Shibbyfbird

heres the deal, i have a factory amp, and supposedly there was subs in the sail panels with 4x6's. the subs are not in the sail panel! if anyone knows where the subs could be anywhere else in the car please tell me! and if it's what i think it is, (someone ripped them out), where are the wires back there that are juiced by the amp??? any help guys?

85 T/A WS6

The UQ7 was introduced in 1985. It was the best sounding factory audio system for that year period. Pontiac brought it on, sorry bowtie boys.

UQ7 was a Firebird exclusive that mated with UU9, UL1, UM6, UX1, and UT4 radios

Dramatic bass response with a capability in excess of 50 watts was easily achieved. (Young pups don’t laugh, this was a milestone for that time )

The sad part was that endurance of the speaker system left a lot to be desired. A separate amp drove the 5-1/4 subs. There is a power button with a gain slider on the dash.

I'm not sure what happened but could only speculate that the cone composites of the subs were below par, and to find them in good shape is a blessing.

The 4x6's were placed above the 5-1/4's which resided in their own little home. Tuned Port was the rage so not only could your motor have this slick deal, so could you speakers. (Tuned Port Injection, Tuned Port Enclosures, WOW)

The sail panel speakers run about 75 bucks used.

Don

Shibbyfbird

thanks for the help don, i took a few suggestions in either the car audio or interior/body BB's and was really considering swapping into aftermarket, but with the fact in mind that the only components left of this system are the amp in the dash and the dash controls and the 4x6's in the sail panels, i saw a pic of the enclosures, and it looks like it was possibly taken out, not quite sure about all this. will converting the system to aftermarket affect this car's value if not now, someday??? i might just keep it forever though, ya never know. or if i kept the amp in storage, could i eventually return it to stock? any help would rock!:rockon:

85 T/A WS6

As a 1st gen bird with an 8 track tape deck is failrly decent to have, Im sure someday a Performance Sound system in original condition will have some extra value down the road.





In my case Im missing the speakers and the UT4 deck, a super tuner and 6x9s take thier place. I would like to restore mine down the road too.

Don

85 T/A WS6

Found a good pic of the UQ7's. These went for 43 bucks on ebay.

The eclosure is bigger than I imagined. It would appear farily easy to rebuild these with better speakers.


Don

@ZZKKER

iTrader: (1)

Has anyone seen the magnets on the back of those? They are huge for something of that time period. They are bigger than a lot of the magnets on aftermarket speakers today. By the way, does anyone know what kind of power the factory amps put out?

Ben

Momar

By the way that post by azzkker1 was actually by me. I forgot to log my friend off of my computer before I posted.

Ben

Tonyrodz

Here's the amp.

Tonyrodz

another

85 T/A WS6

50 watts according to my info.

Don

Momar

Do you think it would be worth it to use it to power a set of aftermarket 5.25 midbase/component speakers or should I just use an aftermarket amp?

Ben

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

This was never an option for Camaro's at all??

Thats OK, we have a better intake.

Momar

Well, actually I have heard that the intake is quite restrictive on those as well. Look how thin it gets under the hood!!! Besides, I have a dual snorkle carb intake which is supposed to do about as well as an open element on a carb but still retain the cold air so I dont have to worry much about the restrictive factory intakes that the tuned ports have.

Ben

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

Nah, the Camaro TPI intake is better, (2 on each side for air right through the grill and from the very front of the car) especially better than the earlier Firebird intakes.

Would've been cool to have that radio option though.

Momar

Actually one on each side, and I agree that it was better than at least the earlier firebird tpi intakes, but I have a computer controlled carb setup on my 350 with the dual snorkle intake. If you compare it to the camaro tpi intake, it has almost what you would consider true duals where as you have a y-pipe and the dual intakes into it are both about the size of the single one yours comines into or bigger. Also, the vents on my T/A hood put cold air right in front of the scoops. Anyway, I got WAY off track here and I was still wondering if anyone knows if it would be worth it for me to power aftermarktet mid-bass speakers off of this amp. I read a post on how to wire the slider up to work with an aftermarket amp, so If I just use half of that and wire up my rear preouts from my deck to the slider and put a crossover in I could use that amp to power a set of midbass 5 1/4 if you guys think it would be strong enough to be worth using.

Ben

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

I'm talking about the stock TPI intakes. Yours isn't stock.

Momar

Ok, but I would still like to know whether that amp is worth using on aftermarket speakers.

Ben

Tonyrodz

I don't really think it's worth the hassle-imo.

IROCZTWENTYGR8

iTrader: (1)

Probably not.

Guest

I dont think so either. I'm considering using it to power my 6x9's in my car since the amp I had powering those before died. I am pretty sure though that the amp is one of those that amplifies a speaker output and not a line out, so the sound of course isnt as good. I'll let you know how it turns out if I hook it up and get it working.

I still dont think those speakers are 5 1/4", just this weekend I measured across the entire speaker housing and it was slightly less than 5", the speaker itself is about 4". GM being optimistic I do believe...

Momar

There was one guy on here that told how to use the slider from it to control another amp buy runing your pre outs to certain wires on it. He was able to make the slider work with preouts so I imagine that that wouldnt be a problem but I dont know about how they will sound.

Ben

300hpse

iTrader: (2)

my 84 t/a has the 4x6 and 5" combo in the sail panels, is this odd for an 84?

Momar

I dont know, but does it have the gain switch on the dash?

Ben

kjgroen

so does my 84 ta 6 way premium sound system... Kevin

screaminformula

I just happened to stumble onto this post and realized that my '87 Formula is equipped with the same option! i dont have the deck, and i dont think the sail speakers are original either. a couple of questions though: where is the factory amp located? where was the "performance sound" decal placed? thanks guys!

Tonyrodz

The performance sound logo is supposed to be on the radio and hvac faceplate.
The amp is under the dash on the pass side.
there was another post that was running (has a little more info)where I posted pics of the factory amp. let me know if you need me to post them again.

85 T/A WS6

Click the "TA vs IROC" link in my sig, it will answer a few of the questions concerning the Performance Sound option that was introduced in 1985.

If you have an 84 with the speaker system it most likely was put in afterwards.


Don

kjgroen

oh ya i think not! my car was ordered with that option, i dont recall off hand what the rpo is for it but i will look at the order options sheet or window sticker, by the way my car has 36,000 miles was a special order car with every available option in 84 It is fully documented and Im the 2nd owner and no stereo has ever been changed. It has 4x6 dash speakers and in the sail panel there is 4x6 with like 4 or 5 inch midrange speakers, on the dash next the the rear defrost button and the hatch release there is a stereo button but no gain control.. the stereo also has a 5 0r 7 band eq built in, if you dont believe me i will take a picture of all of these items and the rpo sitcker the build sheet and the window sticker that should be enough proof, Kevin

Guest

It was available in 84 according to my brochure. Seems to me an 84 TA H.O. I drove way way way back in the day had the subwoofer setup with the switch and gain control on the dash. Of course the switch looked different than the 85-up. IIRC it was a smallish square button that sorta stuck outa the dash, and then there was the gain control that I cannot remember what it looked like. Gimme a break, its been 16 years...

85 T/A WS6

kjgroen - madmax,

Thanks for the response. After digging out one of my ref. books I find the UQ7was a RPO for 1984, a thousand pardons please.


UQ7: Subwoofer Six Speaker System W/Extend Frequency Responce.

kjgroen, if you have the EQ feature you most likely have the UU6 deck. Dont quote me lol.


Keep in mind I have had my 3rd gen for only a year and have learned quite a bit in that time. The UT4 deck was new for 85, thats where I got off the wrong track.

The salesman told me my car was special because of the map pocket. Who cares about the Recaros.


Don

kjgroen

Hey your car is very nice! I love the recaros, my friend has a 83 pace car with those in it... Thanks for the info on the stereo, I have never seen a car like yours in person before so i bet it is pretty rare.. Take good care of it! Kevin

gearhead0384

iTrader: (7)

I found a whole factory sub, amp, gain switch set up in the junk yard. I was wondering if it was worth taking? I dont care about making money as long as I get it for someone who really wants one. I just want to make my money back.

Thanks

Kevin

85 T/A WS6

Are the speakers still there ?

gearhead0384

iTrader: (7)

Yes all the speakers are there. I also grabed as much of the wiring that I could. I will post pictures later tonight.

Kevin

gearhead0384

iTrader: (7)

Pics coming soon, internet is down onthe computer that the pictures are on.

Kevin

@ZZKKER

iTrader: (1)

wow talk about back from the dead.
if the speakers surrounds are bad but the drivers are still good, i was quoted $50 a speaker to get them rebuilt by a speaker repair place on the internet. might be more now, but they do hit hard when they are good.

thanks

my82roc

iTrader: (101)

There is a subwoofer setup currently on ebay.Item # 7993459046 and ends on 8/21.

Jproz1167

iTrader: (3)

I had a 1984 trans am with this stereo system with the subwoofers. I still have most of the parts from it, I recall the same option codes on my sticker as well. my original stereo had the built in 5 band equalizer and the subwoofer switch was located next to the steering column by the deffroster switch and hatch release.

gearhead0384

iTrader: (7)

As Promised.

Keivn

gearhead0384

iTrader: (7)

#2

gearhead0384

iTrader: (7)

#3

gearhead0384

iTrader: (7)

And yes I do have the Amp. When I croped the picture I cut it out by mistake.

Kevin

gearhead0384

iTrader: (7)

I dont remember who PMed me about buying these. I deleted alot of my PMs because I thought I had these sold. So If you PMed me and still want these then let me know.

Kevin

tagta189

Just curious,has anyone actually heard these when they are functioning?I know it's likely been a long time for most of these...

Dens71TA

iTrader: (5)

My friends '84 Trans Am has the factory amp and subwoofer system. The sound is much deeper and crisp than the stock non-amp system in my '84 Trans Am.

FrankieRider2

My red '88 has it in there, but the Notchback does not. You are correct about the difference in sound, especially at lower volumes.... although the bass heads for the hills pretty quickly as the volume is increased. Or at least mine does, and the radio system is still stock.

The first car I ever saw it in was a friend's base '86 Firebird coupe; I remember thinking that if I ever got a 3rdGen 'Bird I had to have that. Turns out I got it just in time....

okfoz

Frankie,
Interestingly enough I think the subwoofer system UQ7 was not available on the Trans Am and GTA with TPI in 87. in 1988 the subwoofer was NA on the Trans am and Formula with the 350.

I do not get it.

John

tagta189

I'm trying to sort this system out.As far as I can tell most of mine is still intact except the speakers themselves are gone.The speaker housings are still there and the amp and and switch and all the wiring is completely intact.Even the speaker wire plugs that go into the back of the stereo haven't been cut or anything at all.My question is,does the amp and slider assy control only the sub speakers or does it amplify the other 4x6's front or rear also.Also how important is it to have the original stereo itself also?Any info you guys have on this will help.

tagta189

p.s. In case I forgot to mention it the original stereo is long gone.

GTA350VORTEC

Has anyone retrofitted these speaker boxes to hold Component speakers? they look like theyd be great for that purpose. I have a set of the enclosures, but the speakers died along time ago, just wondering if anyone has ever perfromed this fabrication.