Hi Anthony,
I just reread your earlier post. So the rear speakers are mounted in the masonite side panels and are open in the back? Above the wheel arch as it slopes back down in the rear probably? I got confused thinking that all 4 speakers were enclosed. If I’m on track now, that’s a tough spot for a speaker box. Here’s a crazy idea. How about 4” black ABS pipe? Cut a length that goes from the back of the side panel to the inner fender, about 5” I think. Get some good 3/8” ply. Cut a front piece with a hole that the ABS will fit in snugly. The outer dimensions will be dictated by where you cut the hole in the side panel already. Cut a circle from the plywood that will act as a plug for the back of the tube and epoxy it in. Test fit in the car before gluing, speaker should be on opposite side of the panel from the ABS tube and screw through the panel into the plywood to lock it down. The vinyl should make a good seal for you. There are 2 possible problems I can think of. 1) Some piece of the body interferes with the tube. B) The basket of the speaker is too wide to fit flush in the tube. Can you post a photo of what you’ve done so far? That’s a clean install of the stereo by the way.

I can't speak for Keoke, but while it is certainly much easier to put in a new aftermarket radio (and probably more expensive), I couldn't bear one of those hitech multicolor extravaganza's sitting in my center console. It's just wrong.

So if the point is to put in a radio that looks like it would have been in the car in the first place, then you have to make some accomodations. If you want it fast and easy, and don't mind "pimping your ride," then go for a new one. And a couple of those monster bass units will likely fit right across the back seat, making you the envy of the 'hood. But that's not what I was thinking about.

There is one more consideration in modern radios for the BJ8 crowd. The original style radio had volume and tuning shafts that helped anchor the radio in. The DIN style radios today fit differently. Here is a before and after shot of my console modification. I would think most people wouldn’t want to do this, especially if your car is all together. Just something to think about when shopping.

Another option is to have the old BMC radio re-configured with new electronics (AM-FM stereo et-al) using the old knobs and case. I beleive it runs about 500.00 US. I have the info on it somewhere. A lady in our local club (Golden Gate Healey) had it done and gave me the info last summer. Looks perfect. I bought an old original for 25 bucks but haven't convinced myself I need tunes. If there is interest I will dig out the info and post their web sight.

SHG, but there are older shaft mounted hi quality aftermarket radios available that have these features; MY Kenwood even uses the original Healey chrome trim around the face plate and it does not have the bell and whistle look.On the other hand, it will put out close to 400 watts of clean power if bridged and came originally with its own external amplifier . These systems are often referred to as a Preamp/Amp systems. The PreAmp handles the radio and tape, if included, functions and the external amp provides the power to drive the speakers. ---Keoke

If you've got a new radio that looks right, that's great. I looked all over the place for one, but didn't find anything that came even close to looking right. I found a few with shafts and knobs, but they still had the multicolored lights and were too "slick" to fit in. With all the effort I put in to make sure that the other parts were correct, I felt that putting a new radio into the console just looked horrible. It is, of course, a matter of personal choice and you may have found a great radio that I didn't see, but I have to tell you that the old Becker looks right, sounds great, and the total cost, from radio (with cassette), converter, amp and speakers was about $250.

On additional point about distortion, etc. If the speakers and good quality and are adequately powered so that they push enough sound to be heard clearly, whatever sound quality loss comes from the radio itself really doesn't amount to anything. Remember, we're in an open cockpit with the exhaust screaming, not a recording studio. To keep the integrity of the car intact, we have to make accomodations. I have no holes in parts of the car where they don't belong. I have a radio that looks like it should be there and I have great sound with nothing showing that shouldn't be showing. If I was willing to compromise the car for the radio, I would have had more choices. But the car came first, and the radio had to fit the car, not the other way around.

heres a pic.of my bj7 install,although its an updated unit i dont feel it insults the the intended cofiguration of the interior layout,i purchaed a plastic mount from j.c whitney $6.00 fits exactly under heater box where orig.motorola was mounted[i have it and it still works any interest let me know] o.k. so i painted the two shinny metal straps on the heater box,whip me with a noodle. with the help of gregw,ive reolised what went wrong with the sound,it was speaker placement not the radio or need for a pre amp etc.etc.i never intended my car radio to be able to do what any home system is capable of,just needed some clean sound,my bigest problem was not baffling [inclosing] the rear speaker.thanks all for your interest and responces,didnt know this would be such a hot and timely subject.now keoke,can you give me any ideas as to were in the healey i can place the two 14" video monitors?

add.attacment rad.instl.

Keoke can you give me any ideas as to where i can place the two 14" video moitors?--- ---Keoke

I saw a BJ8 at Encounter that had just rolled out of Tom Kovac's shop (Fourintune)from a full resto. The owner had a remote which when pushed caused the original blanking cover with the 3000 badge in the console to flip down and out slid the radio/CD player. Another push and the whole thing folded back in--sort of like watching a MB 500 SL hardtop fold away! I don't know how it sounded or what it must have cost but it certainly looked cool.

that really does sound like Don Healey meets "Pimp My Ride"...Actually, it sounds like a pretty brilliant way to deal with sound. Expensive and, in the long run, perhaps the sort of thing that will be compared to putting avocado green appliances into a 1860s Victorian house, but still a very imaginative way to deal with it. I wonder what they did with the view from the sides of the console? Did they build side walls around it to conceal the system?

The car to which Michael is referring is Chris Kortke's 67 BJ8. This is his web site: http://www.67healey.com. The radio was very "James Bondish" - hidden nicely and very cool. I don't think there any shots of the radio on his website. It did open up behind the 3000 flash on the console upright. See attachment.
Lin
1960 BT7 in restoration
1959 Bugeye

Hi Lin, Yes that is a nice installation of a modern system I like the Motif attached to the drop down face plate.It probably has enough power to make it good sound too. No SHG, that Kenwood is much more modern than the one I used.- ---Keoke

Hi Michael, Yes that is a cool modern system. There is anotherone that completely installs in the boot. You can leave the old BMC radio in place.It is controlled by a hand held remote just like your TV set at home. It is MP3 and Satalite radio compatible too.---Keoke