Guys:

The non-OEM am-fm-cassette unit in my ride has been kaput since I bought the car. Years of listening to motor music never gets old but when the hottie GF decides she wants to ride along, thought it would be nice to rumble along with age appropriate classic rock tune-age.

Recently, a buddy showed off his iPod capable radio in his Asian-developed SUV DD. I liked how slick it was to plug and play.

I searched this C3 forum on subject to locate only 2 threads. In either case, seems the majority of posters had additions or adapters to existing radios. Frankly, I'd like to minimize the 'extra' wires and crap hanging off the dash or windshield to only the iPod and a pwr source [cig lighter or something more discreet].

Ecklers recently sent a email notice for this:
[IMG][/IMG]

Not thrilled about a manual tuner but do not wish to modify the original bezel/faceplate beyond a 'factory' look. Do any of you more informed guys (or gals) have any suggestions for a relatively simple design, like this, only with presets available?

I want you to know: the effects thru the years of head-bangin', fuel-car racing, center-fired weapons, uncorked, large-displacement V-8's, and general industrial-strength tools w/o ear protection has deteriorated my high-low frequency listening bandwidth to history. Not searching for musical finess but not accepting poor performance [static, et al], either. Do not wish to add 100lbs of comm gear, as well.
I have a small boom box w/2 (guessing 10-12" woofers); OEM speaker status: unknown? Amp(s)? Not literate with radios much but can follow well-described or written directions fairly well. Pictures speak volumes.

With respects to Jesus: WWCFD? (what would Corvette Forum do?)

 

http://www.casmfg.com/
The display looks like a manual tune, but it is actually a digital tuner. These radios are crap at best, but they are about the only option if you don't want a modified bezel. If you decide to go with a modified bezel, Full Throttle Corvette sells a new bezel with a Sony am/fm/cd, with mp3 input on the front panel, for about $300. http://fullthrottlecorvette.com/

 

I have an 82 that I just recently put in a Single din Pioneer (model P5000UB) And I love it!! It has the capapbility to run an IPOD or if your cheap you can plug in a thumb drive and it will read the albums and play lists right off of that. It also has blue tooth cappability adn you can purchase a set up to go with it that will allow your phone to run thru your system. It turns your sytem off and allows you to listen to the call thru the fron speakers Great setup!

 

You need to look at Custom Autosoud as Dave 84/76 said above. I think they have exactly what you're looking for. They're head units are made to look like hte stock ones and you can get one with an Ipod input. They are a direct bolt in, no modifications required to the dash. We just put one in my buddies 55 Chevy. It does have a wire hookup for the Ipod, which he just puts in the glovebox when the Ipod is not in use, otherwise it would just hang below the dash. As commented above, their recievers look like the old manual tuning radios, but they are digital, the display lights up behind the manual printed numbers when it's on. The sound quality is ok, not the greatest, but if your just after looks as long as it will play the Ipod, I think it would be a good choice for you.

 

http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...8&dept_id=1029

 

Take a look at Taymanelectrical.samsbiz.com
They have lots of solutions for your problem and can upgrade an old factory radio with modern day electronics so it looks old and works like new with latest gadgetry.
I just plug a cassette adaptor into my 68 and it hooks up to my iTouch .
No modification to the dash was required, I am using a Pioneer Head unit.
The wireless FM receiver gadgets I tried did not work well in all areas.
Kurt

 

Thanks Guys.

Those suggestions were what I'm looking for. Certainly don't want too cheap and rework is a waste of time when one can do the job right the first time. It's these options with your feedback that make this work.

I liked each offer and you're right: There's an answer in here and I will be better informed when I decide to pull the trigger.

Will post pics when the time arrives (lots of powertrain and suspension needs attn first) and wanted to source a decent radio in weeks ahead before any more price hikes.

Many Thanks for your time!

 

go modern or go home

 

I think you want the USA-2 from Custom Autosound. Just bought one from an Ebay vendor (haven't got it yet). They're relatively cheap brand new on Ebay.

If you really want the stock look, there's a service that can take a stock older radio, upgrade it with new internals and also add an auxiliary port. His Ebay user name is: spautoradio. Or you can give him a call, Steve Weber, 888-514-3811. They quoted me $400 for the conversion.... maybe you could work him down.

I decided it wasn't THAT important and spent $150 for the USA2

 

also, if you have a newer radio that doesn't have an aux stereo jack, most units have the serial port for a cd changer. i bought an ipod adapter that plugs into this port at Best Buy, great fix for me!

 

you'd be better off buying a kazoo then anything from custom autosound. sure they look correct, but sound like garbage

 

Ok I know your looking for orig look , but. if you really want good sound you need to go modern.. I purchased a aftermarket bezel on ebay for under 70.00 shipped.. and put in the Alpine head unit that you can run a ipod addaptor to your storage compartments and never see it. the Alpine controls the ipod., Many new head units work this way. then i added a 10 sub and a aset of kick panel speaakers with a 300 watt amp... still have enough room for the ttops no prob... and the sound is to die for.
here is what it looks like...

 

Or use an Itrip!! http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/itrip/
just dial in your radio to the Itrip channel!! Works great!! and there you go easy your own fm broadcast. There is also a similar devise that hooks up with the antenna cable

 

http://www.dension.com/main.htm

ICE LINK thats the name plugs into the antenna at the back and some power feed. really handy and great quality

 

There are some interesting solutions described here...

Big Thanks to Corz and ptroxx for the images. Gives a reason to pause and reconsider. I like the installs and your descriptions to explain what you did, to get what you want. The aesthetics of more modern technology in either car doesn't strike me as distracting as I imagined; as some I've seen before (not necessarily CF members postings either).

Like Corz, I have the earlier 'rounded' style gauge console; Ptroxx unit sure blends well in his later model. Very Clean.

Cajos brings up a good point with wireless technology so there's another avenue to look into.

Of course, like any other mod to our cars, I can foresee the budget getting twisted out of shape if my eyes get bigger than my ability to pay for it. I need to balance the understanding of what components are required to create something comparable to these suggestions.

Remembering k.i.s.s. concept. LOL.

 

i did all my shopping off ebay and was able to build a nice system for about 350. that was for a radio, amp, wiring, and front and rear speakers. no pics seeing as i only had it in the car for a few mins to test everything out. it sounded very very nice.

this was to replace my old stereo, which consisted of some really cheap pioneer speakers, 1 2chnl amp that only powered my rear speakers, and some underpowered fronts that were powered off the headunit. even that sounded nice.

 

I'll throw my .02 worth in here. I kind of have to agree with the guys in the "Go Modern or Go Home" camp. I have a Custome Auto Sound unit and as far as sound quality it blows. I did the install myself as it is not rocket science and I am more than qualified to do the work.
If your REALLY in love with your stock center console buy a new one and cut it for the DIN box. There are some real advantages of going DIN: You can swap in any of thousands of different units in the same hole, with the stock style your stuck with 1 or 2 choices and there is such a low demmand no one is developing better units for the old style.
If it does not bother you all that much, go ahead and cut the console you have, install the DIN unit and get er done. You will be much happier with a new even if mid range unit, way better than stock OR CAS. I have the unit with the 6 cd changer and all that, but several yrs ago I went all digital and iPod so my new one will be iPod compatible.

 

CD, DVD video, Ipod (controlled through the head unit), USB connector, Bluetooth handsfree phone. Amped in the back behind the speaker bar running 6x9 3 ways in rear and 5.5" 2 ways in the kick panels.

 

i never realized how beat up my lower console was

 

i noticed the same on mine when i took a close up pic. i try not to look at it now...