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Oct 14, 2010 | 01:05 PM

roadster red

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7th Gear

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Radio Exchange

Has anyone ever changed a bad 1986 Bose radio to a newer after-market one. If so, besides changing the amplified speakers with after-market speakers, is there much to it? Did anyone run into any problems such as making the antennae going up and down?

Any information, much appreciated.

Wayne

Oct 14, 2010 | 02:54 PM

LaVidaLoca

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Joined: Jul 2002

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From: Yukon OK

I put a standard radio in mine and took out all the Bose. The biggest headache was getting the speaker boxes out of the doors on my 85. At the time I was replacing the door panels and window motors. To get the speaker box out requires removing the entire window assembly and taking the box out through the center of the door.

I reused the existing wires by tracing them out with a meter and using the audio signal wires then cut off the power wires.

I replaced my motorized antenna with a fixed antenna so that that was not an issue I faced.

Before you move ahead, pull the radio and verify the depth you have available behind the dash. I seem to recall that some after market units were too long to fit.

Oct 14, 2010 | 03:27 PM

AGENT 86

Team Owner

Joined: Jan 2003

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From: Summerland B.C. Canada

Not much to it, that depends on how far you want to go. I pulled it all out and replaced it with a flip out Kenwood DVD flip out, Focal 6 1/2" drivers and tweeters and 2 JL 8" subs in the rear factory locations with JL amp under passenger seat.

What is your goal ?

Oct 15, 2010 | 01:17 PM

aklim

Team Owner

Joined: Jul 2004

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From: Hartford WI

Mine would be to replace it all and rewire it for a decent system. Any suggestions?

Also, will they keep the antenna up or do I have rub Cialis on it?

Oct 15, 2010 | 09:12 PM

jsinga

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Joined: Oct 2003

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From: Savannah GA

I'm pretty sure the 86 bose has common grounded speakers. So you will have to change wiring in the plugs to fix this. Otherwise you'll get mud. I can tell you from experience if what look like chessy bose speakers are OK you can go in the boxes and bypass the amps and save yourself some money. I ran them for a couple of years on an Alpine head unit. Even though they are about 2ohms they didn't hurt the amp. And sound just as good as the $200 worth of aftermarket speakers I replaced them with.

JS

Oct 15, 2010 | 09:26 PM

Marv02

Burning Brakes

Joined: Feb 2010

Posts: 1,013

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From: California City Ca

The only Issue I ran in to my swap was the antenna I had to hook the antenna power wire to to key swicth so when you turn the key the antenna go's up I tryed to use the power wire from the head unit didn't work for my antenna.

I have a Kenwood 540 I think JL speakers 4 inch in the doors and dash 9X11 in the rear,

I had to make plates for the doors to mount the door speakers.

Also had to run a bass blocker for the front speakers I wished I use larger front speakers.

Used the stock wiring I also VOM to find which wire is what.

Oct 17, 2010 | 11:02 PM

Movnviolation

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From: Hesperia California

I wired a inline switch so I could control the antenna. I hated the antenna going up and down all the time.

Oct 21, 2010 | 12:52 PM

roadster red

Thread Starter

7th Gear

Joined: Jul 2008

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Thanks alot for all the input. I installed radios in older cars but never had the Bose and antenna problem. I think I'm just going to dive into this project and see what happens. If it works, great. If it doesn't, I'll just throw a transistor radio on the passenger seat! But I am going to try and wring out speaker wires to reuse. Thanks again!

Wayne