|
|
05-02-2010, 03:42 PM
|
#1
|
Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
|
Custom radio install idea...
So, ive been thinking about doing a stereo upgrade in the V.
I could swap out the complete OEM radio and install a aftermarket stand alone setup. BUT there are a few reasons why thats not my primary option..
first off, the stock radio has Navigation...
second, The factory radio has all the personal preference controls accessed through it, like driver settings, etc, as well as all the vehicle info including outside temp, fuel economy, battery voltage etc.
third, The factory radio screen serves as an information display for seatbelt/headlamp warnings, when Traction control engages, as well as confirming setting of competative mod and Stabilitrack on and off.
The reason i DO wanna change the radio are the following...
Better radio quality, RCA outputs for an amp, USB and bluetooth capabilities. I would still be using the stock BOSE system for the interior speakers by using a specific interface for the car.
and the stock CD changer is having issues, often i cant change tracks becaus eit wont be able to find the song and i end up having to go to a different CD or back to the first track. Its a common issue with this radio.
And buying a used radio, in good condition is 500+ bucks...
With the custom setup im thinking of doing, I'd first remove the 6 disc CD changer section of the OEM radio. the width is the same as the the aftermarket radio. Once the CD changer part is removed then the climate controls would be lowered about 2" down the where the ashtray currently is. The ash tray front would now just become a filler panel since i dont use it anyway plus i have a 12v power port on the back side of the center console anyway.
The oem radio would still stay connected and functional but its speaker outputs would be connected to the AUX inputs of the new radio. That way, I would retain the NAV system and OnStar/XM(neither which i use currently though)
The following pics show a rough photoshop of my idea...
1st pic is how the stock setup is.
2nd pic is how the new custom install would look.
I know i could make it function, just a lil time consuming to do...
Opinions?
Last edited by V; 05-02-2010 at 04:42 PM.
|
|
|
05-02-2010, 04:28 PM
|
#2
|
Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
|
heres a similar type install, except mine would be lower to allow keeping the stock screen...
and here is a stand alone only setup, which IMO looks too empty..
|
|
|
05-02-2010, 04:46 PM
|
#3
|
Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
|
and for those who think i lost my mind even considering this...
here's an exploded veiw of the Navi radio... see how the changer unit is basically separate.
|
|
|
05-03-2010, 08:30 PM
|
#4
|
Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
|
im doing it, lol.
I pulled the radio today, opened it up and yanked the 6 disc CD changer section.
I then cut out the front of the metal radio housing to allow the Pioneer radio to slide up into it.
Once that was done, i measured a lil, and cut the CD slot are out of the radio face itself.
I have a little more fine trimming to do but its pretty close.
Tomorrow ill work on the lower bezel. Mainly dropping the Climate controls down about 2". with how im doing it, I dont plan on doing and filler/fiberglass work to any of the bezels.
Then on thursday I should be ready to splice into the wiring and get it all functional.
Heres a quick shot of the Pioneer radio just mocked up in the stock radio. Thats as far as i got tonight.
Last edited by V; 05-03-2010 at 08:31 PM.
|
|
|
05-03-2010, 08:45 PM
|
#5
|
Meet Coordinator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: brick/pt. pleasant beach
Posts: 19,341
|
you are crazier than they say
|
|
|
05-03-2010, 08:47 PM
|
#6
|
Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
|
i think of cars as legos.... they come one way, but you can do SO much more with a little imagination... and by unbolting and unscrewing anythigng in sight...
|
|
|
05-03-2010, 08:50 PM
|
#7
|
Meet Coordinator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: brick/pt. pleasant beach
Posts: 19,341
|
you and matt should hang out more often he always compares his car to legos
|
|
|
05-04-2010, 04:33 PM
|
#8
|
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Jackson, NJ
Posts: 1,724
|
looks pretty sweet to me, your gonna look pretty officially with all your screens and buttons and what not
__________________
1983 camaro- Scrap
1988 camaro- Also scrap
'05 Silverado- You guessed it, scrap
1988 TRX 250R- Ported w/ high compression on 110 octane- Out 60' your LT1
Jersey Shore Street Car Takeover (JSSCT) Founder
Quote:
Originally Posted by LS1ow
and once i get PHB, what do i ajust it too?
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jersey Mike
Seven.
|
|
|
|
05-04-2010, 05:17 PM
|
#9
|
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Sicklerville, NJ (South Jersey)
Posts: 450
|
Looking good. A buddy of mine did a similar job with his 2008 subaru outback legacy. Pretty much the same factory type set-up as yours and his turned out really sweet. Good luck with everything.
__________________
1994 Z28 M6
Cat Back
|
|
|
05-04-2010, 09:21 PM
|
#10
|
Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
|
ok, evening 2 of working on it is complete, time to rest.
Tomorrow i gotta make mounts to the main frame for the new climate control location, and then cut the old ashtray face down to make the new front lower filler panel.
I pulled the power port from inside the ash tray and im going to mount it center in the lower filler panel and it will look almost stock.
heres a current status pic....
|
|
|
05-04-2010, 09:53 PM
|
#11
|
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: bridgewater
Posts: 868
|
that looks great!
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28
its an ongoing joke between the Geo Storm crew and the Sebring coupe team.
|
bolt-ons and a bed n' breakfast
|
|
|
05-04-2010, 11:49 PM
|
#12
|
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Jackson, NJ
Posts: 1,724
|
looks like it belongs that way
__________________
1983 camaro- Scrap
1988 camaro- Also scrap
'05 Silverado- You guessed it, scrap
1988 TRX 250R- Ported w/ high compression on 110 octane- Out 60' your LT1
Jersey Shore Street Car Takeover (JSSCT) Founder
Quote:
Originally Posted by LS1ow
and once i get PHB, what do i ajust it too?
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jersey Mike
Seven.
|
|
|
|
05-05-2010, 02:30 AM
|
#13
|
12 Second Club
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: metuchen, nj
Posts: 1,476
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by wretched73
looks like it belongs that way
|
agreed
__________________
|
|
|
05-05-2010, 09:32 PM
|
#14
|
Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
|
heres a pic of the basically finished center dash section. I just gotta pop in the top air vents which were untouched but are out in the car.
Other than the climate controls being 1.75" lower now, the ash tray no longer exists, just a filler panel but as you can see, i moved the 12v power port to the pass side of that panel.
Next step is wiring it all up.
|
|
|
05-07-2010, 12:33 AM
|
#15
|
Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
|
I wired the radio tonight, so far...very good. its late and im tired so ill post more info about it this weekend.
|
|
|
05-07-2010, 08:54 AM
|
#16
|
Admin.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Hamilton, NJ
Posts: 20,152
|
Can you get the 'pioneer' off it w/o damaging it?
__________________
Vent Windows Forever!
The looser the waistband, the deeper the quicksand. Or so I have read.
Feather-light suspension, Konis just couldn't hold. I'm so glad I took a look inside your showroom doors.
Hey everybody, it's good to have you on the Baba-too-da-ba-too-ba-ba-buh-doo-ga-ga-bop-a-dop
|
|
|
05-08-2010, 08:32 PM
|
#17
|
Co-Founder / Site Admin
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ewing, NJ
Posts: 22,473
|
Yea, I say try to get the Pioneer logo off, and add a second factory power port to that lower section and it will look just about perfect.
- Justin
__________________
1999 Camry - Beigemobile DD
2002 Suburban - Wife's DD
2004 Grand Cherokee - Not running / Project / Selling?
|
|
|
05-08-2010, 09:18 PM
|
#18
|
Power Member/NJFBOA Bookie/Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: North Jersey = Best Jersey.
Posts: 4,435
|
It looks like you cut the ashtray door?
|
|
|
05-08-2010, 10:02 PM
|
#19
|
I <3 sheep
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Belmar
Posts: 4,907
|
Wow, that looks great.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tru2Chevy
Steve has a thing for sheep....
|
'78 Big Wheel- 2FWFP
|
|
|
05-09-2010, 08:49 PM
|
#20
|
Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jersey Mike
It looks like you cut the ashtray door?
|
yea, like i stated earlier, ash tray door was cut 1.75" and is no longer a door.
I have plans to deal with the gloss trim, it will all be matte black soon enough and the pioneer will be gone.
The stock volume knob and all EQ controls of the stock radio stayed intact, even the navi voice guidance is fully functional still.
Here are some installed pictures... and i even found a nice background to put on the pioneer...
|
|
|
05-09-2010, 09:20 PM
|
#21
|
13 Second Club / Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Franklin Lakes, NJ
Posts: 8,689
|
That looks amazing. Paul, I'm impressed man.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by LS1ow
Except Jersey mike, great kid, but the way he looks at me makes me feel like im in danger
|
|
|
|
05-09-2010, 10:43 PM
|
#22
|
Power Member/NJFBOA Bookie/Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: North Jersey = Best Jersey.
Posts: 4,435
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by V
yea, like i stated earlier, ash tray door was cut 1.75" and is no longer a door.
I have plans to deal with the gloss trim, it will all be matte black soon enough and the pioneer will be gone.
The stock volume knob and all EQ controls of the stock radio stayed intact, even the navi voice guidance is fully functional still.
Here are some installed pictures... and i even found a nice background to put on the pioneer...
|
That looks stellar!
This guy on the Cadillac forums was making LED HVAC units, that eliminated the amber light & put out a more white light, for the CTS/CTS-Vs a while back, I think he still does a few projects here and there.
Here's a link to one of his posts, his name is Rob. Let me know if you want his email.
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/1647823-post3.html
|
|
|
05-10-2010, 09:37 AM
|
#23
|
Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
|
that led swap is interesting but not my taste. It would look too out of place IMO.
|
|
|
05-10-2010, 10:53 AM
|
#24
|
Meet Coordinator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: brick/pt. pleasant beach
Posts: 19,341
|
very, very nice!
|
|
|
05-10-2010, 12:24 PM
|
#25
|
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Sicklerville, NJ (South Jersey)
Posts: 450
|
A+++++ job Paul. It will look even better once you have the trim matched up.
__________________
1994 Z28 M6
Cat Back
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|
|