I just upgraded all four speakers to the new Pioneer 6855's (coax - 6x8). While I had the truck apart I decided to upgrade the HU to a new Pioneer DEH-3100 CD. What a difference. I was a little worried as most of the post on speaker board say you will not get sound improvement without components. I am sure components would be much better, but I got a tremendous improvement for around 300 bucks ( about 170 for the HU and 60 dollars a pair for speakers). You don't have to spend a fortune to have a very nice sound from your F150.

 

Great minds think alike!!!

I have been eyeballing the exact same system for a couple of weeks now. Where did you procure your equipment??

 

I purchased my HU from Best Buy. They had the unit on sell. I think normal price was 189.95. I hit them up with being able to buy the system cheaper across town at another local car stereo shop (which was true) so I got them another 9 dollars off of their selling price of 179.95 to match their competitor. I actually purchased the speakers from the other car stereo shop and got them down a little because I was purchasing 2 sets (best buy was out). I liked buying the deck from Best Buy because of their 30 day money back guarantee. However, I won't be taking it back as I love the new sound. Back in my younger days (well I'm only 35) I use to install and build custom boxes as a hobby. A decent CD head unit would run 5-700 dollars and didn't do half of what this unit will. Boy time sure has changed prices and technology.

 

I've been looking at Crutchfield so I don't have to pay tax and also they throw in the mounting plate and wiring harness.

I know I saw somewhere on this board instructions on removing the door panels. You have any idea where that is? Was it difficult?

 

I printed that off of the speaker board but I don't remember where. I have a 97 f150 3 door. The two front doors and the back third door where a breeze. The back driver side was not so easy. I removed the back seat (actually the back of the back seat). This is easy enough, fold the seat bottoms forward and there are two bolts holding the bottom. Remove the bolts and lift the back up and off the hooks at the top (you can see these hooks by looking over the back top edge of the seat on each side). This made the removal of the panel much easier. If you have the four door model it should be no problem at all. Installation of the HU in the dash is about as easy as I have ever done. Follow the instructions (if you can find them) on the speaker board. I don't remember the member who supplied the instructions, but his time in entering them is greatly appreciated by me and I'm sure others. I did not use the dynomat in my installation, but am considering adding it this summer when the weather breaks. Good luck and take your time.