John&Michelle

Hey, if you guys iz nervous 'bout namin' names, I'll start in - then you can
blame me if the lawyers call. They won't.

Trash-dapt. Cheap Taiwan knock-off's of decent parts, utter crap materials -
particularly the plastics.

Mr. Casket - You should'nt be caught dead with these parts! I remember when
Joe Hrudka made decent stuff - but the last set of valve cover gaskets I
bought from them fell apart when I took them out of the package.

Sun tachometers - this once proud brand is now utter crap - the last 3 I
bought have failed. No more.

Your turn.
#61

one80out@hotmail.com

Well, out of nowhere at all, I'd say Custom Autosound products come to
mind. But don't take my word for it. Take the first ten hits for the
word "autosound" from the Stangnet.com's classic tech forum:

(1) 06-06-05 "whatever you do, don't buy a Custom Autosound head
unit."

(2) 05-11-05 "some of you guys like to pay too much. Just about all of
the 'specialized' soud deadener products have been on the market for
years, just used in different applications. The guys that own Dynamat
are laughing all the way to the bank. They probably are good friends
with the guys at Custom Autosound. They have shared tactics on how to
sell old technology at ripoff prices. Dynamat sells gutter liner for
$30 a square foot, and Cusotm Autosound sells AM/FM/cassette radios
(that don't work half the time) for $250. Sheesh, anyway, enough
ranting."

(3) 04-30-05 "Custom Autosound Disaster!

"I just installed my Custom AutoCrap in my 1966. It's the USA 6 100
watt head unit. I have 120 watt pioneer kick panels and 6 x 9 in the
rear.... It sounds like crap!
Are Custom Autosound really this bad!

"Will MustangsUnlimited.com let me return it?

"help!"

(3) 04-30-05 "Custom Autosound is crap and it's not just a lack of
power but a lack of sound quality."

(4) 05-02-05 "But for any person looking to keep the stock look
without damaging their dash, the units that Custom Autosound makes are
perfect. Yes they are little pricey and don't have all the features
(Tremble???), but they work good.

"PremiumPonyParts.com-Great Prices on Classic Mustang Parts"

[Hey, look at that, a favorable comment. The fact that the poster is a
CAS dealer ( http://www.premiumponyparts.com/Decks-c-49.html ) is
probably irrelevant.]

(5) 11-19-04 "Custom Autosound, but I hear a lot of people on the
board have had bad experiences with them."

(6) 11-16-04 "Quote: Originally Posted by Brian68GT

"'I want to make a cable for the cd port on my USA-6 stereo so that it
becomes an aux input for my ipod.

"'Does anyone know what pins do what so i can have one made up?

"'Thanks.

"'Brian'

"How does the USA-6 work? I read many threads about how these stereo's
really suck."

(7) 07-16-04

"Oh yeah, I have a Custom Autosound (Kenwood) head unit that fit
perfectly into the dash whithout mods. And a 12 CD changer in the
trunk."

[Look: a non-dealer comment that's not negative!!! Although it's
about a Kenwood conversion, not a CAS "Hidden Audio" or "USA-1" etc.
p.o.s. ]

(8) 06-15-04 "Car audio- NOT CUSTOM AUTOSOUND

"65 coupe with no stereo in it, the dash has been cut and still has the
bezel from the radio the last person had, but i would like a modern cd
player with like a 4 speaker setup using the kickpanel and rear
quarters for speakers, and eventually considering a couple of subs and
an amp. Anbody have some pics of their setup that doesn't involve
custom autosound."

(9) 06-16-04 "There is nothing wrong with racing stripes 302coupe, i
got nothing against those, but i don't know anything about racing
aprons, as far as i know those are for the restomod look. As for me, I
am going for the bad @$$ look, bigger tires in the back giving the car
it's aggressive look, and a great sounding exhaust is all i will need.
Not to mention some tunes, as long as it is not from custom autosound."

(10) 06-16-04 "Custom auto sound is overpriced and poor quality-thats
why people that actually listen to the stereo don't like them. Seems
like they're normally bought just to fill the factory hole in restored
cars."

Same deal, Vintage Mustang Forum:

(1) 09/25/05 "As I posted before my one year old Custom autosound radio
went kaput. I may not put any money into it as I consider it to be
junk. . . . I would like a radio and tape deck to last longer than this
one did. . . .

"Yes I hate to go it alone this time. At a couple of hundred a clip
this can get old. The money for the radio in it now I may as well of
thrown it down the toilet!"

(2) 09/23/05 "I have a Custom autosound unit... and although I have
heard many many horror stories, I have had this unit for a year and
used it almost everyday for a good 30+ minutes and so far nothing has
blown up The knobs are a little flimsy, and the sound quality isnt the
best, but it works OK for me. You can fix the sound quality issue with
an amp, and use your lucky wire strippers when you install it...."

[Can you say "damning with faint praise"?]

(3) 09/22/05 "Yes I know all the bad things about Custom autosound
radio. Unfortunately in my case they are true. My USA-1 radio was a
year old in May and completely stopped working today. Last week it was
the cassette part and now just a light when it is turned on. No radio!

"Does anybody know who repairs these things? I hate to throw away a
rather new radio. I was never too pleased with the radio but for part
time use it was sufficient.

"If one wants a fairly good radio I could not recommend this company. I
had trouble with it within 6 months of purchase, called the company and
they told me to call an 800 number. I called it several times and had
to leave messages. I never received a call back or email reply. Not
good.

"Anyway I think I would like to get it repaired."

(4) 09/08/05 "I just installed a USA 1 radio from Custom autosound and
cannot get rid of ignition noise on AM/FM or cassette. (My previous
Ford AM/FM cassette radio had no noise.) I have installed an LC filter
in the hot lead to the radio with no change. I have an MSD
6AL/Duraspark igniton system, but again the old radio had none of this
noise. It is not the alternator as I disconnected it and the noise is
still there.

"Thoughts/ideas???

"Thanks!"

(5) 09/08/05 "Unfortunately I think buying a CAS system was your first
mistake.
Mine works (USA 6) and doesn't produce engine noise, but sounds like
shat. Have you tried their tech line?"

(6) 09/09/05 "Yes. They tell me to remove the radio entirely and only
ground it via the black ground wire. Don't let the radio touch any
metal. Duh! How do I install it back in the car?
Not much help from them.

"Thanks for getting back to me. I'll keep diggin.'"

(7) 08/17/05 "Same boat as you. Using Custom autosound unit which is no
better than average, original style door speakers and grilles, and the
best two way speaker offered by NPD for the dash pad. . . . It really
does not provide much quality sound but it's something I can still hear
on the highway."

[ANOTHER poster who doesn't hate his Custom Autocrap -- or won't admit
it anyway.]

(8) 08/18/05 "I think it's important to mention what almost no one
ever does. When working with audio, whether it's home or car, the
quality of the components make all the difference. . . . You aren't
going to get anything worthwile out of Custom autosound, no matter how
much you spend."

(9) 08/16/05 "Yeah the amplified side speakers will probably drown out
the dash speaker and those things werent ever good anyway. . . . Is the
custaom autosound the only thing you have. Those arent very good
either."

(10) 07/31/05 ". . . [T]hat makes it sound as though Custom autosound's
stereos are good. I bought one of their stereos for the correct fit and
original look, but the audio output of it is just awful. Is there
anyone else out there producing stereos for classic cars that actually
sound good?"

So there it is, the first 20 posts to pop up from two web forums. Two
lukewarm non-criticisms, one recommendation from a dealer, and 17 dire
warnings and personal disasters. I'll wager that any other old car
forum -- Vettes, Camaros, Mopars, Tri-5's -- would give the same
results.

Anyone still wondering how somebody could think the CAS a-holes are a
bunch of pirates who belong in jail, and likewise the people at Mustang
& Fords and Mustang Monthly who shill for them?

180 Out

Spike

On 13 Oct 2005 08:15:35 -0700, one80out@hotmail.com wrote:

>Well, out of nowhere at all, I'd say Custom Autosound products come to
>mind. But don't take my word for it. Take the first ten hits for the
>word "autosound" from the Stangnet.com's classic tech forum:
>
>(1) 06-06-05 "whatever you do, don't buy a Custom Autosound head
>unit."
>
>(2) 05-11-05 "some of you guys like to pay too much. Just about all of
>the 'specialized' soud deadener products have been on the market for
>years, just used in different applications. The guys that own Dynamat
>are laughing all the way to the bank. They probably are good friends
>with the guys at Custom Autosound. They have shared tactics on how to
>sell old technology at ripoff prices. Dynamat sells gutter liner for
>$30 a square foot, and Cusotm Autosound sells AM/FM/cassette radios
>(that don't work half the time) for $250. Sheesh, anyway, enough
>ranting."
>
>(3) 04-30-05 "Custom Autosound Disaster!
>
>"I just installed my Custom AutoCrap in my 1966. It's the USA 6 100
>watt head unit. I have 120 watt pioneer kick panels and 6 x 9 in the
>rear.... It sounds like crap!
>Are Custom Autosound really this bad!
>
>"Will MustangsUnlimited.com let me return it?
>
>"help!"
>
>(3) 04-30-05 "Custom Autosound is crap and it's not just a lack of
>power but a lack of sound quality."
>
>(4) 05-02-05 "But for any person looking to keep the stock look
>without damaging their dash, the units that Custom Autosound makes are
>perfect. Yes they are little pricey and don't have all the features
>(Tremble???), but they work good.
>
>"PremiumPonyParts.com-Great Prices on Classic Mustang Parts"
>
>[Hey, look at that, a favorable comment. The fact that the poster is a
>CAS dealer ( http://www.premiumponyparts.com/Decks-c-49.html ) is
>probably irrelevant.]
>
>(5) 11-19-04 "Custom Autosound, but I hear a lot of people on the
>board have had bad experiences with them."

This is not a negative comment by the poster, but a comment about what
the poster has heard. Not personal experience. It hearsay.
>
>(6) 11-16-04 "Quote: Originally Posted by Brian68GT
>
>"'I want to make a cable for the cd port on my USA-6 stereo so that it
>becomes an aux input for my ipod.
>
>"'Does anyone know what pins do what so i can have one made up?
>
>"'Thanks.
>
>"'Brian'
>
>"How does the USA-6 work? I read many threads about how these stereo's
>really suck."

This is not a negative comment by the poster, but a comment about what
the poster has heard. Not personal experience. It's hearsay.
>
>(7) 07-16-04
>
>"Oh yeah, I have a Custom Autosound (Kenwood) head unit that fit
>perfectly into the dash whithout mods. And a 12 CD changer in the
>trunk."
>
>[Look: a non-dealer comment that's not negative!!! Although it's
>about a Kenwood conversion, not a CAS "Hidden Audio" or "USA-1" etc.
>p.o.s. ]

I may be in error, but, as I understand it, these Kenwood units are
discontinued models which CAS converts with custom face plates, etc.
>
>(8) 06-15-04 "Car audio- NOT CUSTOM AUTOSOUND
>
>"65 coupe with no stereo in it, the dash has been cut and still has the
>bezel from the radio the last person had, but i would like a modern cd
>player with like a 4 speaker setup using the kickpanel and rear
>quarters for speakers, and eventually considering a couple of subs and
>an amp. Anbody have some pics of their setup that doesn't involve
>custom autosound."
This is not a really a negative comment about CAS. It's just a
statement that the poster does not want to use CAS.
>
>(9) 06-16-04 "There is nothing wrong with racing stripes 302coupe, i
>got nothing against those, but i don't know anything about racing
>aprons, as far as i know those are for the restomod look. As for me, I
>am going for the bad @$$ look, bigger tires in the back giving the car
>it's aggressive look, and a great sounding exhaust is all i will need.
>Not to mention some tunes, as long as it is not from custom autosound."
>
>(10) 06-16-04 "Custom auto sound is overpriced and poor quality-thats
>why people that actually listen to the stereo don't like them. Seems
>like they're normally bought just to fill the factory hole in restored
>cars."
>
>Same deal, Vintage Mustang Forum:
>
>(1) 09/25/05 "As I posted before my one year old Custom autosound radio
>went kaput. I may not put any money into it as I consider it to be
>junk. . . . I would like a radio and tape deck to last longer than this
>one did. . . .
>
>"Yes I hate to go it alone this time. At a couple of hundred a clip
>this can get old. The money for the radio in it now I may as well of
>thrown it down the toilet!"
>
>(2) 09/23/05 "I have a Custom autosound unit... and although I have
>heard many many horror stories, I have had this unit for a year and
>used it almost everyday for a good 30+ minutes and so far nothing has
>blown up The knobs are a little flimsy, and the sound quality isnt the
>best, but it works OK for me. You can fix the sound quality issue with
>an amp, and use your lucky wire strippers when you install it...."
>
>[Can you say "damning with faint praise"?]
I can see where you can get "damning" from this post, however, your
interpretation of what damning is does not take into account that it
may be no worse that some of the average equipment available through
other sources.
>
>(3) 09/22/05 "Yes I know all the bad things about Custom autosound
>radio. Unfortunately in my case they are true. My USA-1 radio was a
>year old in May and completely stopped working today. Last week it was
>the cassette part and now just a light when it is turned on. No radio!
>
>"Does anybody know who repairs these things? I hate to throw away a
>rather new radio. I was never too pleased with the radio but for part
>time use it was sufficient.
>
>"If one wants a fairly good radio I could not recommend this company. I
>had trouble with it within 6 months of purchase, called the company and
>they told me to call an 800 number. I called it several times and had
>to leave messages. I never received a call back or email reply. Not
>good.
>
>"Anyway I think I would like to get it repaired."
>
>(4) 09/08/05 "I just installed a USA 1 radio from Custom autosound and
>cannot get rid of ignition noise on AM/FM or cassette. (My previous
>Ford AM/FM cassette radio had no noise.) I have installed an LC filter
>in the hot lead to the radio with no change. I have an MSD
>6AL/Duraspark igniton system, but again the old radio had none of this
>noise. It is not the alternator as I disconnected it and the noise is
>still there.
>
>"Thoughts/ideas???
>
>"Thanks!"
>
>(5) 09/08/05 "Unfortunately I think buying a CAS system was your first
>mistake.
>Mine works (USA 6) and doesn't produce engine noise, but sounds like
>shat. Have you tried their tech line?"
>
>(6) 09/09/05 "Yes. They tell me to remove the radio entirely and only
>ground it via the black ground wire. Don't let the radio touch any
>metal. Duh! How do I install it back in the car?
>Not much help from them.
>
>"Thanks for getting back to me. I'll keep diggin.'"
>
>(7) 08/17/05 "Same boat as you. Using Custom autosound unit which is no
>better than average, original style door speakers and grilles, and the
>best two way speaker offered by NPD for the dash pad. . . . It really
>does not provide much quality sound but it's something I can still hear
>on the highway."
>
>[ANOTHER poster who doesn't hate his Custom Autocrap -- or won't admit
>it anyway.]
Now THAT comment by you was really impartial, and essentially
questioned the honesty of the person posting.
>
>(8) 08/18/05 "I think it's important to mention what almost no one
>ever does. When working with audio, whether it's home or car, the
>quality of the components make all the difference. . . . You aren't
>going to get anything worthwile out of Custom autosound, no matter how
>much you spend."
>
>(9) 08/16/05 "Yeah the amplified side speakers will probably drown out
>the dash speaker and those things werent ever good anyway. . . . Is the
>custaom autosound the only thing you have. Those arent very good
>either."
>
>(10) 07/31/05 ". . . [T]hat makes it sound as though Custom autosound's
>stereos are good. I bought one of their stereos for the correct fit and
>original look, but the audio output of it is just awful. Is there
>anyone else out there producing stereos for classic cars that actually
>sound good?"
>
>So there it is, the first 20 posts to pop up from two web forums. Two
>lukewarm non-criticisms, one recommendation from a dealer, and 17 dire
>warnings and personal disasters. I'll wager that any other old car
>forum -- Vettes, Camaros, Mopars, Tri-5's -- would give the same
>results.
While you don't know this to be true, you're willing to leave it in
such a way that readers should accept it as true.
>
>Anyone still wondering how somebody could think the CAS a-holes are a
>bunch of pirates who belong in jail, and likewise the people at Mustang
>& Fords and Mustang Monthly who shill for them?

I would respect your point much better if your did not place your own
biased interpretation on the ones who did not support your position.
This kind of "reporting" should win you a job at the Enquirer. Your
intent is obviously directed to influence people NOT to buy CAS
products, and you slammed me for the opposite. Your stats, with the
bias left out, are not accurate. Further, you cited only 20 posts over
a period of months, and it appears you did not take those posts in
sequence, but picked and chose which posts you would include, taken
from a single source on the internet. That's really unbiased
reporting.... even if you happen to be right.
>
>180 Out

Spike
1965 Ford Mustang fastback 2+2 A Code 289 C4 Trac-Lok
Vintage Burgundy w/Black Standard Interior; Vintage 40
16" rims w/BF Goodrich Comp T/A gForce Radial
225/50ZR16 KDWS skins; surround sound audio-video.
Feb 2004 - http://207.36.208.198/albums/86810/003_May_21_3004.jpg
Feb 2004 - http://207.36.208.198/albums/86810/005_May_21_2004.jpg
Jul 2005 - http://207.36.208.198/albums/86810/d..._11_05_002.jpg
Jul 2005 - http://207.36.208.198/albums/86810/E...ebuild_006.jpg

one80out@hotmail.com

I did a word search in these two forums for the word "autosound." I
copied and pasted the first ten hits I got that related to the
performance of Custom Autosound's crap products. I did not "pick and
choose."

I don't know what your problem is. Luckily I don't need to know. If
you can read these twenty random posts and recommend that anyone should
buy Custom Autocrap, be my guest. It's on your conscience, assuming
you have one.

180 Out

STUK

I hear the Stones are selling theirs for "Days of our Lives" StuK

ThunderSnake #11

one80out@hotmail.com

Sorry, Stuart, I'm done with this guy. What a freakin idiot.

180 Out

Jason O'Brien

John&Michelle wrote:
> Hey, if you guys iz nervous 'bout namin' names, I'll start in - then
you can
> blame me if the lawyers call. They won't.
>
> Trash-dapt. Cheap Taiwan knock-off's of decent parts, utter crap
materials -
> particularly the plastics.
>
> Mr. Casket - You should'nt be caught dead with these parts! I
remember when
> Joe Hrudka made decent stuff - but the last set of valve cover gaskets I
> bought from them fell apart when I took them out of the package.
>
> Sun tachometers - this once proud brand is now utter crap - the last 3 I
> bought have failed. No more.
>
> Your turn.
> #61

Fine then. Let's begin. Maybe I'll start a Bad News Shops thread.

Danny Banh of DB Performance Engineering in Rosemead, California
sells conversion "kits" for T-5 and Tremec transmissions for vintage
Mustangs. He may do the same fo T-56s now, too.

He's probably been in this market the longest, and may at one time have
sold good stuff, but even in 1998 his stuff was cheaply and irregularly
made. The last part I got from him was in 2002. He, like many others,
offers no warranties, refunds or exchanges. Maybe if you live there, he
would, but not in mail order. He is also a very hotheaded, arrogant
jerk if you ever dare complain about something. He berates you and
talks about how great he is, and all his accomplishments, when his stuff
just sucks.

Problems -

1. The "custom aluminum driveshaft" I got from him was out of round,
meaning not welded on straight to the yokes, out of balance, and too
short. The front slip yoke was scarred after a short time. It also
required the use of a two-sized rear u-joint. It was crap, for $235.

2. The modified pedal assembly he provides for use with the cable clutch
requires you to bend the cowl pan up with a ball peen hammer (you find
this out after you get it). It also has that slapped-together feel. He
uses cheap materials to rebuild it. My 4-spd. pedals did not have a
rusted carrier, or anything else wrong with them. It creaks with every
shift after very little overall use. After you get it, no refunds, no
exchanges if you don't want to bend your cowl pan.

3. The "racecraft teflon-coated cables" have nothing other than the
tension of the housing to keep them against the bellhousing and the
firewall. They move, fatigue, and eventually break. And, there is NO
POSSIBLE WAY to run the cable straight-on to the top of the clutch pedal
arm. Why? See #2. Three of these things have broken on me. Two at
the fork, because the housing continuously moves, and one at the pedal
arm. $175 ea. last time I checked.

4. The crossmember he sent me was wrong. I think it was for a T-5
conversion, but he wouldn't concede the possibility it was. I had to
get a friend to cut and weld it in his shop, and he tried his best to
make it work. Eventually I got a Windsor-Fox member for this
application. With minor mods, the Tremec clears the tunnel, the shifter
fits ok, and the exhaust clears. It's not drop-in perfect, but the
Windsor-Fox piece is adequate as far as I'm concerned.

5. He advertises and misquotes you the measurements on a "custom shift
handle" which is supposed to eliminate the problem of the GT-style
handle being too far away. It is just a common T5 handle he buys and
re-sells you for more money. No refunds, no exchanges. What a maroon I
was.

The ONLY thing he did correctly was machine the 50-oz. unbalance
flywheel to 28.8. There is no problem with that one single piece. He
also acted like selling me a Tremec TR-3550 for $1185 in 1998 was taking
food off his table. That was the market price at the time.

Danny Banh is an asshole, a shyster, a liar, and makes crap. He was
promoted over and over by Mustang & Fords for years as the authoritative
source for these OD stick conversions. I cannot imagine I am the only
one ever to have problems with him.

Don't ever, ever consider buying a damned thing from him. I was
overeager, still fairly ignorant, and listened to what I considered to
be a reputable source of restomod info. I got screwed. I am STILL
fixing this damned thing. I wish I had left the C4 in it. I have had
to pull the transmission twice, balance his shitty driveshaft, end up
replacing it, and replace the clutch cable three times.

Yeah, I didn't learn my lesson right away with him. I ended up throwing
good money after bad. With his proprietary setup, I didn't see an
alternative, and kept blaming myself. I could not make my own
replacement parts, and no shop wanted to touch this custom setup. This
guy is just an arrogant prick, and his parts are complete shit. He
calls himself an engineer, but he's just a hack as far as I'm concerned.

--
Wound Up
ThunderSnake #65

one80out@hotmail.com

Your story reminds me completely of this thread in the VMF
http://forums.vintage-mustang.com/fo...ue#Post1262820
where this guy posted saying he was doing some checking for California
Pony Parts regarding the fitment of their T-5 crossmember for the
'65-'66. If you read it between the lines, it seems that after years
of customer complaints it finally occurred to Cal Pony that the frame
attachment holes in their crossmembers might actually be in the wrong
place. EVERY SINGLE POSTER SAID, yes, I had to elongate those holes to
make mine fit. I can just imagine those assholes shining on every
single customer for years and years, telling them it was a production
variation in their cars, that there couldn't possibly be a problem with
the Cal Pony product.

The original poster reported back that Cal Pony had decided to change
the location of the holes. Halle-freakin-lujah.

My beef is that I have one of the old pieces sitting in the garage
awaiting installation. Oh well, get out the Dremel. Remember my motto:
you bring it on yourself.

180 Out

STUK

Blah Blah Blah Whatever....



<one80out@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1129243416.237216.44640@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> Sorry, Stuart, I'm done with this guy. What a freakin idiot.
>
> 180 Out
>

Wound Up

one80out@hotmail.com wrote:
> Your story reminds me completely of this thread in the VMF
> http://forums.vintage-mustang.com/fo...ue#Post1262820
> where this guy posted saying he was doing some checking for California
> Pony Parts regarding the fitment of their T-5 crossmember for the
> '65-'66. If you read it between the lines, it seems that after years
> of customer complaints it finally occurred to Cal Pony that the frame
> attachment holes in their crossmembers might actually be in the wrong
> place. EVERY SINGLE POSTER SAID, yes, I had to elongate those holes to
> make mine fit. I can just imagine those assholes shining on every
> single customer for years and years, telling them it was a production
> variation in their cars, that there couldn't possibly be a problem with
> the Cal Pony product.

Yes, very similar. Had I only known what a PITA this is, I would never
have done it. Now I'm determined to make it work. It will work, period.

>
> The original poster reported back that Cal Pony had decided to change
> the location of the holes. Halle-freakin-lujah.
>

Like, OMIGOD Cal Pony! =) It's amazing, the arrogance and indifference
of many people in the aftermarket. "Everyone else is wrong". Horse
shit. Maybe you people are in business for yourselves because you are
incapable of working for someone else, without them wanting to kill you.

> My beef is that I have one of the old pieces sitting in the garage
> awaiting installation. Oh well, get out the Dremel. Remember my motto:
> you bring it on yourself.
>

I knew I'd have problems. But I don't agree with the idea that I
brought all this on myself... I believe I got entangled with an
unscrupulous dick.

Next up - the worst classic Mustang shop in the Midwest.


--
Wound Up
ThunderSnake #65