This week I have been putting a new Sony radio (a Sony XAV-AX1000) and a Sirius XM receiver into the car. Along with this project, I have also been putting a backup camera (in this case a wired Clarion CC720). (Got the Clarion on clearance).

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_158XAV...SAAEgI28vD_BwE

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-NdtTyp...ion-CC720.html

Just to share,

the best place to run the wire for the camera is over to the driver's side (in behind the stop lights) then down and up over the wheel well (take the wheel well out of course). I put the wire inside a split loom to protect it. There are plenty of other wires to zip tie to.

Then loosen up the driver side rocker cover (at least on my '96 there is a wire run through there already). Run the wire up to and under the battery tray.

There is a plug next to the main harness into the car connector that will allow you to get the wire inside the car. The plug is big enough (the wires are molded to the plug) to allow the typical wire to fit. I did take a 3/16 round file and notched the hole a bit for the wire. It still seals the car.

This was the easiest path that I could find to get into the car. I took different parts off in the back (behind the speaker, etc) and could not find as easy a route as going up front to go inside.

Then relating to my other post about the windshield drain hose, fix the drainage while installing the wire.

Sorry no pics at this time. I will try tomorrow before I button it up to see if there is enough light in my garage for pictures to actually show up.

This radio fits the opening on my '96 with very little adjustment to the dash opening and you do not have to cut any of the structure out behind the original radio. This Sony is not as deep as some, so you don't have to butcher your car up.

I had Crutchfield build the wire harness to interface into the Bose system, it is pretty much a plug and play, but they send a harness long enough to go around the car 2 or 3 times. Eventually I will trim it down.

 

Was able to get some pics. You can see how easy it is to run the wire through the wheel well and back behind the rocker cover. The plug that you use to
access the interior is identified by the yellow wire. As I said, you can file a small notch in the firewall and it will still seal.

You can also see the drain tube that needs extended. It is the last picture. I took the bolts out in the battery tray, killed the rust and painted them.

The next time you see the rear suspension, it will have the Dana 44 that is out in the garage and the full set of Banski components that are in the closet installed.

 

Thanks for taking the time to write this up and post the pics.

This will be helpful as a reference.

 

I just turn my head.

 

A good example of a "seagull poster". Flies into a thread and sh*ts all over the place and leaves without any useful contribution, just like majority of the posts that are spread across the different generational forums.

All you gotta do is put the cursor on anyone's id, and click. A drop down box appears that will allow you to select "Find more posts". Form your own opinion. I just found a new candidate for the ignore posts list.

 

Hope that made you feel better. You're spending dollars and countless hours to install and document an "improvement" in an at least 25 year old car that has the biggest rear window ever conceived. If you need a BU camera in a C4 I don't want to be parked anywhere near you! Ignore me please!

 

Yes, Thank you. I think this was great. I am going to look into getting a couple for my cars. You just cost me more money .....haha. Great write up sir. I do have a question....what is this drain tube you speak of and where is it located? Thanks again.

 

What beef is it to you how he spends his money or what he does to his cars? Now I know why Corvette owners get a bad rep. I think it’s great when people post new things they do to their cars. That’s what this forum was created for wasn’t it? To help out our fellow Corvette owners with their love of the greatest car ever made? Correct me if I’m wrong.

 

The driver's side runs from the corner of the windshield and dumps onto the battery box. At least on my 1996 it does. Here it is. I bought some 5/8" clear vinyl tubing. It is the right diameter to slide up inside this tube. Then there is a spot where it can be routed to dump under the car. I don't drive in the rain often, but when I did, you can see the staining the rusted bolt heads even after I cleaned the battery tray up. The little block that holds down the side of the battery is not in the picture of course. The bolt was drying after being painted in this picture.

I put the light under the car and was able to see the spot to run the tube down and out. I used small zip ties to go around the rubber and secure the tube inside it.

I am going to assume that there is one on the passenger side. I will look for it next and if I can get a picture will post it.

 

It's a great write up and I'm sure useful for the guys who have already said so. For some, not so much. Like me as well. Don't let that get under your skin, brother.

Backup cameras are required for new cars now, but I find them distracting as I've driven 50 years without them and am much more familiar with turning my head. Our work cars all have them and for me it's counter-intuitive to look down at a screen on the dash rather than outside. I feel I lose situational awareness. I always assess the surrounding area when approaching my car, but things can sneak up on you where a camera could help. Now for my pickup and hitching a trailer by myself, that would be great.

I'd love to replace that POS Bose system in my car so maybe one day. It sounds like you're getting everything you want in that new system and that's fantastic. There are so many mods people have done on these old cars you could write a whole new C4 wiki site about them; your write up would be included

 

I don't give a damn how he spends his money. I just made a comment that I can see just fine by turning my head. He then went on a rant, personally attacking me. Considering that the driver is basically sitting on the rear wheels, it's difficult to misjudge how much room is left behind you unless you just can't drive. But hey, you're right... it is his car.

 

I mostly use my mirrors. It is for immediately behind the car and when to stop when backing into a spot. For the most part I find backup cameras to just be a little extra help. The danger of watching a backup camera is that you can't see if your mirror(s) is going to hit something, etc.

I pull a 30 ft bumper pull camper, have been pulling goose necks and bumper pulls since 1989. I have logged 1000's of miles using just the side mirrors so it is just second nature. However, I don't have superman x-ray vision to see what is right behind the car. The neighbor has a bunch of little kids, we have cats and dogs, you just never know.

Next summer I am putting a back up camera into the truck. It will help when I hook it up by myself. I get close, get out and measure the distance from the ball to the hitch and draw lines or lay down sticks so I know how far to back up. Having a camera in the truck will sure help with that.

 

Thank you sir.

 

I used to be against these “ back up cameras” in cars until I bought my wife a new Yukon XL Denali. I freakin love that camera now. I don’t have to get out of her truck to hook up the car trailer like I have to do with my pull truck. I think they are a great idea especially if you have kids or pets running free around the cars. The C4 Corvettes *** end is like a small billboard in that it has quite the dead space to hide a child or pet below the taillights. It really is a blind spot there but it’s not something I worry about because my dogs are big and my kids are grown and out of the house..haha. Just my humble opinion though.

 

I ran my camera through a hole I drilled by where the power antenna enters. Its inside the whole way, hidden, and (now) protected with a grommet. I try to avoid running wires under the car or in other non standard places. With my luck it would somehow pop out and wrap around the driveshaft like an anaconda or something crazy.

 

I agree about non-standard ways. I looked for hours until just deciding to follow along what GM already did. The camera wire is about 3/16" dia. I put it inside a 3/8 split loom and zip tied it to factory wiring all the way to the front of the car. You have to buy 20 ft and there is a little left over is what I found.

The most difficult part of this is getting the wire (the factory wire) in the correct place when putting the rocker cover back on. Right in front of the driver's door it sort of pops up above the cover. It is hidden by the side (battery cover). The rest of the way it can be inside the rocker cover. Took me a while to get it back, I neglected to take a picture before moving the cover. Shame on me.

Otherwise this route is completely protected. If it pops loose, so does the factory loom that runs down that side.

 

I have 2 cameras. One on the license plate with a perfect view of the hitch ball. Other is on back of the 5th Wheel. They both power up when I start the truck. I built a video switch box that operates off a small switch on the dash. When the 5th wheel is hitched up the bumper cam lets me see under it. I can clearly see the axles and wheels.

 

Nice work!

UpdAted stereo, bluetooth cell phone, and camera are on my dreAm list somedAy

 

One of those 180 degree cmeras would be pretty sweet , too. Stumbled across that drain today on my car.... pretty much plugged up solid.

 

Nice, would love to see some pics of how everything fit the dash.