Hi All,

The original stereo in my '81 is on the fritz - the LED display is confused (audio works fine). (BTW, are these worth restoring?)

So, I am in the market for a compatible replacement - something that will plug into the same place, use the same power etc..

For instance: http://www.madvet.com/shop?part=4.307.3486.612402

I don't want a cassette or CD but an MP3 input would be nice (probably wishful thinking)

Seeking your opinions as usual....

Thanks

 

The rubber bumpers aren't worth much of anything right now (I have an '80) so while you might want to keep the radio as a hedge the decision is based on what you think *may* happen to the value. The reasons for the value are discussed at length in the C3 section so I'll leave that there!

As to the stereo, what you do depends on your goal. Do you just want something that is functional or are you looking to start over and get good sound? Your 81 is likely identical to my 80 in terms of setup, so you have a pair of 4x6 coaxials in the front and maybe a pair of 6x9's in the rear(I think it was an option, may have been standard by then).

Putting in a high power aftermarket head unit and swapping out the speakers can be done relatively inexpensively and produce far better results than the stock setup, and that is what (for now) I have done in my '80. I replaced the existing aftermarket replacement (old Kenwood 2-post cassette) with an Alpine single DIN head and replaced the front & rear speakers. The rear speakers have some mounting depth issues and the Kickers I used wouldn't fit without doing so surgery, so we just slapped together a box to use short term. Shallow mounting depth 6x9's would work better for this purpose. The one gotcha is that you would have to either cut your console trim plate to fit a single din unit or buy a pre-cut aftermarket console plate. Doing the trimming is easy, it's just back to that question of originality and whether or not you care to cut on your car. It allows for far greater choice of head units by doing this.

After that you start getting into adding amps, subwoofers, etc and you're going down a long road filled with tons of choices and lots of money spent.... figure out your goal first, go from there!

 

Thanks Thekomoman

My goal is only to get a decent working stereo - nothing elaborate.

Actually I see now that I can buy a bezel/stereo combo, for instance : http://www.madvet.com/shop?frame=1.307.7666

Which would be satisfactory (with some new speakers)...

I could also just buy the bezel and pick any stereo that fits (single DIN)

That seems like a better option than just getting a replacement stereo with a cassette deck that I won't ever use... Of course, I could also cut the existing bezel, since it will probably never get used....

One question - I know the original equipment has some kind of support bracket for the radio, will I have any issues installing a different one? Sorry if this is a newbie question, I haven't done this before...

 

that cd player is ok but nothing great and they are way overcharging for it, i would try and find a bezel and put your own din radio in it or just cut yours. as far as a support its been a while since ive torn into a C3

 

Yup, the bezel seems to be the expensive part of the deal... but it does look good. Probably better than it would look if I cut it..

Thanks for the response....

 

From what I've seen of the stereos offered they don't offer anything that I would buy as a separate piece, so to my mind that means do my own thing. Installing a single DIN stereo into one of their pre-cut console panels is very simple and not worth paying a premium for a mediocre head unit so that it's pre-installed.

As I mentioned in my other post, the stock stereo was long gone from my '80 by the time I had the dash apart so I don't know what was there. The aftermarket unit was unsupported and we fully expected to rig something up. The console was extremely rigid and we were comfortable leaving it as-is. The aftermarket piece, if that's what you use, may not be as rigid so you may very well have to support it, but I have no doubt you'll find something back there to use to tie off a support bracket.

 

Thanks, I am coming around to a different point of view. I am going to check around for a good stereo and someone good to install it perfectly including cutting my bezel (there are a bazillion car audio shops around here)

Thanks everyone

 

where are u located, perhaps one of us can recommend someone

 

I am in Azusa, California (in the SGV)

Just updated profile....

 

TheKomoman, what pre-cut console panels are you referring to here?

Thanks

 

This is what I'm talking about:

http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1030

A few of the vendors carry that. As you can see it's not a cheap piece (Ecklers prices are invariably high) and it's much cheaper and very easy to cut your stock piece with a Dremel. You get a bezel to go around the aftermarket radio (very common piece, any shop should carry it) and you'll never see that the console was cut. Some guys don't like the idea of cutting it or cutting up the original piece, so that's why I mentioned these aftermarket pieces.

 

Thanks, got it...

Yeah, the price is too high for a tightwad like me! I'll just get mine cut by whoever sells me the stereo, as I said there is a lot of competition around here....

Thanks again

 

So, I went to Circuit City this weekend and bought a Pioneer DEH-P4800MP. They installed it for about $75. Definitely worth it.

They did a great job on the install, looks fantastic.... So far no problems with anything.

Next up : speakers.

Thanks all