Hello, hello

Topic: Hello, hello (Read 2835 times) previous topic - next topic

Reply #15 – September 24, 2013, 12:15:53 PM

Quote from: JetScreamer;422297

No, not an after market radio, I want to keep the stock radio since it works well, but a factory Ford EQ that they put in the Cougars and T-Birds of that year.

While the factory EQ was offered as an option starting in 1985, I have never seen the factory installed setup in a car. I have seen a few '86 cars with it, but it seems that it wasn’t until the 1987 model until it became fairly common.

In addition Ford re-vamped their radio line for 1986, so the correct 1985 EQ radio is a one year only unit. The head unit looks similar to the radio you have except it lacks the bass & treble s as this is adjusted via the EQ and instead of “Electronic” printed on the face it had “Premium Sound”.
The correct 1985 EQ was slightly different in its appearance from the ’86-’88 EQ as well.

If you’re not worried about having a 100% correct factory looking radio and EQ, and just want a workable EQ in the dash, it should be possible to do with a little wiring detective work as the EQ was just a passive device in between the head unit and the Premium Sound amplifier.

There are even a few members here that have re-wired the factory EQ to work with aftermarket head units.

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Reply #16 – September 24, 2013, 07:46:48 PM

Did the car wind up staying local???

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Reply #17 – September 24, 2013, 09:04:32 PM

Yes it did.

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Reply #18 – September 24, 2013, 11:29:00 PM

Very nice find.

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Reply #19 – September 25, 2013, 12:55:23 AM

Great looking ride! Nice buy!

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Reply #20 – September 25, 2013, 06:17:49 AM

Love that interior!

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Reply #21 – September 25, 2013, 09:13:20 AM

Put that back in the wrapper !

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Reply #22 – September 25, 2013, 09:44:23 AM

Those seats felt SO GOOOOD on my butt.

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Reply #23 – September 25, 2013, 11:18:51 AM

I think they had one of the best seats back then and even for today. They were especially great for long road trips.

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Reply #24 – September 25, 2013, 03:03:01 PM

Quote from: JetScreamer;422297

Cool, that's good to know! You all did a nice job on the car. No, not an after market radio, I want to keep the stock radio since it works well, but a factory Ford EQ that they put in the Cougars and T-Birds of that year.

Quote from: BCA;422304

There are even a few members here that have re-wired the factory EQ to work with aftermarket head units.

Yes you can use a newer radio head unit (or pretty much any head unit) with the factory EQ and amp. I did it in my Thunderbird. I've got a JVC head unit with dual USB inputs wired into the factory EQ and amp using the RCA preouts on the rear of the unit.

Very nice Cougar. If you take care of it the car should last at least another 25 years

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Reply #25 – September 25, 2013, 08:11:52 PM

Quote from: thunderjet302;422361

Yes you can use a newer radio head unit (or pretty much any head unit) with the factory EQ and amp. I did it in my Thunderbird. I've got a JVC head unit with dual USB inputs wired into the factory EQ and amp using the RCA preouts on the rear of the unit.

Can you use the EQ with a factory radio if it doesn't have the Premium Sound / Amp setup?

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Reply #26 – September 25, 2013, 11:07:17 PM

The EQ has to be inline between the head unit and an amp. So without an amp the EQ won't function.

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Reply #27 – September 26, 2013, 08:31:51 AM

That's what I was thinking, but I wasn't srue. Thanks.

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Reply #28 – September 26, 2013, 05:45:18 PM

As a fellow XR7 owner...welcome. Not to many of us around. Anyways a true survivor!!! Might have to keep that one stock...

Travis

Or do you want to mod it?

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Reply #29 – September 26, 2013, 06:20:00 PM

Thanks. Oh no, I'm keeping it as stock as can be. The only thing I would mod it with would be with option items of that year, if I could find them and if they would be worth using. You only live once, but it does help if you get to have a Cougar twice. Or maybe three times!