Upgrading 02 SS Head Unit Couple Questions

**nwohiochevyguy** · 11-25-2015, 07:57 AM

OK, I recently purchased a 2002 SS w/ T-tops. (have had it a week still smiling large)

I am going to be installing the following and wondered if you have any experience / success in the three questions below.

A) Where did you locate the GPS Antenna? (Looks & Function matter)
Thinking on corner of dash on passenger side
B) Where did you locate the XM Antenna? (Looks & Function matter)
Thinking rear deck/hatch, but have seen talk of success of spots inside vehicle. Anyone on Gen4?
C) Where did you tap into the reverse light circuit for Back-Up camera power / activation?
Camera will likely power at back of vehicle off light circuit. But activation for head unit needs that signal also, do I have to run a wire front to back to same location?

Head Unit: Kenwood DNX692
XM tuner: SXV300V1
Interface: PAC SWI-CP5
Camera: E-Sky - license plate mount (inexpensive one from Amazon- seen many good reviews)

Along with the standard, connection / splices, antenna adapter, dash trim adapter etc.

Vehicle is going to be my non-winter daily driver Click the image to open in full size.

**raynor139** · 11-25-2015, 10:04 AM

Both of my GPS and xm antennas are under the dash mat kind of in the middle where ther are some low gaps big enough to fit them in. Both work fine with no issue and they aren't visable to the eye.

**nwohiochevyguy** · 11-28-2015, 08:05 AM

No dash pad in my car, but I will try to install them inconspicuously on the dash.

She's sleeping the winter off, hope to have an easy install come spring.

Would be nice to have storage at my place, so I could do it this winter. But not the case at this time.

**SuperSSguy** · 12-02-2015, 06:54 PM

Congrats on your SS..!!....Im still smiling after all these years !

**RONS98TA** · 12-03-2015, 04:31 AM

Not that familiar with the antenna functions (meaning, do they need to see daylight to operate properly), but is it possible to put them in the spare tire well? They would be completely out of site, but not sure if the signal would be affected by them being covered up. You could just leave the very tip of both antenna's poke out of the top of the cover. No one would ever see that, unless you pointed it out.

**nwohiochevyguy** · 02-19-2016, 06:03 AM

So with some digging I have figured out the project requires more work.

Aftermarket head units can not utilize the factory monsoon amplifier and component front speaker set up.
Will be upgrading the amplifier front & rear speakers at the same time.

AMP: Kenwood KAC-8406
Fronts: Pioneer TS-D1602R
Rears: Pioneer TS-D1002R

Atleast that is the thought at this time.

Anyone have success putting a larger amp in where the factory unit is located?

**RONS98TA** · 02-22-2016, 04:34 AM

I installed an amp rack in the rear hatch area. It's just a simple piece of MDF covered in carpet. The t-tops still fit without any issues. I installed a sub amp and a seperate amp for the other 8 speakers.

**RONS98TA** · 02-22-2016, 04:36 AM

As far as your question on the stock location, as long as the amp physically fits, I don't see why it wouldn't fit. The only issue I would see is air circulation. Aftermarket amps run a bit warmer. Most has cooling fans built-in them.

**35th-ANV-SS** · 02-22-2016, 04:46 AM

Here's what my amp rack looked like in my other Camaro. Each outside amp was a 2 channel bridged to run a single sub. The middle amp ran the component set up front and rear speakers.

**RONS98TA** · 02-22-2016, 04:55 AM

That was a really nice clean setup you had there John. The only thing is, I wanted to be able to put my t-tops in the stock location. So I made a custom sub box the sits where your amps were. I used some straps to keep it down in case I have an accident. Don't want a 75lb box flying over the seats. My amp rack is opposite side of my tail lights.

**35th-ANV-SS** · 02-22-2016, 11:47 AM

Gotcha. Yeah, this car was a hardtop. I had a piece of wood under the carpet which I screwed down into the body and then the amps were all screwed down into the wood so it wasn't going anywhere. The cover surrounding the amps was just a shell for the most part there to hide all the wiring.

**RONS98TA** · 02-23-2016, 05:32 AM

Attachment 26531this is what up I came up with years ago. Nothing fancy and a bit primitive, but functional. I use to have matching Alpine amps, but 1 died. I guess being 20+ year old amps, it was bound to happen. The other is still working though. 😆👍