text were lost due to my not realizing they were screen-printed; most of the text is holes in the metal where light comes through). I then masked a bit, and sprayed a new satin clear onto it.

Below is the stack with the radio face plate as-arrived, the tape deck refinished, and the EQ stripped ready to spray .

Satisfied with this, I completed the strip and refinish process on the rest of the faceplates. This was a slow process, as I pretty much worked on it about half an hour a day, a couple days a week since it was so tedious and a low-priority project .

That said, I think the results turned out pretty well:

Yesterday I started installing the new stack in the car and swapping the amps in. I wrapped up late last night and finished re-assembling the interior after work today. It works, sounds pretty good, and looks great. Hopefully the tuning is much more stable going down the road (it’s way better in the garage, at least!).

The surround trim piece was cracked/glued when I got the car. If I find one in better shape for a good price, I’d consider replacing it now that the shiny clean radio is making it look bad . They’re uncommon and expensive, though.

Urambo Tauro > MM54 08/10/2018 at 20:05

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Wow, that came out really nice!

Somehow it never occurred to me that I could use my ultrasonic cleaner for more than just cleaning carb parts.

M.T. Blake > MM54 08/10/2018 at 20:11

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Period correct audio is becoming a big deal. Especially for the rare and quality stuff. 

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > MM54 08/10/2018 at 20:21

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Now all you need is a cassette of Huey Lewis and The News Sports

MM54 > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 08/10/2018 at 21:02

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If the tape deck works (the old one didn’t) I’ll buy one, deal?

MM54 > M.T. Blake 08/10/2018 at 21:04

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This is a really good sounding system for a factory setup from 1985; it’s all made by Clarion, including the amps . I do not have original speakers (someone in the car’s past put in aftermarket ones) but it sounds pretty good. Low end is a bit muddy but I’ve heard worse - especially in 30+ year old factory automotive setups!

MM54 > Urambo Tauro 08/10/2018 at 21:05

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I have one I’m borrowing, it’s very nice. On the list of things I’ve been meaning to buy but haven’t gotten around to it. It’s good for most any sort of small part with loosely affixed goo, like carb parts, stereo knobs, etc. I’ve even cleaned my glasses i n it (gets all the stuff from behind the nose pad!).

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > MM54 08/10/2018 at 21:29

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I don’t have time to read this right now. But I will. #excited 

someassemblyrequired > MM54 08/10/2018 at 21:52

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From the era when you could actually get a Mazda where the interior wasn’t black or beige. I’d like to see a new 6 or CX-5 with the maroon or blue interior with the color keyed binnacle and wheel.

ttyymmnn > MM54 08/11/2018 at 10:52

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That is glorious. Love the EQ.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > MM54 08/11/2018 at 11:07

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I have much admires for you doing that. And period correct. Did you refurbish any of the tape drive elements? Rubber belt, capstan (or whatever), et cetera?

Shopping for a cassette/aux adapter?

Well done! What did you use for your spray clear?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > M.T. Blake 08/11/2018 at 11:09

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I have a ‘71 GMC van which is going to need a radio some day when I quit buying parts and begin actually installing parts. I am going to look for something period-correct to put in the dash, but there will be an aux cable with an amp under the seat for real listening.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > MM54 08/11/2018 at 11:11

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Every car I buy I purchase aftermarket speakers, typically Alpine two-ways , to replace the stock speakers in the stock enclosures. And I don’t spend more than $40-50 a pair max. That step alone generally makes a significant improvement in sound quality, even with the stock stereo . I’d recommend you do the same after all this effort. I’ve had very good luck, and shopping, at Crutchfield.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 08/11/2018 at 11:12

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On a metal tape.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > someassemblyrequired 08/11/2018 at 11:12

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The real news here is RX-7 that runs...

MM54 > ttyymmnn 08/11/2018 at 11:20

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Thanks!

M.T. Blake > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 08/11/2018 at 11:22

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I put a RetroSound unit in my Camaro. Looks great, has Bluetooth and USB aux. 

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > MM54 08/11/2018 at 11:23

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It is really cool to see some one put the time into keeping their radio looking original while still upgrading. And the result looks great!

I never took the original radio out of the Galant because I liked the look of it so much, but I also basically didn’t have a radio. The Rabbit has some crappy Walmart Pioneer thing that at least can be set to a darker red glow. I would like to replace it with one of the Bluetooth units that AestheticsI motion has in his Miata. And then just replace the whole cracked broken dash unit with a piece  of brushed aluminum.  

MM54 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 08/11/2018 at 11:24

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Thanks! Period correct factory option! From what I can tell, you could spec the premium audio stuff even in the base model, though I suspect it wasn’t all that common of an option (it was standard on the -SE).

I didn’t do anything other than clean the heads in the tape deck. I haven’t tested it out yet, either. The one I took out would just sit there and click instead of playing, so if this one doesn’t work I’d try to fix the other (refurb the face the same way) and swap it in at some point. I have a casette / aux adapter floating around somethere... ought to find it so I can test this deck.

The clear is satin clear rustoleum, I was a bit skeptical but it turned out well enough! Hopefully it doesn’t do anything weird in the heat of sitting in a rolling greenhouse.

MM54 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 08/11/2018 at 11:25

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I’d consider it, especially since the originals are already gone. I may have taken a picture of what was in the rear when I fixed their wiring, not sure though. They seemed decent; not sure of the lacking low end is speakers or amp.

MM54 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 08/11/2018 at 11:27

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In my ‘71 chevelle there was just the factory AM radio - I opened it up and found where the signal passed from the receiver to the amp and spliced in a switch and a headphone jack. One way on the switch is factory operation, the other way injects the signal from the jack. It still sounds like a crappy radio through 47 year old paper speakers, but it’s something. Looks completely stock, the switch and jack are hanging out in the glove box.

MM54 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 08/11/2018 at 11:34

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Thanks! A nice brushed aluminum panel with that two-knob style radio would be pretty sweet.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > MM54 08/11/2018 at 11:50

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I wondered about doing something like that. I’d like to try that. Playing Spotify through a 1971 AM radio would be a thing.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > M.T. Blake 08/11/2018 at 11:50

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Definitely a pro tip, but I think that would be too nice for my van.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > MM54 08/11/2018 at 11:51

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I’d encourage you to do that.

someassemblyrequired > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 08/12/2018 at 15:42

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1.5L GLC engine swaps right in...  :P

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > someassemblyrequired 08/13/2018 at 01:14

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For real? Less peppy, I'd imagine.

someassemblyrequired > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 08/13/2018 at 09:06

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It does - though t he opposite conversion is the more common one:

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > someassemblyrequired 08/13/2018 at 10:16

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I want to do an LS swap into a Prius, which is almost the same thing.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > someassemblyrequired 08/13/2018 at 10:17

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Gosh: that might even drift . But you’d probably need to bulk up the rear axle a bit...

someassemblyrequired > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 08/13/2018 at 12:42

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Would need to be an LS with a supercharger , just to mess with Elon.

the_saabing_car_guy > MM54 08/25/2020 at 13:26

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Sorry to revive a dead thread, but I just got an FB that already had this stereo in it, but the owner put an aftermarket one it. I’m currently reinstalling it.

Where are the amps located? How did you bypass the center console bal/fade switches. My car still has them and they appear to still be wired up, but it’s also on the faceplate. My last question.... Where did you find the volume knobs? Mine are missing.

MM54 > the_saabing_car_guy 08/25/2020 at 19:53

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No worries! Nothing on Oppo really dies, it just gets old.

The amps are located behind the seats, inside where the storage cubbies are. You need to remove the inserts to access them, one per side. They’re on the vertical section so you have to look down into the openings and towards the front of the car; there is a decent amount of wire in there to follow to the amps.

F rom factory the cars with the center fader did still have the control on the faceplate, it just kind of... doesn’t work. It ends up being more of a volume knob, while all the ‘distribution’ is handled by the joystick. I don’t really like that layout, so I used the jumper which can be found in any car which didn’t have the center fader joystick underneath the panel where it would be. That reroutes things back to ‘normal’ so the fade/balance on the amp work correctly. It’s a short jumper which plugs into the two plugs the joystick module plugs into and bypasses it.

I was never able to find a replacement volume knob for the analog tuner head unit, and when I got the digital one it came with the knobs already on it. Your best bet if all you need is a knob may be to either find one in a junkyard (depending where you are; there are zero around here) or get a broken/for-parts unit off ebay for the knobs.

the_saabing_car_guy > MM54 08/27/2020 at 09:49

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Thanks for following up. It looks like I’ll be following the local junkyards and Facebook groups to find a jumper and some volume knobs.