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<p>General Stereo Installation Tips:</p>

<ol>
<li>If your car came with no stereo at all, here are some parts you may need:<br>
    - antenna kit (includes wire and mounting, but not mast)<br>
      PN 82300750<br>
<br>
    - antenna mast<br>
      PN 4469015<br>
<br>
    - wire harness for door speaker (you'll need 2)<br>
      PN 4625635<br>
      $19.25<br>
<br>
    All the rest of the wiring - under the dashboard and to the rear
    speakers - should already be in place.</li><br>

<li>The door speakers are held on with 2 screws and a C-clip.  One of the
    screws is a Torx head (T-25?) behind the door handle, the other is a
    Phillips at the bottom of the well in the armrest.  The C-clip holds
    the window crank handle on; you can buy a window crank removal tool
    at most auto parts stores for a few dollars, or you can slide a thin
    screwdriver or other tool in between the handle and the door panel and
    work the clip off that way.  Cup your hand over the handle so you can
    catch the clip when it goes flying!</li>

<li>The front speaker holes in the door are 5.75 inches in diameter, so the
    5.25" speakers I bought (referencing the stereo dealer's usage book) were
    too small to fit.  Some 6" speakers might have fit, if the cones'
    "exoskeleton" was small enough- others wouldn't.  I decided to get some 
    adapters to use my 5.25"ers in the stock holes.

    <ul>
    <li>Pioneer and probably other makers too are now making speakers
        specially designed for Neon front doors.  If you get a pair of
        these, skip to Tip #5. :-)</li>
    </ul>
    </li>

<li>If you buy decent speakers, the magnets will likely protrude too deeply
    into the door cavity and you won't be able to roll your windows all the
    way down.  The answer comes from (of all places) Radio Shack- their part
    # 11449089 is specially made for Neons.  It has a 0.5" spacer to set the
    speaker out from the door, and tabs that match the Neon's 3 mounting holes
    so you needn't drill into your sheet metal.  They are only available to
    adapt 5.25" speakers, and are $12.95 each- you'll need two.  Make note
    of the part number mentioned above- the part's hard to find in their
    audio catalog.</li>

<li>Getting the rear speakers in is simple if you buy the right tool, and that
    tool is a T55 Torx bit for your ratchet (available at good auto parts
    stores everywhere.  Pop the rear seat bottom cushion out (you have to
    pry it a bit) and apply the Torx bit to the rear seat belt bolts and
    remove them.  Lift the rear seat up and away.  Now you can lift up the
    rear shelf and fit your standard 6x9 speakers in the provided depressions.
    It's a nice clean fit- I didn't even bother with the covers that came
    with the speakers, since the rear shelf has speaker holes drilled in it
    already.</li>

<li>The Neon takes the same stereo faceplate kit that fits all Chrysler
    products made since 1978- Radio Shack sells one for around $12 that has
    all sorts of little add-ons, some of which I used to keep the faceplate
    from rocking on its 2 opposite corners.  It doesn't rock badly without
    it- you may not care if you're not anal-retentive.</li>

<li>The Dodge boys didn't make it easy to support the back of your stereo.
    Here are 2 tricks that worked well for me.

    <ul>
    <li>I put a 45-degree crease in my rear stereo hanger about 2 inches from
       one end and bent it around so it made a 90-degree turn.  Then I took a
       2 inch diameter hose clamp and clamped the short end to the sturdy
       reinforcing tube that runs behind the dashboard.  This provides a very
       solid mount.</li>

    <li>Good luck reaching behind the stereo to bolt it to the rear hanger-
       I removed my ashtray and took a utility knife to the plastic above
       where it was and cut myself a nice big access hole to reach back
       there.  With the ashtray back in place there's no way to tell anything
       has been cut.  Be careful working with that knife in close quarters
       under the dash!  If you've got a little one-ended saw, that would 
       probably be a lot safer.</li>
    </ul>
    </li>

</ol>

<p>I hope these tips can save someone some trouble!</p>

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