Spent the weekend with the '86 hatch. I am posting this to create a thread with details for not only my hatchback, but also for EA81 owners. Please feel free to use this thread to post details about your own stereo install. I only ask that it be specific to the EA81 genre.

The hatchback has the usual front speakers for the EA81 bodies; 4x6 on the passenger vent side, and an odd 2x3ish on the drivers side of the dash. The rear is like a 4-4.5" pair located above the rear fender area. All run via a "common ground" wiring set up.

The above said, here are some pictures of my current project. The rear speakers have been replaced with 5.25" speakers. The fronts use a 4x6 and a 3.5" (I simply did not want to fight putting a 4x6 in on the drivers side). All have new wires running to the head unit. I also installed Raamat as I went along to help improve the acoustics and sound deadening. There will be an 8" Image Dynamics sub installed in the rear.

Edited March 14, 201412 yr by TheYeti

Here is a picture of the stock harness.  I know there is no constant since the stocker is an old push-button.  Here is the information:

The top harness in the picture is for speaker line-out and nothing else.

 

Bottom harness in the picture has the following:

 

Red with blue stripe- Illumination (when lights are turned on).

Red with green stripe- The test light would dim and brighten with the dimmer knob, so I think this is the wire that will dim the stock radio with the dash.

Blue- switched/accessory (+12v)

Black- ground

Edited March 14, 201412 yr by TheYeti

Updated the post above to include wiring that can be used for your stereo installation.

Edited March 14, 201412 yr by TheYeti

The head unit is in and everything works. The console is just a little more blue than I would like, but not too bad (the camera light makes it look REALLY blue). I was able to use part of the old stock harness, but as posted in other threads, a wire for constant needs to be run to the battery or tapped somewhere. I ran a wire to the battery along with the power cable for the amp. I will post these details when I get around to building the enclosure for the sub.

Edited March 14, 201412 yr by TheYeti

The enclosure is made from a 10" concrete tube, fiberglass, 3/4" MDF, and Rammat. All of this stuff was sitting in the garage. The MDF is cut to make the ends of the enclosure. Once the ends are in place, I pour some fiberglass resin in the tube and roll it around the base and sides. The resin will creep into any gaps and help to create a strong, air tight seal. After it cures, I used the fiberglass and material to line the walls of the tube to create a more rigid and durable enclosure. A couple of layers should be adequate. The Rammat is placed over that... just because I felt like doing it . I used a Dremel to cut the hole to install the wiring connection.

 

For this install, I mounted my enclosure to a platform. This gives me a place to mount the amp, and provides a solid base that won't slide around in the back. Here are some pictures.

Edited March 21, 201412 yr by TheYeti

i spy a Grant steering wheel & adaptor. 

 

where did you find that !?!?

i spy a Grant steering wheel & adaptor. 

 

where did you find that !?!?

I had Auto Zone order it. That was about 6 years ago.

Ahh gotchya, yeah those things are like extinct now. been keeping my eye out for one ...