Upgrading Head unit on Mach 460 System

340.29_m/s · 12-30-2006, 01:40 AM

I'm looking to upgrade the head unit in the Mach 460 Stereo system that came with my 2003 Mach 1. Just wondering if anyone has done this and if so could you maybe post advice on the proper way of doing this.

I've done some reading on changing out the factory head unit on the Mach 460 and from what I gather it looks like it's a major head ache, some people go as far as saying to pull the whole Mach system and start fresh with new system. I really don't want to do this because I'm pretty happy with the sound I get from the system and I really can't afford a whole new system right now; all I really want to do is add an after market deck to the existing system to hook up an iPod. I'd also like to add 10" subwoofer, would I need another amp for this?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. If no one has done any of this themselves but rather upgraded a Mach 460 at a stereo shop could you please post what you had done to your system.

Thanks and Happy New Year!

ttocs · 12-30-2006, 12:01 PM

it was cake on my 94 with the mach. While yours is different, it is also the same. Page 2 of my signaure shows how I did it, and it did not have to be that hard.

340.29_m/s · 12-30-2006, 05:10 PM

Thanks ttocs, I figured I'd have to live with the deck the car came with but your instructions are pretty clear and itlooks like it's not that difficult to change out the H.U. The local audio stores here were telling me that it could not be done and I would have to upgrade the whole system, I was not ready to do this because the Mach system works perfectly fine, all I want isa new H.U. Just aquick question though, is it absolutly necessary to install a line drive as well? Thanks for your reply once again.

ttocs · 12-30-2006, 06:29 PM

I used the line driver as my deck had a variable sub output. I am using the RCA that comes off of the deck to power the factory subs as this allows me to adjust the sub volume independently from the regular volume. The line drive is needed as the ford factory deck has a little higher voltage output on it. The way I had it wired up it sounded bad with out it as the sub signal would clip and sound bad before the rest of the system was barely warmed up.

Pull your deck out first to make sure that your car has the bypass hrns like mine does. I know that there were used from about 89and up to about 96-97 since I have worked on these vehicles. As I said I am sure that your car is the same, but maybe a little different....

I have been amazed that not too many install shops know about this hrns, it was shown to me in one of my first years installing professionally by my first boss.

Frostbitten · 01-02-2007, 06:18 PM

its super easy to swap out the entire mach system. Just takes a little time. You can get a whole new setup for no more than $300 with a new headunit. I did the swap and it was well worth it.