iPod with stock stereo
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 75
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From: Ann Arbor MI
iPod with stock stereo
How cool is this?
I just bought my 77 and was pondering how to hook my iPod up without getting one of those radio frequency adapters, which I'm not fond of.
So I'm going through the stuff the PO gave me and I find an 8-track to cassette adapter. Now I didn't even realize that there was the 8-track player in the car, as it's kind of hidden (the radio tuning dial flips down to accept the tape). So I stick a cassette to minijack adapter in the 8-track adapter and plug in my iPod and lo and behold, my tunes are playing through my Vette's original stereo.
It doesn't sound great, but what stock 77 Vette stereo does? At least it's more listenable than commercial radio.
I just bought my 77 and was pondering how to hook my iPod up without getting one of those radio frequency adapters, which I'm not fond of.
So I'm going through the stuff the PO gave me and I find an 8-track to cassette adapter. Now I didn't even realize that there was the 8-track player in the car, as it's kind of hidden (the radio tuning dial flips down to accept the tape). So I stick a cassette to minijack adapter in the 8-track adapter and plug in my iPod and lo and behold, my tunes are playing through my Vette's original stereo.
It doesn't sound great, but what stock 77 Vette stereo does? At least it's more listenable than commercial radio.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 876
Likes: 1
From: Same as our leaders Out of my mind
Now That is using your head and what is readily available to you.
Well done! And under budget too!
My Ipod is connected via mini jack/ cassette adapter to my sony explod cassette/cd head unit - awesome and cheap too! No sense in upgrading to expensive MP3 compatible units when low $$$ works this well!
Well done! And under budget too!
My Ipod is connected via mini jack/ cassette adapter to my sony explod cassette/cd head unit - awesome and cheap too! No sense in upgrading to expensive MP3 compatible units when low $$$ works this well!
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 275
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From: Grand Rapids Michigan
I'm going to have to check out my stereo now, I never thought of pushing in the dial to see if I have an eight track in there. I was wondering about that but thought that it would just be obvious if it was an eight track stereo. I could grab some of my mom and dads old eight tracks, listen to some Tommy James and the Shondells, Carpenters, etc. Sweet.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 75
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From: Ann Arbor MI
Originally Posted by Orangevette
I could grab some of my mom and dads old eight tracks, listen to some Tommy James and the Shondells, Carpenters, etc. Sweet.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by SIXFOOTER
I use the cig adaptor for iPod, no moving parts, no cables, plug and play
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
I'm doing the same thing in my 79 - I want to leave the 8 track hooked up so that it's still usable. 
We're putting an amp in the car and running a stereo to RCA cable to it - then I'll plop the ipod in the front with me and since it has it's own preamp, we won't need a headunit!!
Doc
We're putting an amp in the car and running a stereo to RCA cable to it - then I'll plop the ipod in the front with me and since it has it's own preamp, we won't need a headunit!!
Doc
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
Sounds like an FM adapter. Unless you live in an area without many radio stations, you'll get all sorts of interference.
Its by far the best solution I was able to find and I looked at everythiong out there.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 176
From: Hillsborough NC
I have an inline FM Modulator that sits inthe antenna cable. When powered on, it disconnects the factory antenna to eliminate interference. I hid the 1/8" headphone jack (input) under the ashtray door, so it looks bone stock from the outside.
I also have an 8-track to cassette adapter for the car. Thought of doing what the OP stated, but it was just too much stuff hanging out on the dash for my taste.
I just love the fact that my iPod nano has over 100x more computing power than the entire car combined. We all complain about the vacuum problems on these cars, but when you think about it, the engineers were creating many of the control circuits used in today's engines, but they only had vacuum power for their source. Very clever indeed.
BTW, eBay has many 8-tracks listed, many of which are still sealed from the factory.
I also have an 8-track to cassette adapter for the car. Thought of doing what the OP stated, but it was just too much stuff hanging out on the dash for my taste.
I just love the fact that my iPod nano has over 100x more computing power than the entire car combined. We all complain about the vacuum problems on these cars, but when you think about it, the engineers were creating many of the control circuits used in today's engines, but they only had vacuum power for their source. Very clever indeed.
BTW, eBay has many 8-tracks listed, many of which are still sealed from the factory.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 0
From: Santee CA
I'm planning on putting in one of those Custom Autosound units that looks like the original stock stereo...The current aftermarket doesn't work at all.
The Custom Autosound has RCA input plugs in the back that I'm going to connect an RCA to headphone adapter plug, which will go to a custom XM Radio mount we're going to either mount by the passenger side dash, or the console.
I'd prefer it to be a "hidden" unit, but there's no way I can see the display for the XM channels if it's hidden, at least with the current XM Radio that I have...
The Custom Autosound has RCA input plugs in the back that I'm going to connect an RCA to headphone adapter plug, which will go to a custom XM Radio mount we're going to either mount by the passenger side dash, or the console.
I'd prefer it to be a "hidden" unit, but there's no way I can see the display for the XM channels if it's hidden, at least with the current XM Radio that I have...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 0
Sent my radio off to Gary Tayman in Florida for a conversion. Stock appearance with modern guts. It even has all kinds of neat little features like speaker balancing, bass / treble adjust, input for ipod or whatever else, modern radio tuner (built into the old controls), and has excellent sound to boot. I've got a $35 off conversion coupon if anyone was looking to do this and wants it.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,765
Likes: 2,513
From: Buckeye, AZ
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
I had a CD changer with a modulator on my '78 with a stock head and it worked good. I wanted to get rid of the changer though, so I got a RCA Lyra on woot.com for $30. I was skeptical, but it works very well. Yea, in a high denisty city finding a ferquency can be a challange. I typically only use it on longer road trips though. It sounds good; better than the cd changer.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
The Pioneer CD head unit that's in my Jeep (about 6 years old now) and the new Pioneer CD head unit that will go in the 77 have a plug in the back that can be used as an auxilliary input with the right adapter. Perfect for an MP3 player, and the ancient Pioneer SuperTuner III circuit is incredible for FM reception (they've tried several upgrades to the system, but keep going back to the ol' III).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,390
Likes: 2
From: New Castle DE
Originally Posted by icanfixitforyou
Now That is using your head and what is readily available to you.
Well done! And under budget too!
My Ipod is connected via mini jack/ cassette adapter to my sony explod cassette/cd head unit - awesome and cheap too! No sense in upgrading to expensive MP3 compatible units when low $$$ works this well!
Well done! And under budget too!
My Ipod is connected via mini jack/ cassette adapter to my sony explod cassette/cd head unit - awesome and cheap too! No sense in upgrading to expensive MP3 compatible units when low $$$ works this well!
did the same thing with my Cingular Slvr phone for the power tour worked out very nice
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,363
Likes: 0
From: Canton Ohio
I bought a FM Transmitter for my Ipod so that I can listen to it in my Vette which has an aftermarket CD player in it, and I could never get it to work! So I took it back and the cassette adapter and just listen to CD's in the vette. Well currently I listen to the engine, because I have open pipes......
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Paw Paw MI
Originally Posted by Dr. No
We're putting an amp in the car and running a stereo to RCA cable to it - then I'll plop the ipod in the front with me and since it has it's own preamp, we won't need a headunit!!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
You don't need a 12" in a Vette. I have a wonderful 12" Infinity Kappa green sub that's staying on the shelf, I found a perfectly functioning 8" DVC Rockford Fosgate Punch that I'll use in the 77. A 12" is just way too much speaker in that little space...and don't even get me started on 6x9s. 6.5" component sets sound MUCH better.