Pinnacle Autosound

Cars and Audio are Our Passions

Chevrolet

Chevy Truck Side and Front Cameras for Repeat Lake Butler Client

By

Chevy CamerasIn one of our recent posts, we shared a Chevy truck owned by a Lake Butler client with a radio, camera and speakers installed. We mentioned that the client had spoken about adding side view cameras. Shortly after finishing the first round of work, he contacted us again about finishing up the Chevy project with not only side cameras but also a front camera.

Front Camera Installation

We started with the easiest part of the installation, the front camera. We could use one of the Echomaster cameras with a mount that fits perfectly on the truck’s front grille. The camera’s small size lets it blend in and become almost unnoticeable.

Side View Camera Installation

The mounting location on the fender flare was precisely marked.
The small acrylic ring would provide the base of the angle adapter.
Once molded into place, it was time for some paint.
The spot we chose for the cameras ended up working great!
We might prefer this new location over a mirror mount!

The typical mounting location for side view cameras is in the side view mirrors. This truck, however, had some aftermarket mirrors that would not accommodate the adequate mounting of cameras. We started looking at other options for camera mounting and noticed a slight recess in the fender flares. This spot happened to be just big enough for a camera. The only problem with the spot was that the angle was too sharp for a camera to have a good line of sight.
Luckily for this client, we have the tools and know-how to tackle most any fabrication project. The plan we crafted was to laser cut a small acrylic ring, just larger than the camera size. Observing the correct angle, we molded that ring to the fender flare. Once the body filler had set, we removed the assembly and sanded the ring and filler to shape. A little automotive-grade paint was all that remained for the installation of the cameras into the fenders.

Final Adjustment of Chevy Cameras

Rear View
Front View
Left View
Right View

Once all the mounting was finished and wiring routed and connected, it was time to set the cameras up. Each camera has a bit of adjustment to maximize the views. We set the cameras, so they viewed the optimal area for each location. Once again, the client was happy with his upgrades and couldn’t wait to try out the new camera. We install much more than just backup cameras at Pinnacle Autosound. If you have any out-of-the-box camera needs, stop by or contact us for more information.

Chevrolet Radio and Backup Camera for Lake Butler Client

By

Chevrolet RadioThis client from Lake Butler recently checked in with us to see about installing a new radio and backup camera into his Chevrolet 2500. The client also mentioned possibly adding side-view cameras to his truck sometime. After listening to his other needs for his trunk entertainment system, we knew the perfect radio for him would be the Stinger Heigh10 radio.

Chevrolet Radio Installation

There was plenty of room between the screen and the shifter, when in park.
Android Auto apps are easily accessible.
The large 10″ display makes navigation mapping easy.
The Stinger Heigh10 radio offers plenty of source options.

The Stinger Heigh10 radio is not your average radio. It features a large, 10″ touchscreen display. While the large display makes the radio safer and more engaging, it also limits some of the vehicles in which it can be installed. In this Chevrolet truck, our first step was to measure and make sure the shifter would clear the screen. We were in luck, and there was plenty of space between the shifter and the screen. We were then able to begin the dash removal process and installation preparation.

Chevrolet Backup Camera

The backup camera was mounted just above the license plate.
The backup camera was perfectly aligned.

One of the ways the client wanted to take advantage of the large 10″ screen was with a backup camera. He was excited about how easy the new camera would make hooking a trailer up to his truck. The large, clear screen makes it easy for him to see his backup progress at a glance. We mounted one of our Echomaster backup cameras just above the license plate and neatly hid the wiring before routing it to the front of the truck.

One More Thing, Speakers

The front speakers were upgraded with Rockford Fosgate Punch coaxials.
Smaller 4×6″ coaxials were used in the rear doors.

A late addition to the project was new speakers for the front and rear of the truck. While we had the truck apart, the client wanted us to freshen up the speakers. We were happy to oblige and chose two pairs of Rockford Fosgate Punch coaxials to upgrade the front and rear speakers in the Chevrolet truck.

Setup and Delivery

With the radio, backup camera, and speakers all installed, it was time to set up the new radio for the client. We first adjusted the backup camera to ensure the client could see the ball of the hitch and the space behind the truck. We took advantage of the sound settings in the Heigh10 radio to maximize the sound from the new speakers. The crossover settings let us filter out some of the bass from the smaller rear speakers. With all the features working optimally, it was time to hand the truck back to the client. We knew his ride home to Lake Butler would be better than the trip to see us! Need a radio, backup camera, or new speakers for your Chevrolet truck? We can help! Please stop by, call, or contact us to learn about the options we offer.

Chevrolet Truck Center Console Enclosure for Gainesville Client

By

Center Console EnclosureOur previous client from Gainesville recently contacted us about building a Chevrolet truck center console enclosure for him. At Pinnacle Autosound, we have a small staff consisting of Brian and Joey. Having only two people is often an asset because we can always ensure our quality of work will be top-notch. Our time, however, is often limited which, can be a downside. Custom work for products not purchased from us is one of the things that sometimes suffers. We build our pricing schedules such that they include profit from gear sales. So, many times, we have to say “no” to requests for custom work for gear we didn’t sell. This client was an exception because we had previously done quite a bit of work for him.

Center Console Enclosure

The brace was designed to hold the magnet without restricting airflow.
We made sure to support the massive weight of this subwoofer.
45-degree corner braces were added for additional strength.
The subwoofer brace also helped brace the port.
We were able to add two cupholders to the front of the enclosure.
We had to do some careful calculations to make sure the enclosure would fit.
A look into the enclosure before upholstery began.

When speaking with the client about the console, we learned that he didn’t want anything overly fancy, just a simple console to hold the subwoofer and maybe some cupholders. Using his input as a guide, we began designing the enclosure. We used our Term-Pro enclosure software to calculate the airspace and port tuning for the enclosure. The subwoofer the client brought us to install in the center console enclosure was massive. It had a thick metal basket and a heavy motor assembly. Our design had to consider the weight of the subwoofer, so we made sure it could be securely mounted.

The first plan to accommodate the subwoofer weight was to use a double thickness front baffle. The double baffle would give us 1.5″ of mounting surface to bolt the subwoofer to. Our second accommodation for the weight was a custom brace for the magnet assembly. The brace is needed to support the speaker but not limit the airspace and flow in the enclosure. To create a brace that would handle our needs, we used our CNC router to create a brace that fit the circumference of the magnets and had numerous openings for airflow.

Construction for the enclosure proceeded, as usual, gluing and nailing all the pieces together. To further strengthen the joints, we did add 45-degree corner braces on the inside panels.

Enclosure Upholstery and Mounting

After we assembled the enclosure and allowed the glue to dry, it was time for upholstery. The majority of the enclosure would be a grey, automotive-grade carpet that matched the interior color of the truck. We made a vinyl-covered top plate because the carpet can be uncomfortable to rest your arm on. The top plate had two pockets, one specifically to hold the client’s cell phone and one for general storage.

Making sure the enclosure stayed in place was a priority for us. To ensure the safe mounting of the console, we used heavy-gauge metal to form a bracket to secure the console to the floor. The metal bracket is bolted to the OEM mounting points for the factory console.

After a day’s work it was time to hand the truck back over to the client. He loved how we added the top plate to the enclosure and how we were able to integrate cupholders into the design. Call us, contact us, or stop by if you want to discuss having us fabricate something for you.

Repeat Client Comes to Pinnacle for Square Body Chevy Radio

By Leave a Comment

Chevy RadioA local repeat client recently came to Pinnacle Autosound to get a new radio for his square body Chevy truck.  We reviewed the client’s needs for a new radio and taking into account his happiness with Sony radios in the past, we recommended a Sony radio for his new truck.  The client liked the plan and we scheduled him a time to drop the truck off.

Chevy Radio Installation

Chevy RadioThe radio location in the C10 Chevy dash is in the lower bottom corner.  The factory radio was a shaft-mounted style radio.  To install the new DIN size radio requires a bit of fabrication.  The opening for the factory radio has to be enlarged to make room for the new radio.  Once the hole is enlarged there is a bit of plastic missing on the top and bottom of the opening.  To cover those extra holes, our technicians created a plastic trim ring that covered over the extra holes.  The radio mounting frame is mounted through the trim ring, and attached to the dash.

Future Upgrades

The client was happy with his new radio installation, and really liked the trick cover for the USB port.  We hope to  have the truck back in the near future to add new speakers and some bass to round out the system.  If you are looking to upgrade the audio in your classic truck or car, stop by today or contact us here for more information.