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Who has replaced the standard radio

  • Thread starter Thread starter pauld
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pauld

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How many people have replaced the factory fit radio with a modern head unit. I have a '81 and it has the original radio, i would like to have a better sound, but am concerned about losing the originality of the car.
What have you guys done?

Paul.
 
Replaced mine with a Sony unit. No bid deal. If I want to change it back I can purchase a new bezel fairly inexpensively. I just realized that this picture doesn't have the trim piece on it. The radio came with a black trim piece that gives it a very finished
look.

I debated the CD changer route and decided to go with an MP3 player instead. 100 - 125 songs per disc. No sound degradation noticeable in an open topped, dual exhaust Vette.

Radio.jpg
 
Same here. The bezel is easy to cut, and I selected a Blaupunkt unit with dark trim -- so it looks like it belongs in there.
 
If you're looking to keep your original console intact, like me, you can get a cassette deck radio that won't require any cutting. If you want to put an in-dash CD player in you'll have to cut the console or purchase a custom fit one.

Ian
 
I did the same thing. I bought a Sony with a silver face and put it in my Camaro with a black dash:( . Traded that in for a black Alpine ;)
 
I got a Custom Autosound AM/FM cassette and 6-disc CD changer (which I mounted in the tool bin in the rear deck area). Got both through Eckler's. No mods to bezel required, and it looks like the original radio, mostly. I've been generally pleased, and it puts out enough sound for me, but you'd need to add an amp if you wanted to push some big speakers in the back. I put a small amp inline with my rear speakers, and mounted it under the passenger-side dash where the original Delco unit's amp was located.
 
I'm putting flowmaster 50's soon. If they sound real good, I won't need new tunes...:cool. Otherwise, your install sounds right...
 
I cut the hole bigger and put a black-face stealth unit in. It looks like radio delete when it's not on.
 
Alpine mp3

I got a Alpine mp3 player for Christmas. Kind of hard to install in a 72.

You have to cut the metal bezel.. .yukk

But its still better than am/fm with 2 knobs :)

I tell everyone its the original mp3 player. heehee


-Gooney0
 
I also went the custom auto-sound route with a changer and just am-fm radio looks like a stocker and have been generally pleased with it altho the lcd is dim in the daytime.
 
Mine has an Alpine tape deck in it. Likely about 20 years old. I toyed with putting a CD deck in it, but it looked like a lot of hacking would be required. I ended up just adding some 6x9 Pioneers in boxes in the back (no mods).

I can hear the music on the highway, but it does not sound anything like a modern system.

The dash was hacked to put the Alpine in, so no big deal to hack it some more.

So anyway, those of you who have gone modern, did you get the kids at Circuit City to do it or someone else?
 
I have a Pioneer CD in the dash, cut in like yours. The replacement for the center gauge unit is $100 or so, and the better sound is worth it.
 
I got both

I kept the original where it is...& I wired a new stereo mounted to a 14" x 14" board (approx) in back...
The stereo is about 2 years old, so it doesn't have a remote. I wanted to see if I could get this setup to work before I get a nice MP3 player w/ wireless remote...
For a power source I wired the stereo to a cigarette lighter plug.
I have a pair of self enclosed speakers hooked up to the stereo in back...
When I have time, I'll cut the board so it fits nicely in the rear storage compartment...and run all the cables out of sight.
For the antenna, I got a windshield mount that I actually haven't mounted yet. I plan on a rear mount somewhere...I like this one 'cuz its small and requires no drilling. The reception isn't that bad either.
 
hey tonyk72,
where are you in new hampshire? i grew up in manchester and still have a lot of family up there. i recently put a custom autosound w/6 cd changer in. havent got it back from shop yet-i am dying to drive/listen to car
mike
 
I'm in the Nashua area...where the sun has finally showed it's face!
 
also have both

Tonyk72,
I also have both in my '76, a kenwood with 6x9 in enclosures in back and polk 4x6 in the kick panels. I wired the stereo to the ignition switch, and direct to the battery (needs power to keep the presets etc.). This works great and sounds great, however recently I have had intermittent dead battery problems. Do you think it's related to the stereo? I had the battery tested and it's good, after jumping, the battery charges and will restart with out a jump, seems to go dead after about 4 hours.
Any thoughts?
 
Try disconnecting your stereo to see if your battery still goes dead after 4 hours.

1981
 
I'm not much of an electrical guru, but if the problem wasn't there before the 2nd stereo was installed...I'd say yes...but I'm sure you know that...
I have both of the power sources from my 2nd stero wired to the cigarette lighter plug...I left it plugged in overnight sometimes and the batt. was fine the next morning...
I might have seen a kit at Radio Shack, or some other similar electronics type store where you can use a 9v battery to keep your presets...rather than use your car batt...
Maybe JC Whitney?
This gizmo was advertised as a way of saving people the hassle of reprogramming their stereo whenever they disconnet their car battery to do repairs or whatever...
 
For the less than a hundred bucks to replace the console. I decided to cut mine for some modern tunes. Well worth it. There's plenty of room for a modern CD/reciever. I've got a speaker/sub box in the back of my 79 with the amp behind the drivers seat. (I'm short)

Photos at: http://www.cnw.com/~hotrod/vette/VettePhotos.htm

-Steve
 

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