1969 Plymouth Road Runner Sound System

In the quest to build the consummate cruiser, we’ve encountered massive amounts of torque (“Torque Monster,” Mopar Muscle, April 2000) and ample strength to harness the power thanks to a McCandless-built four-speed (“4-Speed Clinic,” Mopar Muscle, June 2000), not to mention the DTS-supplied Dana (“Special Delivery,” Mopar Muscle, September 2000). Most importantly, the craftsmanship of John Balow’s clan at Muscle Car Restorations has been seen in every article and is readily apparent in the overall quality of the Roadrunner.

So when it came time to decide on the audio system for the Holley Project Roadrunner, we clearly wanted yet another expert. Power Tour-style cruising requires tunes, so we turned to the mail-order audio leader, Crutchfield.

Carl Matthews at Crutchfield helped us determine that we wanted a straightforward approach. Carl recommended that we review Crutchfield’s Car Stereo Starter Kit that includes a MasterSheet for your specific vehicle (unfortunately one wasn’t available for the ’69 Roadrunner), as well as the Crutchfield Guide to Car Stereo Installation. A bargain at $4.95, this beginner kit is refundable if you purchase your entire system within 30 days.

We agreed (of course) that a complete Kenwood system would be best for the Roadrunner. While an audiophile would consider the $1600 of equipment affordable, we recognize that not everyone wants to dive right in with this level of audio performance. The initial investment, however, of amp, head unit, and four speakers is under $700 and can be upgraded to include the CD changer, subwoofer, and additional speakers.

So take a look at ours and decide whether your own A-, B-, or E-Body could benefit from the system Muscle Car Restorations installed in the Holley Project Roadrunner.

Like their 2-channel brothers, these 4-channel Kenwoods are built with MOSFET-switching power supplies for fast response, maximum output, and cooler operating temperatures. Larger-than-usual noise-suppression filters make sure all you hear is music. Speaker-level inputs allow easy connection to any head unit. Crutchfield also recommends the easily packaged KAC-748 amp with 35 watts of four-channel or 100 watts of two-channel capability. Dimensions of 11-5/8W x 2-1/4H x 12-5/8D inches make this a perfect muscle car amp.	Installing the amp on the back side of the rear seat makes wiring convenient and provides ample room for a full-size spare.	The individual output channels for speakers are installed down the driver's side sill plate channel. Crutchfield provides Musica 100 Series Patch Cords cables with rugged jackets that withstand sharp bends as they snake through your Mopar.
StreetWires Speaker Wire links speakers to the amp. The installation-friendly, non-gripping wire jacket is flexible yet rugged. If you're connecting a subwoofer to a very powerful amp, choose 12-gauge wire. The StreetWires Speaker Wire is available in 12-, 14-, and 16-gauge wire in precut lengths of 5, 10, 20, 30, and 60 feet.	John's crew mounted the Kenwood KSC-WA100 self-powered 10-inch Subwoofer in the trunk. This powerhouse has a built-in 30-watt per channel amp that sends 60 total watts to a dual-voice coil woofer. You can connect your sub to almost any stereo, with the preamp and speaker-level inputs.	The variable low-pass crossover (50-200 Hz) blends the bass with your system and Includes a set of preamp outputs to hook up another amp if you want. Best of all, this compact pounder allows the full-size spare to remain, and there's room left over for a battery box and an ice chest filled with our favorite beverage--Yoo Hoo!
What's a muscle car without a pair of crankin' package tray speakers? Crutchfield recommends Kenwood's eXcelon 6x9-inch speakers. The pearl mica injection-molded poly woofer delivers planet-shaking bass. The 2-3/4-inch polyetherimide (PEI) midrange cone is built with a urethane surround for lower distortion.	The 1-inch PPTA (poly para-phenylene terephthalamide) balanced dome tweeter completes the picture with sparkling high end. The multiple component crossover network divides the frequencies more accurately than the more common capacitor-type crossover, giving you a more polished and focused sound. These performers handle serious power and retain their form and stability even when exposed to temperature extremes.	We started getting tricky with a few of our speaker locations. We used the rear sail panels in order to accommodate a pair of Kenwood eXcelon Dual-Mag 6-1/2-inch speakers. The XR600 2-way speakers offer an amazing array of sonic delights and are designed for crystal-clear midrange and highs with rock-solid bass. Dual magnets mounted in the woofer's voice coil create a more powerful magnetic field in a smaller space than a conventional magnet.
The injection-molded poly woofer cone responds with authoritative bass, and the soft dome tweeter uses Urethane Film Laminate Cloth (UFLC). The damping effects of the UFLC combine with the lightweight design of the tweeter to extend the high frequency range for clear, crisp highs. Bi-amp inputs allow you to power the woofer and tweeter separately.	Running power to the amp, and the speaker wires to each set of speakers, requires taking power down one sill plate enclosure and running the other down the driver's side sill plate. For amp power, Crutchfield supplies a StreetWires Single-Amp Wiring Kit. Everything you need for power delivery and signal transfer to your 2-channel amplifier is contained in one of these wiring kits, and you choose your kit according to the total RMS power of your amplifier.