Delco/Bose interface
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 325
Likes: 36
From: Colorado Springs Colorado
Delco/Bose interface
On a 1984 Vette with Delco/Bose system, do you need any interface cable or anything if you just replace the head unit? I had installed a Pioneer cd receiver on my 84 many years ago and it was working, sold the car and just got it back and the unit was making a lot of noise and worked only on occasion, then stopped working. Today I tried the Delco again and it worked for a few moments then nothing, I found evidence of maybe coffee or soda on the Pioneer, I wonder if liquid could have damaged anything. By the way there are only three plugs from the car harness that go into the radio and another one that maybe illumination also. The Pioneer has a harness that plugs into those four plugs, that is why I think that no interface is needed for this car but I am not 100% sure of that. Crutchfield says that they don't have anything for this car, I was wondering about the Bose relay in the car if it is damaged. On my 98 C-5 I installed a Pioneer unit and needed an interface to keep the Bose speakers, well that was kind of a long write up. If anybody can help I will appreciate it.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
I thought people said it is either all or nothing? Keep it all Bose or redo? IIRC, there was some sort of harness that was rumored to work? IDK.
I'd test the Pioneer unit on a known good car and see what it does first. I don't know if you blew something up with the system by jacking it into the non standard speakers.
I'd test the Pioneer unit on a known good car and see what it does first. I don't know if you blew something up with the system by jacking it into the non standard speakers.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,384
Likes: 124
From: Reno/Sparks Nevada
Someone may have modified the Bose interface by cutting out the little black adapter box or bought an adapter for a non-Bose car. I think they do make adapters for non Bose cars and they are the same connectors that plug into the Bose just wired a little differently So they might be using an adapter to connect the aftermarket radio to the factory connectors. It may be the amps in the doors and back are also bypassed or removed and by plugging in the Bose radio it won't power speakers that may not have Bose amps connected to them. Opening up the rear speakers is much easier to see if the Bose amps are still there. If the doors and the rear cargo speakers are aftermarket then I don't think the Bose radio will work.
Art
Art
Last edited by MrRenoman; Nov 13, 2015 at 09:12 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 325
Likes: 36
From: Colorado Springs Colorado
Thank you for all the response, decided to replace the Bose speakers after all, already took them off and received Polk 6.5 inch speakers with adapters and use the Pioneer receiver already on the car.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 325
Likes: 36
From: Colorado Springs Colorado
I bought the adapters from www.car- speaker- adapters.com. The front ones mount exactly where the original enclosures used to be and the rear ones also mount perfectly, they were between 35 to 40 dollars, maybe less.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,228
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From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,475
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From: Hartford WI
Pro
Joined: Dec 2014
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All of them? I thought some had 6 speakers, 2 in the dash, 2 in the doors and 2 in back?
Both of my C4s were originally Delco non-Bose though and most of the others I've seen the Bose systems had already been swapped out for something aftermarket or were taken apart at the time to rebuild the amps.
Both of my C4s were originally Delco non-Bose though and most of the others I've seen the Bose systems had already been swapped out for something aftermarket or were taken apart at the time to rebuild the amps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,228
Likes: 698
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
All of them? I thought some had 6 speakers, 2 in the dash, 2 in the doors and 2 in back?
Both of my C4s were originally Delco non-Bose though and most of the others I've seen the Bose systems had already been swapped out for something aftermarket or were taken apart at the time to rebuild the amps.
Both of my C4s were originally Delco non-Bose though and most of the others I've seen the Bose systems had already been swapped out for something aftermarket or were taken apart at the time to rebuild the amps.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 530
Likes: 10
Did they have a fake plastic insert that looked like a speaker? I coulda sworn the guy I bought a 1985 dash pad for my 1984 from had speakers in his dash and it was a Bose car with the Bose speakers in the door and rear. He had those out and was selling them. I couldn't use his door panels because they were cut for the Bose speakers and I didn't want to run 6 speakers off the Kenwood I put in my 1984.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 530
Likes: 10
Some head units have 6 powered outs, but not many.
The Kenwood I put in my C4 has 4 powered outs and a set of line outs. One possible configuration would be to put 4x6 2-way speakers in the dash, 6.5" 3-way speakers in the doors and power both of those pairs of speakers from the four powered outs... Then you could use the 2 line outs into some kind of stereo amp and run that to a set of 6x9 3-ways in the rear.
A setup like that should get you very full sound and more than enough volume.
The Kenwood I put in my C4 has 4 powered outs and a set of line outs. One possible configuration would be to put 4x6 2-way speakers in the dash, 6.5" 3-way speakers in the doors and power both of those pairs of speakers from the four powered outs... Then you could use the 2 line outs into some kind of stereo amp and run that to a set of 6x9 3-ways in the rear.
A setup like that should get you very full sound and more than enough volume.
