FIrst of all, don't laugh and don't try to steer me to "upgrades", as I'd like to do it this way...

I currently have the stone stock am/fm radio, with two speakers (in the doors) in my '97 standard cab "beater". The speakers may have been upgraded at one time, but that's not germane to what I need to know. Note the operative word, "beater".

All I want to do is be able to play my iphone through the stereo with halfways decent fidelity. At 54, and having been to lots of concerts, including Led Zep, BOC and other loud bands, as well as listening to more than my share of loud music at elevated volumes and power tool usage, a really expensive system would be wasted on me :)

I bought a stock stereo from a vendor on FleaBay without doing enough research My fault. Anyway, it's a cassette set, but has, alas, low-level outputs that have to go to an amp. So now I need to find a factory amp. Where in the vehicle do they hide the amp? I'd like to try pulling one from the junkyard (from a Ranger or an Explorer) and getting everything together for a semi-decent setup. Again, I am not interested in making a mobile studio - it's a vehicle with 170000 miles on it that I use for Lowe's runs and towing my little bass boat. Cheap is the operative word here.

Thanks, all,

Steve

 

I do not think the ranger has a factory amp. You could get a cheap amp somewhere and you may be able to run them to the factory speakers. You'd more than likely blow the stock speakers with that amp, so a cheap set of replacements may be a necessity also.

In the explorer I believe they have an amp on the passenger side in the rear cargo area under the panel. I think these were on "premium" systems on 98 and earlier explorers. You may try your luck with one of those.

 

the factory amp is actually built in to the factory cd player haha. at least on my 03. i will try to unbury my stock one and take a pic. if its an aftermarket deck though i'm sure there is some level of built in amp also

 

No, there is definitely a separate unit that was used with the am/fm/cassette. There is a 10-conductor (2 x 5) cable that connects from the deck to the amp; then the amp connects to the speakers. Many, many vehicle manufacturers used this - at least partially to thwart attempts to put in aftermarket systems.

I want to install the correct amplifier with the correct connectors and need to know where it's located. The '97 Ranger must have had one available because the deck looks exactly like the am/fm except that it has the cassette deck.

Thanks,

Steve

 

When i tore down my 97 ranger reg cab I didn't find an amplifier anywhere in the interior, let alone where the deck is supposed to be installed. I installed my deck also and there was no extra cable for an amplifier available. Just the harness wires, speaker wires, and antenna wires. No amp in my truck. It's stock. Maybe you just bought a radio that was in a truck with an amp. Like the ranger tremor.

 

I know this is old, but for future searchers:

I know that 1995-1997 Ford Rangers with Supercabs have a factory Amp.

I believe it is under or behind one of the back seats (supercab).