Got photos of your stereo upgrade?

[67HEAVEN]

It's time to replace the factory AM/FM/Cassette in my 1989 K1500.

I don't want to cut the dash or any wiring. Who's done it this way and has photos to show us?

Thanks.

[dmnall]

I will have pictures up in the next couple of days, but you don't have to cut the dash at all, just replace the center dash piece, remove some connectors for the wiring from the stock am/fm unit and cassette/eq unit from the amp, 2 bolts and the amp drops out. 2x clips to remove the bottom of the center dash and it slides out. This is what you need and you can find other colors depending on your truck:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWNX:IT

This is the kit I used and it was not too bad. Hardest part for the entire install was mounting Amps, Replacing rear speakers in the rear pillar on an extended cab, and running the power wire from the battery to the distribution block for a two amp install. Well worth it though as to get some nice audio in the truck.

HTH,
Charlie

[1badgmc]

You can absolutely do a swap without cutting a single wire or piece of the truck so that it can all be completely undone and returned to stock. With the exception of the head unit itself, I got everything for mine from eBay. I paid $23 shipped for the new center vent panel and the pocket above the HVAC and then paid another $11 for the wiring harness that just plugs into the stock wiring.

[dmnall]

1badgmc,
Basically what I did as well except I originally added a hole in the upper corner of my pocket with the idea of keeping my ipod and cable in the pocket only to realize after the install iPod and cable will not fit in the pocket.. Oh well, not a deal breaker but I can always route another cable when I get the one to go from the cd changer on my deck to headphone to add aux in on my 9887 deck.

Charlie

[1badgmc]

I don't have an iPod, but I just let my USB cable hang down below the dash (you can see in the first pic) and then I plugged in my USB stick.

[67HEAVEN]

Thank you both for the information. The shipping on that kit is $30.00 to Canada. $8 more than the $22 price of the kit.

However, I was able to find a more reasonable price on the kit and shipping from another seller.
eBay Item #390285575211 is $18 for the kit and $15 for the shipping.

I'm not sure if I read the ad right. Do you have to make any changes to the wiring harness that comes with the kit or is it really plug and play?

Thanks for the help.

[89chevsj]

it should be plug and play. 1bad-whats that red button below the vent pocket on your truck?

[gikken20]

Originally Posted by 89chevsj

it should be plug and play. 1bad-whats that red button below the vent pocket on your truck?

looks like the light for his security system

[1badgmc]

Originally Posted by gikken20

looks like the light for his security system

Right. The truck used to have an alarm on it.

[Big bad Green]

Nice Alpine Deck, Im buying 3 Alpine type Rs For the Back off My ext cab Mean Green Then Ill be putting My 2 10s in my blue truck.

Right now I got no Radio In green The stock one Does Work but i pulled it. If i were you get a Alpine deck there probably one off the best. Blues Got the stock SLE Radio With tape too. It sucks It ate a Tape A few days ago. Oh well.

[1badgmc]

I'm not a huge audiophile, but I am an Alpine fan. I've only bought Alpine head units. The first one I ever bought way back in '92 is still kicking. I bought my second in '97 to put in my '91. I only recently took it out. It is now in my '94 in place of the 9886 I posted above. The 9886 is now in my Suburban and I have a 9857 in the '91. I also have a 9883 on the shelf in my garage that will probably end up in my dually.

[dmnall]

Here are Before and After Pictures of my 94 when it was stock on 2-04-2011





After with Picture of 12 inch Rear seat Sub Box including the pocket with my iPod Cable hanging out of the pocket lol with Alpine SPS-406 in all 4 corners, Alpine cda-9887, Will get pictures of the Alpine mrp-m350 and Alpine mrp-F200 installed you can also see a couple of cables going around the heater box that is where I mounted the Bluetooth Module for the HU.







Cheers,
Charlie

[67HEAVEN]

Great photos. Nice job.

Thanks.

[jimmydean]

Man I hate those center deck mounts. Back when I did stereos, my brother figured out how to flush mount the deck without too much rework of the dash. You have to pull the center vents, cut a relief in the vent tube, then mount the deck.

It fits, but it's tight. Anything is better than the deck stocking out an inch from the dash, what an awful design that was.

[89chevsj]

Originally Posted by jimmydean

Man I hate those center deck mounts. Back when I did stereos, my brother figured out how to flush mount the deck without too much rework of the dash. You have to pull the center vents, cut a relief in the vent tube, then mount the deck.

It fits, but it's tight. Anything is better than the deck stocking out an inch from the dash, what an awful design that was.

i like it sticking out. granted it does look tacky but having such a long reach while driving isn't all that great either. wish there were aftermarket decks that would fit in the stock radio opening.

[1badgmc]

Originally Posted by 89chevsj

...but having such a long reach while driving isn't all that great either...

That's why you get a head unit with a remote.

[bwkennedy]

Here is what i done with my 1966 C-10's old gas tank.

[jb1016]

Originally Posted by 1badgmc

That's why you get a head unit with a remote.

That's right! My head unit was already in the truck when I got it, and I thought "Why would I ever use this remote when the radio is just right there?" But I use it all the time. Short arms, I guess

Like I said, I didn't put mine in, but here are pics anyhow. I had the ipod adapter added behind/under the glovebox so my ipod stays out of sight.

[jimmydean]

The last one I did I put a crossover in the pocket where the tuner was, then used the volume on the XO to turn it up/down. But the OE location was just a bad idea. Not the worst, though.

Good call on the remote. Even with long arms, the center mount is still a reach for me.

[1badgmc]

Heck, my '91 is a 5-speed. 1st, 3rd and 5th put my hand only inches away from the head unit, but I still never touch the thing with my fingers.

[jb1016]

My biggest gripe with the location is that when I put a large (bucket-size) coke in my cupholder, I have to be careful or it hits the equalizer button on my head unit.

[89chevsj]

i did find somthing that was pretty cool. i know somebody here has heard of it. its called a highliner. it fits perfect and asthetic wise is a good product with a very good perpose. the original speakers are truly junk but with about an hour of pre-install mod time can be a very good upgrade. it frees up the dash space because it has a "pocket" for a radio. just a thought.

[jb1016]

How good are the speakers in those things?

[89chevsj]

the original ones suck both for quality and sound. but a decent set of 4inch rounds of a reputable brand would be much better. i do suggest running an amp to them... but this is definately a more "involved" mod. but in my book well worth it.

[jimmydean]

I thought about doing that in my '69, just gutting it and putting in quality speakers, then cover in cloth.