Thinking about getting this 97

Since installing my front LCAs, in addition to the clunking which I still hear from the front which I believe are either the (less likely) end links or sway bar bushings, but in addition to that clunking, I also hear a "crunching" sound. I believe both sounds are related, and I believe that the crunching sound are the frame to LCA bushings.

I think that nut isn't tight enough, or maybe too tight, or does it require any lube / grease (because I didn't put any) and is what's causing the crunching sound.

What are your guys' ideas or thoughts on this?
 
Crunching noises I only experienced from those nuts/bushings between K-member and those forward rods. What are they called again? Rods between K-member and LCA? Somebody help me.

Anyway, if you just spray some silicone spray onto those bushings, and the noise disappears temporarily, then you have isolated the issue.
 
Pretty much. I replaced sway bar bushings on the Bird a number of years ago and they started making noises, but I didn't confirm that's what it was until I hit them with some WD-40 and they quieted right up.
 
KevinVarnes said:
Did you torque the lower control arm to frame bolts with the car at ride height or with it up in the air?
Click to expand...

In the air, but placed my jack and raised the arm a little bit to simulate it being on the ground, because there's no way I can get under my car and still access all the suspension nuts and bolts.
 
Front and rear lca and ucas, the shocks at the lca, and the strut rods.
All these have bonded bushings that will hold that torsion, and it screws with the suspension.
 
I'm trying to decide what to work on after the headlights situation is resolved; modernized audio (BT capable) or keyless entry with remote start.




I am just trying to figure out which one I want first, because both will eventually happen.
 
CDsDontBurn said:
I'm trying to decide what to work on after the headlights situation is resolved; modernized audio (BT capable) or keyless entry with remote start.




I am just trying to figure out which one I want first, because both will eventually happen.
Click to expand...


I have an Alpine in my Cougar and I like it enough, it’s similar style to that one and not overly obnoxious looking or hard to use like most other head units, but if you just want Bluetooth there’s always this…


I bought one of these for the Focus on a whim a while back and it works great, made me really question why I didn’t just keep the superior looking factory head unit in the Cougar since all I really wanted from it was the Bluetooth

Otherwise here’s basically how that alpine should look, only major difference is the CD player in mine rather than the media player.

IMG_7713.jpeg
 
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I have one of those BT receivers. It has to pair with the radio, so it means the antenna mast has to go up. I don't want that, lol.
 
CDsDontBurn said:
I have one of those BT receivers. It has to pair with the radio, so it means the antenna mast has to go up. I don't want that, lol.
Click to expand...

The Antenna goes up with the Alpine too any time it’s on, whether it’s in AM/FM, Bluetooth, CD, Pandora, etc. modes. I’m not too keen on that either.
 
I find in areas with lots of stations (Denver metro), bt to FM transmitters suck for audio quality and interference.

A better solution, what I used on my old 2002 Audi, is an aux cable that goes into where a CD changer would go AND A BT TO RCA/audio adapter. Much better sound quality and can be hardwired and tucked away to turn on with ignition on.

I'm not sure if cd changers were an option on period correct Ford stereos but if so, that's how I would add it.
 
gunn said:
I find in areas with lots of stations (Denver metro), bt to FM transmitters suck for audio quality and interference.

A better solution, what I used on my old 2002 Audi, is an aux cable that goes into where a CD changer would go AND A BT TO RCA/audio adapter. Much better sound quality and can be hardwired and tucked away to turn on with ignition on.
Click to expand...

I haven’t noticed much notable interference in the Chicagoland area but I will say it took me a while to find a truly good frequency, and make sure you have your Bluetooth volume on your phone at max. The biggest downside to it I’ve found after finding a good frequency is regular radio will have major interference from it. I hardly listen to it so it’s not a big deal but I’ll have to unplug on the rare occasions I do.

I'm not sure if cd changers were an option on period correct Ford stereos but if so, that's how I would add it.
Click to expand...

They were!

IMG_7444.jpeg

But only the JBL/premium sound CASSETTE decks have the inputs active.
 
XR7-4.6 said:
The Antenna goes up with the Alpine too any time it’s on, whether it’s in AM/FM, Bluetooth, CD, Pandora, etc. modes. I’m not too keen on that either.
Click to expand...

Why does the antenna go up with anything else other than AM/FM setting? On CD / cassette with your unit? I'm asking because with the stock unit, the antenna is in the "down" position for anything else but AM/FM. Shouldn't this also be true with any aftermarket head unit that has BT capability?

gunn said:
I find in areas with lots of stations (Denver metro), bt to FM transmitters suck for audio quality and interference
Click to expand...

This is what I'm having with mine. At home, it's crystal clear audio (92220), but as I travel west towards work (92408), interference begins to take play and is usually mostly static by then, requiring me to switch to another frequency.

gunn said:
A better solution, what I used on my old 2002 Audi, is an aux cable that goes into where a CD changer would go AND A BT TO RCA/audio adapter.
Click to expand...

XR7-4.6 said:
They were!
Click to expand...

Gold Bird has premium audio! But it's CD, not tape, so no CD changer for me 😑. Dirty Bird though is premium audio with cassette though, but I've since ripped out and checked all that hardware 😅. If I still had it, I'd transfer it over to Gold Bird, lol.
 
CDsDontBurn said:
Why does the antenna go up with anything else other than AM/FM setting? On CD / cassette with your unit? I'm asking because with the stock unit, the antenna is in the "down" position for anything else but AM/FM. Shouldn't this also be true with any aftermarket head unit that has BT capability?
Click to expand...

IMG_7793.jpeg


But seriously that’s just how they are, the antenna module is triggered by a radio on output from the receiver and for the Alpine and as far as I can remember from the factory Ford head units that was under any circumstance it was on whether you were listening to the radio or cassettes or CDs.

Gold Bird has premium audio! But it's CD, not tape, so no CD changer for me 😑. Dirty Bird though is premium audio with cassette though, but I've since ripped out and checked all that hardware 😅. If I still had it, I'd transfer it over to Gold Bird, lol.
Click to expand...

The CD changer option in MN12s came and went I think starting in 93 and ending after 94 when the JBL package was also ended(my 94 had both).

The Premium head units be it cassette or CD will have a little jumper plug on the back of them that would otherwise be the CD changer feed(or slave CD player like SN95 Mustangs had). Without the plug neither stereo will function but unfortunately I never had any luck playing the factory CD changer plugged into the premium 97 CD player I have. That plug for sure interrupts the audio signal but getting anything to come out of it was unsuccessful.
 
CDsDontBurn said:
I have one of those BT receivers. It has to pair with the radio, so it means the antenna mast has to go up. I don't want that, lol.
Click to expand...
get a rubber-duck type (short rubber antennas), plug it into the deck, and mount it under the pass seat.

Amazon.com: SZSAUTO Car Truck Spiral Antenna, 7 Inch Waterproof PVC Rubber Antenna Mast Replacement, Vehicle Radio FM AM Antennas, Flexible Short Antenna for Cars Trucks SUVs Off-Roads : Electronics

Buy SZSAUTO Car Truck Spiral Antenna, 7 Inch Waterproof PVC Rubber Antenna Mast Replacement, Vehicle Radio FM AM Antennas, Flexible Short Antenna for Cars Trucks SUVs Off-Roads: Antennas - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
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I have been thinking of finding a good condition OEM stereo and doing the Aux-In mod. According to this article the mod should work with both CD and Tape decks models -

Aux In on Factory/OEM Radio - Guide - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks - Aux In on Factory/OEM Radio - Guide - Good evening all, With the hurricane passing through I've had a few moments to finalize a modification I had been wanting to do for quite some time. You will need: Factory Ford head unit/radio Ford radio removal...
www.ford-trucks.com

1761313674421.png

Another option after the mod is to hard wire a bluetooth adapter directly to the input, and have it power on with the radio. That gives complete factory look and full bluetooth functions like a modern car.
 
Kenz said:
I have been thinking of finding a good condition OEM stereo and doing the Aux-In mod. According to this article the mod should work with both CD and Tape decks models -

Aux In on Factory/OEM Radio - Guide - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks - Aux In on Factory/OEM Radio - Guide - Good evening all, With the hurricane passing through I've had a few moments to finalize a modification I had been wanting to do for quite some time. You will need: Factory Ford head unit/radio Ford radio removal...
www.ford-trucks.com

View attachment 15154

Another option after the mod is to hard wire a bluetooth adapter directly to the input, and have it power on with the radio. That gives complete factory look and full bluetooth functions like a modern car.
Click to expand...
This is a good idea IMO especially if you live in a place where people might still steal stereos.
There's a guy on eBay selling premodded stereos for aux and or BT but I cannot imagine it's a very large market (I think it was $350 for the aux in and $400 for the bt version. Considering the bt module would be two more wires for power/ground and a $5 module, seems kind of excessive
 
XR7-4.6 said:
The CD changer option in MN12s came and went I think starting in 93 and ending after 94 when the JBL package was also ended(my 94 had both).
Click to expand...

So you're saying that Dirty Bird did not have a factory CD changer?

Kenz said:
I have been thinking of finding a good condition OEM stereo and doing the Aux-In mod. According to this article the mod should work with both CD and Tape decks models -

Aux In on Factory/OEM Radio - Guide - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks - Aux In on Factory/OEM Radio - Guide - Good evening all, With the hurricane passing through I've had a few moments to finalize a modification I had been wanting to do for quite some time. You will need: Factory Ford head unit/radio Ford radio removal...
www.ford-trucks.com

View attachment 15154

Another option after the mod is to hard wire a bluetooth adapter directly to the input, and have it power on with the radio. That gives complete factory look and full bluetooth functions like a modern car.
Click to expand...

Dude, this is pretty slick!
 
CDsDontBurn said:
So you're saying that Dirty Bird did not have a factory CD changer?
Click to expand...

No, but if it does factory CD changer =/= Ford CD changer, just like the factory alarm vs. the Ford alarm. The factory one was installed at Lorain and is in the various literature(brochures, EVTMs, service manuals etc, it went away after 94. They were available as dealer options all the way through, I have a NOS one still in box but it’s not the same as the factory installed one
 
gunn said:
This is a good idea IMO especially if you live in a place where people might still steal stereos.
There's a guy on eBay selling premodded stereos for aux and or BT but I cannot imagine it's a very large market (I think it was $350 for the aux in and $400 for the bt version. Considering the bt module would be two more wires for power/ground and a $5 module, seems kind of excessive
Click to expand...

I saw the premade ones on eBay and was almost going to buy one for my Firebird. Agreed they are a bit overpriced, but people are obviously buying them.

I looked up what is involved and it really isn't a hard DIY project; basic soldering skill is really all that is needed. I ended up doing the mod to my firebird OEM radio which is slightly more involved because it requires the audio signal to be interrupted. End result it works great and the audio is better than any FM transmitter

The Ford radios it seems to be even easier. Just a couple of simple solder points to get the signal in.
 
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