Stereo opinion
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Stereo opinion
First off--Thanks for all you prior help in getting my brothers Corvette up to snuff. He has a Pioneer aftermarket stereo in his 72 which shot craps yesterday. I am looking to replace it--thinking along the lines of Custom Auto Sound USA-1. Don't need anything fancy--I have recently installed 6 CD changer. Any opinions on this particular unit or are there other brands with better quality for the money. Any good vendors to purcahse it from. Thanks again.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
Is this something to put in the stock mounting holes (You say you're looking at the "Custom Autosound USA") or do you want to put something modern in there? I'm not sure which new stereos are the best (I bought a Pioneer) but I don't think you want to put an outdated cassette player or an overpriced Corvette only stereo/CD in there. I put a standard DIN mount in mine without too much difficulty. The basic tools you need are a 4 1/2" angle grinder with a cutting wheel and a dremel with some cutting wheels for finish work. I removed the bezel and radio but left the guages mounted to the bezel. Then I drew on the area I needed to cut out and started cutting into the back side of the bezel with the big grinder. I finished cutting the corners with the dremel and did some touch up with a file. There is a lot of metal to cut through because of the recesses for the old *****. Then I adapted the modern stereo to the curve of the bezel with this plate:
http://search.store.yahoo.com/cgi-bi...=21&image.y=13
Hook up the wires and put in the stereo (and better speakers) and you're ready to go. Not that difficult and a lot cheaper than buying a new $300 bezel just to put in a modern stereo. Good luck. John
http://search.store.yahoo.com/cgi-bi...=21&image.y=13
Hook up the wires and put in the stereo (and better speakers) and you're ready to go. Not that difficult and a lot cheaper than buying a new $300 bezel just to put in a modern stereo. Good luck. John
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad CA
If you have the stock stereo, and want to put it back in to keep the car looking original, you can mount a new head unit under the center deck lid. I can post a picture of mine mounted that way if you're interested. Pretty easy to do.
-Bob B.
-Bob B.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
original stereo is somewhere in Chicago--350 miles away and I don't think it works. When I drove the car down the Pioneer am/fm/cassette was not hooked up. I hooked it up and got it to work, upgraded the front speakers installed Pioneer 6 cd changer with new speakers in rear shelf area. Originally I wanted to change it all out for modern type DIN unit but I got everything working and sounding well--brother didin't want to spend the mony--looks like now he has to. Now it is shot so we are looking to replace the radio using the stock dash. So I am just trying to get the best deal for the money--has already invested money in the stereo upgrade and now trying to keep it from getting out of hand. Thanks again. 
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,685
Likes: 202
From: Waterford Mi
Don't waist any money on the USA-1. They sound like crap and my tape player fell apart after a year with very little use. There was so much noise that I couldn't stand listening to a tape even when it did work. I never could listen to any AM stations (sports games) because of the alternator whine. They said it was because of the car being a Vette, Well if that was the case then why would they sell the radio made for a Vette? The radio that had been in the car when I bought it was a Clarion and until it crapped out sounded good. Now that I broke down and put in a DIN radio everything sounds great.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
To each his own, BUT think twice before you start hacking up the original console; you may want the stock appearance later on down the road or a future buyer may deduct upon purchase. I made that mistake once, consoles are not cheap and the quality isn't always the same as factory original. Just something to think about before you start cutting. Many of the aftermarket vendors have reasonably good untis that fit into the stock opening. Once you alter this and that, it is possible that later on you may for some reason want to return everything to stock configuiration. Been there done that and spent the thousands to undo what I did throughout my 68 coupe. Just my 2 cents,
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,493
Likes: 6
From: Bloomington MN
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by ksbunting
To each his own, BUT think twice before you start hacking up the original console; you may want the stock appearance later on down the road or a future buyer may deduct upon purchase. I made that mistake once, consoles are not cheap and the quality isn't always the same as factory original.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Santa Monica California
I'd think about going with the original unit. First, if the car's not a daily driver, it'll be easier to deal with lousy sound and no CD/cassette. Also you could have an amp wired into the system and that would give you more volume.
In case you couldn't tell, I yanked the aftermarket in mine and installed a old original unit. People comment on that almost as much as the rest of the car, which looks pretty damn good. Plus, the car runs so loud that a decent stereo would be a waste, especially in a vert. I guess I'm just an aficionado of the stock look. My .02.
In case you couldn't tell, I yanked the aftermarket in mine and installed a old original unit. People comment on that almost as much as the rest of the car, which looks pretty damn good. Plus, the car runs so loud that a decent stereo would be a waste, especially in a vert. I guess I'm just an aficionado of the stock look. My .02.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Naples FL
I like the original look, so here's what I did.....
I mounted a stereo in the glove box. With a remote control it works great. It can always come out too. I did have to put a hole in the cardboard box, but replacing it is not very expensive. Nothing beats the look of that orig cassette deck remaining in place.
Paul
I mounted a stereo in the glove box. With a remote control it works great. It can always come out too. I did have to put a hole in the cardboard box, but replacing it is not very expensive. Nothing beats the look of that orig cassette deck remaining in place.
Paul
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 306
Likes: 0
From: WAY SOUTH OF HEAVEN inebriated
I want to put an lcd screen in my c3 the kind that flips up ive seen on newer c5 c6 that they have the water fall emblem on the screen it looks hot! and also install the camra front and back so i can see my blind spots not that ive hit anything i learned that on my last toy 96 camaro all you see is windshield in front of you.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 769
Likes: 0
From: NorCal 71 Lt-1
Originally Posted by jdmick
Is this something to put in the stock mounting holes (You say you're looking at the "Custom Autosound USA") or do you want to put something modern in there? I'm not sure which new stereos are the best (I bought a Pioneer) but I don't think you want to put an outdated cassette player or an overpriced Corvette only stereo/CD in there. I put a standard DIN mount in mine without too much difficulty. The basic tools you need are a 4 1/2" angle grinder with a cutting wheel and a dremel with some cutting wheels for finish work. I removed the bezel and radio but left the guages mounted to the bezel. Then I drew on the area I needed to cut out and started cutting into the back side of the bezel with the big grinder. I finished cutting the corners with the dremel and did some touch up with a file. There is a lot of metal to cut through because of the recesses for the old *****. Then I adapted the modern stereo to the curve of the bezel with this plate:
http://search.store.yahoo.com/cgi-bi...=21&image.y=13
Hook up the wires and put in the stereo (and better speakers) and you're ready to go. Not that difficult and a lot cheaper than buying a new $300 bezel just to put in a modern stereo. Good luck. John
http://search.store.yahoo.com/cgi-bi...=21&image.y=13
Hook up the wires and put in the stereo (and better speakers) and you're ready to go. Not that difficult and a lot cheaper than buying a new $300 bezel just to put in a modern stereo. Good luck. John
Thanks for the link on where to buy the bezel!
