Do I need any wiring harnesses for the speakers? Or do I cut the wires?

 

Are you removing the bose system completely, or are you just replacing something within the bose system? Unless you're going for originality for showing purposes, then I would gut the entire bose system and start over. Even if your car is a '96 that equipment is now very old, run new wires (decent 16 gauge speaker wire) to where you're going to put the new speakers. Forget the receiver under the dash, don't know why GM did chose it do that way, was just a really unconventional way of doing things. Well, I think I know why they did it, and that was to discourage the average person from upgrading the system to something better, so you would have to buy there stuff. Under one of the seats is good place for an amplifier. Stereo shop can make an adapter plate to fit the new deck into the old slot ('90-'96 cars.)

 

It's an 89 and I am gutting everything Bose. Already have my new deck and speakers.

 

I would suggest new everything, at least with what will be carrying the wattage out to the speakers. It won't be plug and play with the new system, so rather than trying to sort out the original harness, just run new. It's not that much wiring, but you'll have the interior of the car pulled out, definitely a "while you're in there" sort of project. Might as well just take care of everything that needs to be taken care of with the interior all pulled apart.

 

Yea I just pulled the radio out to look behind it to see the harness. Doesn't seem to hard of a job. The difficulty comes in with the dash speakers.

 

No clue how tight it is under there on these cars, but I had a car I once dropped the new wire in from the dash speaker holes and then used a flex grabber to pull it over too the radio harness from the radio hole.

these days I remove the stereo LOL

 

If you really have Bose, the speakers are in the doors.
Base radio used the dash.

 

It was recommended to me to tie the new speaker wire to the factory wires, then pull the factory wires till the aftermarket wires are at the radio.

 

That would be one way to do it. I'm a pretty good size guy and I have to pull the seats out of the car and pretty much work on my back for most things in the interior, it's tight. You'll have tie into the existing harness for a few things, power and antenna, but change out as much of the 25 year old stuff as you can. Either Eckler's or MidAmerica makes a deck adapter for the '84-'89 cars.

 

I just had my 1993 and 1994 upgraded to JVC units and new speakers, wires...Major difference in sound. Plus I can plug in an Ipod with about 45 days worth of music.

 

i changed out the bose system in my 87, all i needed was a harness adapter and a faceplate kit
i bought both on ebay for around $10 i think, and i just used the same wiring when i installed new speakers

 

The Bose system uses individual amps for each speaker. They are built into the speaker cavities. The amps take a unique voltage level to drive them so you can not use a regular head unit to drive the existing Bose Speaker/Amp units. They do sell a harness with an adapter that allows you to keep the stock Bose Speaker/Amps and drive them with a new style head unit. It cost about $30.00 but if you buy your head unit from Crutchfield they sometimes give it to you free. If you want to install new speakers then you have to remove the Speaker/Amp units and rig up new mounts for your new speakers. You probably should find a location and install amps for the new speakers also. If your Bose Speaker/Amps still work it is so much easier to just buy the cable/adapter and install a new head unit. You just pull the seats and console and run the new harness back to the existing system (on my 96' its behind the passenger seat) and plug it in. The Bose Speaker/Amps actually sound pretty good with a new head and you can use Bluetooth and Ipods with them. The Bose speakers can be fixed buy a forum member if they don't work or you can buy remanufactured ones also. The stock Bose speakers can get quite loud enough for a two person interior like your vette, but if you want to rattle the window in the house next door you will need something else. Its up to you how much work you are willing to put into it but with as much engine/road noise these cars have I don't believe its worth it to go overboard. You can reduce this noise with sound deadening material but that requires removing the entire interior and cost several hundred dollars more. Like I said its up to you and how much you are willing to invest, both time and money, for what I consider very little gain. That said I'm installing Rattle Trap sound deadening and an Alpine head unit this spring. I'll keep the Bose Speaker/Amps though. I'm more interested in the Bluetooth/Ipod connections plus I like the HD radio stuff.

 

I'm 6'4,230. These Bose speakers suck *** removing but, especially the doors. Once I get the out that's the ball game