car audio help

My 1997 silverado stock radio goes in and out, the CD player part (seperate from the radio face) is also not working.

I want an aftermarket one. I am comfortable taking off the dash front and pulling out the radio.

Just wanted to get a good deal on a unit with all the stuff I need (cd player, wiring harness, antenna adapter and whatever dash fittings to make it look right).

got any suggestions? I was searching online and found crutchfield.com and for $100 shipped I could get a kenwood which I would be happy with with all the necessary gear. But I am cheap and all i want is something that will work and play my CDs, this is my spare vehicle/hunting rig/airport truck, so I don't worry about it too much.
thanks!

You are cheap...Jk man I just put a $80 sony deck in my F150 with remote. Has good sound. you will be able to use the stock ant but the harness is what sucks but I say $100 plus tax and you should be golden at BB. If you want some help hit me up I have done a few in my time. Or you can say screw it and pay the kid (not bb) in the in the bay to install it and get it done that same day for maybe $150 (I have done that also).

You can get the wiring harness adapter from any auto parts store. You'll need to either crimp or solder the wires from the adapter to the stereo harness. You'll likely need an antenna adapter as well, since the antenna plug will not match the one on the new stereo. And finally you will need an adapter to hold the stereo in place in your car's dashboard.

As for the deck you want, $100 shipped is a good deal. You wont find many reliable aftermarket am/fm/cd decks for less than that.

If you want help assembling any of this, let me know. I've done tons of em.

If all you want is something simple than it sounds like you've found what you need. Just do me a favor and buy the wiring harness that will plug into your vehicle. It will make installation much faster, and won't royally piss off anyone who ever tries to replace the radio again. I can't belive how many vehicles I have seen where the owners cut the factory harness to put in an aftermarket radio. Makes you want to stab someone in the face.

Crutchfield is usually pretty good. They always offer free stuff like the wiring harness, or the dash kit. I have bought from them many many times.

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Originally Posted by Ridge

You can get the wiring harness adapter from any auto parts store. You'll need to either crimp or solder the wires from the adapter to the stereo harness. You'll likely need an antenna adapter as well, since the antenna plug will not match the one on the new stereo. And finally you will need an adapter to hold the stereo in place in your car's dashboard.

As for the deck you want, $100 shipped is a good deal. You wont find many reliable aftermarket am/fm/cd decks for less than that.

If you want help assembling any of this, let me know. I've done tons of em.

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it comes with all those parts for $100 shipped. no tax!
sounds like that is the best deal.

and it is detachable face with remote. which I will want when I leave it in a lot.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113KDC2...U.html?tp=5684

this is the one I found.

Lmk if you want me to swing on by and show ya how it's done mane! [Tooth]
Its been a while but I probably saw 5-10 chebbies a week for head unit when I was doing them, should be quick.

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Originally Posted by Graves

Lmk if you want me to swing on by and show ya how it's done mane! [Tooth]
Its been a while but I probably saw 5-10 chebbies a week for head unit when I was doing them, should be quick.

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Ill probably take you up on that. Ill order tomorrow or Monday then be gone ell hunting so maybe next week

I could do that install Inless than 30min if you need a hand. Those are the only kind of trucks I've had. Plus I'm Mexican lol.

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Originally Posted by glock21

I could do that install Inless than 30min if you need a hand. Those are the only kind of trucks I've had. Plus I'm Mexican lol.

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Well that lets us know that you're good at getting them OUT quickly [ROFL2]

Just kidding, mate ;)

Haha. And getting them started without the need for keys Haha.

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Originally Posted by glock21

I could do that install Inless than 30min if you need a hand. Those are the only kind of trucks I've had. Plus I'm Mexican lol.

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Think you'd be able to help me install my CB radio some time? It'd have to be a little custom I think since it is so narrow, but only a little.

I can do that for ya Irving.
I mean if you're gonna have someone install a CB, may as well have a redneck do it [ROFL1]

I figured I'd have lots of resources available when the time comes. I'll make a thread when I'm ready. In the mean time, I don't want to derail this thread so Sniper doesn't have to suffer his crappy radio any longer than he has to.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Irving

I figured I'd have lots of resources available when the time comes. I'll make a thread when I'm ready. In the mean time, I don't want to derail this thread so Sniper doesn't have to suffer his crappy radio any longer than he has to.

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I've waited waaaay too long. I've had the truck almost a year. It is just finally really starting to piss me off instead of just be annoying. If you were driving near me you would think I was nuts sometimes...tapping on the dash...then hiring the dash
..then beating the hell out of it!

okay I am thinking this one now:

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_105KDHD...-KD-HDR40.html

it has HD radio as well as all the required install gear.

I have never listened to HD radio. anyone have any input on it?

There was also another cd player that was $120 with bluetooth for hands free calling...although I have that in my new truck and don't use it now, so not really sure if it is worth it.

Thats chraper than Walmart, that's where I get my stereo's from. I might have to go that route also.

I used to manage retail store warehouses for Ultimate/Soundtrack years ago. I would recommend still going with the Kenwood. It is an entry level unit but I feel that Kenwood makes a more reliable product than JVC. Think about it. You get more extras for the same price. Something has got be be cheaper on the inside. I have a similar Kenwood unit in my car now. Had my 5 year old Alpine deck stolen last year. Audio quality is nowhere near the Alpine but its acceptable. All in all I have seen bad units come back from every brand but in my opinion the Kenwood is better quality. I would offer to help install also but don't think we can fit 6 people in your cab. [Tooth]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mazin

You are cheap...Jk man I just put a $80 sony deck in my F150 with remote. Has good sound. you will be able to use the stock ant but the harness is what sucks but I say $100 plus tax and you should be golden at BB. If you want some help hit me up I have done a few in my time. Or you can say screw it and pay the kid (not bb) in the in the bay to install it and get it done that same day for maybe $150 (I have done that also).

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Id do this. We got a bunch of decks for under 100 in Best Buy.

okay I got the radio in and I screwed up. cut my antenna wire. I didn't know it could be pulled out so I cut it....

I tried to reattach the male connector, and the fm works decent but has static still because i my screw up.

anyone know if I can make it work, or if I just need to get a new antenna wire. if so, what do you recommend I do.

got everything else installed and it looks really good, need to tighten it up a little bit, but the CD player actually works!


also, in my 1997 silverado, the CD player was separate down on the bottom and I pulled it out, but there is a void there. any idea if there is a piece I can install in there for a storage compartment?

It's just a coaxial cable, it can be spliced. Told ya to call me foolio. [LOL]

It's been a while but I remember a lot of mfgs wouldn't run just a direct line from the antenna. Instead they'd just run an extention that'd run behind the glove box or a kick panel. Trace the cable and you might find that you can just replace that section. Otherwise give me a call or txt and I'll walk ya through it.

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Originally Posted by Graves

It's just a coaxial cable, it can be spliced. Told ya to call me foolio. [LOL]

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come on over!

I'll call you

Its been a couple of years. I could be wrong but sometimes (GM only i think) you need to get an adapter for the FM antenna hook up. I believe they are two different sized jacks. You should be able to purchase a replacement jack for the one you cut and should install easily. Then get the adapter if needed for your model. As far as the hole in the dash, you should have purchased a 'dash kit' that should cover any openings in your dash resulting in uninstalling the factory deck. I do beleive that some of these kits require a pocket sometimes to extend the size of the kit. Check out metraonline.com. They make all the install kits and stuff.

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Originally Posted by onedeadpirate

Its been a couple of years. I could be wrong but sometimes (GM only i think) you need to get an adapter for the FM antenna hook up. I believe they are two different sized jacks. You should be able to purchase a replacement jack for the one you cut and should install easily. Then get the adapter if needed for your model. As far as the hole in the dash, you should have purchased a 'dash kit' that should cover any openings in your dash resulting in uninstalling the factory deck. I do beleive that some of these kits require a pocket sometimes to extend the size of the kit. Check out metraonline.com. They make all the install kits and stuff.

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I have the adapter that goes from the stock antenna wire, to the adapter, to the back of the radio, but it requires the male end that I cut off of the antenna wire. I tried to reattach the antenna wire to the male end, but now I am just getting half static half signal, so I f'd it up.

As for the CD player, the radio and cd player are completely separate units in a 97 silverado. the radio is up top, and the cd player is down on the bottom.
looks like this:
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...2eZgEBvusEmRTI

Most of the stuff you need can be found on ebay for CHEAP prices

Oh I see now. Yeah those kinda suck. I am sure they make a piece that will cover that hole. Find the part number on metraonline.com then ebay it or something. U should be able to put in your make/model and it should show you the parts needed. I would look into myself but the past few days have been busy, busy.

got it all taken care of yesterday with the help of Graves! Fm works perfect and we didn't have to do anything more than splice and solder. glad he came and helped me or I would still be trying to run that damn antenna wire! thing goes through some crazy twists and turns behind the glovebox to make it outside.

Thanks Graves![Beer]

Awesome. Good to hear.