Nice option for stereo in any Caprice

deesandvees · #1 10-09-2009, 12:53 AM

Here's what I did in my '87. I'm very very anti-cutting the dash so this is what I've found to be the best option. The unit is an Alpine Direct CD Changer Controller and can be found on eBay for anywhere from $5 to $25 (because I don't think they make anything like this anymore and it's considered "old school" which usually isn't good in the car stereo department). The whole system is the controller (seen below installed in the ashtray) and a main unit which is a box that's about 1"x4"x3" that hides nicely up behind the factory stereo. The controller has a long cable on it so it could be installed almost anywhere in the car you want, personally I prefer in the ashtray so it's easily hidden. The main unit has an auxilary input which is speaker wire so you can just run your factory stereo's speaker wires to this input and listen to your factory stereo as long as you set the controller to auxilary. The other input is for the CD Changer but Alpine makes a cable that will input and power an iPod so you can run your iPod instead of a CD changer. IMHO, it's a thing of beauty. What do you think?

bhw33191 · #2 10-09-2009, 11:34 AM

Dude you know what. I've REALLY, seriously been kicking myself in the a$$. When i installed my new head unit a while back i cut into that dash insert so i could put it in my new head unit. I really did not want to wait and could not think of any other way to go about it. And i was seriously in need of a nice working radio so i just went ahead and cut into the dash...now i'm really regretting this..i feel so terrible. When i went to some junkyard in Vegas (from Boston) like i mentioned earlier, there were about 30 caprices...ALL of them were either missing this dash insert, or they were also cut into...And now i'm just realizing i ruined something that i'll likely never be able to get back. If i only had the patience ugh. But yeah your idea works perfect.

I did however save the pieces that i cut out..it'd be impossible to sort of put it back together..but oh well. I always make mistakes like this lol.

My dad has a 65 Ford Falcon Econoline. All original except for wheels. He recently installed a nice beefy stereo. He made a box that fit under the back seat to put the sub/amp and you barely notice it. As for the head unit..he hid it under the front passenger seat and mounted a small mirror on the firewall in front of it. So all he has to do is aim the remote control at the mirror and presto, you have a factory setup with the benefits of modern technology. I shoulda thought about doing this seriously...

deesandvees · #3 10-09-2009, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhw33191

And now i'm just realizing i ruined something that i'll likely never be able to get back.

When I bought my '87 the previous owner had cut it and installed a cheap aftermarket deck and I swear it was in crooked! I searched on eBay and found the correct complete heater controls/tape deck unit for under $100. It's best to get the whole thing because if you just get the stereo it's a pain to seperate it from the heater if I remember correctly and you'll probably end up busting something.

bhw33191 · #4 10-09-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deesandvees

When I bought my '87 the previous owner had cut it and installed a cheap aftermarket deck and I swear it was in crooked! I searched on eBay and found the correct complete heater controls/tape deck unit for under $100. It's best to get the whole thing because if you just get the stereo it's a pain to seperate it from the heater if I remember correctly and you'll probably end up busting something.

Well thats good to hear. So maybe i have a chance. But my dash insert is different from yours. Its the older one so its actually quite easy to separate because all you have to do is take the knobs off the radio and it comes off.

deesandvees · #5 10-09-2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhw33191

Well thats good to hear. So maybe i have a chance. But my dash insert is different from yours. Its the older one so its actually quite easy to separate because all you have to do is take the knobs off the radio and it comes off.

Oh cool, is that the brushed metal face one? Or even older?

bhw33191 · #6 10-09-2009, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deesandvees

Oh cool, is that the brushed metal face one? Or even older?

Like i said for some reason i've had a lot of trouble finding interior stuff for my car. But heres what mine looks like.

bhw33191 · #7 10-09-2009, 05:02 PM

I figured i'd post these just for another approach to hiding the stereo.

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