Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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. ;)

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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.

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...C/IMG_5342.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...C/IMG_5343.jpg

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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.

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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. :lol:

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.

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

looks like the light for his security system

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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.

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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.

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...2-04171609.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...2-04171600.jpg

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.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...2-08133117.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...2-08133151.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...2-08133518.jpg

Cheers,
Charlie

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

Great photos. Nice job.

Thanks.

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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.

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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.

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

Here is what i done with my 1966 C-10's old gas tank. https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&i...disp=inline&zw

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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:lol:

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.

Attachment 696473

Attachment 696474

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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.

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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. :lol:

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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.

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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.

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

How good are the speakers in those things?

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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.

Re: Got photos of your stereo upgrade?
 

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