Just thought I’d share my recent aftermarket stereo install on my Celica as a general guide for those thinking of tackling a similar project. Goals were mainly for sound quality, and to keep the install as stealthy as possible. Here’s the list of components: Alpine ILX-W650 head unit, JL Audio JD 500/1 for the subwoofer mounted under drivers seat, JD 400/4 for the speakers mounted under passengers seat and JL Audio 10w3 mounted in factory made HO box. I chose the JD amp series since the amps physical footprints were small and fit neatly under the seat. I know a lot of people have issues trying to get wire through the firewall. However, there were two rubber plugs behind the driver side wheel well skirt that are very easy to access; I ran the power wire through one of the plugs. Simply remove the wheel well skirt and you will see the plugs.
I didn’t want to drill holes through the floor boards so I glued a piece of 0.5 in thick piece of plexiglass under the carpet of both the driver and passenger seats. This gave me a nice substrate to screw the amplifiers to.
The HO box from JL audio fits perfectly behind the rear seat. The hatch cover keeps the subwoofer out of view from lurkers.
I bought Morel Maximos components for the front doors, and Morel Maximos Coaxials for the rear. However, after removing the rear speaker panels, it would have taking me a lot of time to manufacture an adapter to make them fit. The rear speakers are are mounted in a flimsy plastic frame bracket in open air. The rear interior panel acts like a baffle. After contemplating how to adapt a new set of speakers, I gave up and left the stock speakers in. Since the car is tiny, a good set of components in the front should be all that is needed. I might run the rear stock speakers as mid bass and turn their gain down. I will install the front door speakers when I get the mid range woofer adapters mailed in. In the front, my Celica has 6.5 in speakers with a large flange on them. I’m pretty sure the overall diameter of the stock front speakers are 8in which is weird. I had to order a custom pair of adapters.
This is my 5th stereo install and I must say, the Celica is the easiest vehicle to work on. Toyota didn’t use a lot of plastic clips for the interior panels during this era. Almost all panels are fixed with screws, plastic removable rivets, or bolts. Nothing broke or cracked when I popped off the panels. I had the interior disassembled in 30 minutes. Heck, all seats can be removed in 20 minutes.
