Does anyone have directions of removing and adding a new head unit to 90 coupe. I was thinking a new Alpine head unit. Pictures would be appreciated.

 

Removing is easy. Replacing is a different story. Do you have Bose or standard?

 

I have Bose/Delco

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=384168

I had done this a month or so ago. There is more in here from me on this exact replacement. Do a search forum audio/electronics "c4 bose".

 

Additional future mods:
New deck
New speakers all locations
Possible amp as well.

If you have the delco bose, you need to do one of two things:
Choice one: Install a power converter that costs $80-90. This converts the power of the deck to low power usable by the bose amps. Advantages: Cheaper at first.
Problems: It is prone to engine noise, you loose the quality amp built into the deck, you use the 4 cheap fragile amps bose put in that are old and prone to failure and expensive to replace. You must keep the paper /foam speakers that bose installed that are prone to dryrot after just a few years and are very low in quality.
Choice two: Install 4 new speakers and remove the bose amps and speakers.
Advantages: Pay once and don't pay again. The new stuff shouldn't break like the bose stuff. Higher sound quality with even the cheapest of speakers. Better quality amp. The amps in the decks are stronger than all the amps in the bose setup combined. Disadvantages: slightly higher cost upfront. More to install.

I always recommend replacing the speakers. With the cost of the converter you're half to three quarters of the way to replacing the speakers which are undoubably blown anyway. Remember, blown speakers still make noise, just bad noise.
Go with some Polk or in infinity reference speakers if you want the low end. Go with some Boston Acoustics RX speakers if you want midrange. Higher end would involve adding a true amp and some high quality speakers and maybe a sub or more. Depends on your budget.
Try http://www.pricegrabber.com for decks.
Try http://www.tms-electronics.com for Boston Speakers
Try http://www.mmxpress.com and pricegrabber for the other speakers.

As for installing it, I'd get a single din and kit. I used a single din generic pocket to fill the extra space. The dash is a double din size. din 1.5 doesn't fill the hole. Double din units cost more and have less features, resale, and compatablity so they are a right off instead of an investment you can keep or resell. Try maybe a pioneer 4400?

Rear speakers are 6x9, front 5 1/4" with a little minor work. Also get a dash harness for $10 so you don't need to cut the stock wires to hook up the deck. This plugs into the car's radio plug and gives you loose wire ends for all the wires. You can then hook the decks harness to these wires and literally plug the deck in. If you replace the speakers, run new speaker wires to each location using generic 14 gauge speaker wire. Crimp or solder all connections.

To open up the dash and remove the radio, start with the center console. Open the center console, roll back the front corners of the carpet lining of the center console to reveal the two 7mm screws. Remove these.
Next, remove the ashtrays and the 7mm screw under one of the ashtrays. Slide the shifter console back and unplug the hatch button and lighter.
Next, remove the shift **** if necessary and remove the plate. I found on mine that if I shift the car into 4th and rotate the panel, I can skip removal.
Next remove the vent above the radio. It has two #2 phillips head screws. Behind this you will find a 7mm screw that hold in the top of the radio dash panel. Remove this screw. Now at the bottom of the same panel you will see two more 7mm screws. Remove those. You can now pry off the dash piece that surrounds the radio. Its held in by two clips that pop into holes and it should just pop off. Once removed you will see the screws that hold in the stock deck. After you remove the deck, you can start installing the new one. Get the dash kit ready. I needed to file my dash slightly wider to accomidate a DIN standard sized width radio. You could also mount it deeper into the dash but you may need to remove some of the venting behind the radio to make it fit depending on how deep the deck goes. I just picked up a new dash piece from GM for $35 and keep it in my basement incase I ever want to go back.
Next get the wires ready. You may need to run a new antenna wire. The easy way is to buy a 12' antenna extension wire, peel back the carpet in the rear drivers side cargo area, and plug the extension into the stock antenna plug where the antenna comes throught the body. Run this wire to the deck under the frame rail covers, up the side kick panels, and then above the panel over the driver's feet. This is a convenient time to run all your speaker wires also.
Hook everything up and reverse the install.
:smash: :cheers: :thumbs:

 

92TB - I never get tired of this subject because replacing the Bose made my car so much more fun to drive. You and some of the other experts on the subject (is Kale still around? Haven't seen his posts in awhile) ought to put together a tech tip explaining the basic process and reasons to do it. :smash: You could pretty much just paste in what you wrote above!

 

Thanks for the kudos. I guess I should write it up as a tech tip sometime. I'm glad to help as I've gotten lots of valuable help in other areas I that I don't know enough about. Its saved me money and grief. To me its just being neighborly and paying my dues. :flag