installing cd receiver
 

A friend is giving me his old head unit replace the factory one in my '87. So I went to crutchfield to get a mounting kit, but they also list wiring harnesses, antenna adapters and auxiliary input adapters. What do I need?

Get everything. You're definitely going to need the wiring harness. Before you install, make sure you go get a small box of butt connectors. I think i ended up using about 10 or so. I messed up on one or two. Or if you want, spend the time to solder the new harness to the old wires. I'm not an audiophile so as long as i'm not listening to the same tired songs on the radio or that bangin stock cassette deck, i'm happy. You're going to need mounting kit. That gives you the mounting box and plastic trim. The mounting kit comes with a couple variations so you'll get a mini-cubbie-hole type storge box or you can pop that out a just put a flat piece so there's no storage. I don't remember an antennae adapter. For me, to operate the radio, which means the antennae has to go up, i needed to connect the orange wire and ground. My antennae internals are broke so i just left it disconnected so it doesn't try to move it. I got a MP3 receiver so 1 CD holds more music than my drive to work/home or out. Aux inputs are your call if you plan on expanding your system or you want the sub or the amp or the whatever.

There is a problem though. If you just got a receiver, you might not have enough power for the stock speakers... i'm going to guess that you still have stock speakers since you didn't mention anything about them. If you do, you won't hear anything until you jack up the power output or replace all the speakers. The rear speakers have amps built into the bottom of them and the both front speakers are powered by an amp under the glovebox.

Hope that helps.

A couple things--

First off, last I knew, Crutchfield provided the mounting kit and all necessary wiring harnesses free when you bought a head unit from them. I know you said you were putting in an older one from a friend, but you may want to think about getting a newer one instead. Remember--your friend is getting rid of it for a reason. If he got something newer, then maybe you should too if you can afford to.

Second, the speakers WILL work with a new stereo, but you need to do some wiring. When I first got my FC I got a new head unit for it too. And all I did for the time was to get rid fo the amps and wire directly from the speaker itself to the wires. the wires are already run throughout the car--just cut off the plug that goes to the amplifier and connect the wires to the speaker, and you are done. It will play, but keep in mind that it will not sound great--those are only 4" speakers all around, and they frankly suck. But if you cannot afford new ones right now, it will do until you can.

As for the antenna, I have heard of some people having a problem with a new stereo. For some reason, some have had the antenna stay down. If you wire the stereo correctly though, this should not be a problem. My antenna is also broken--somethign else on the long list of projects!!

But the kit is somethign that you may be able to find locally for a comparable price. Usually, I find Crutchfield's prices to be the best, but when you add in shipping, you may just be better off getting it locally. That way, you also don't have to wait for it to arrive.

I would definitely get the main wiring harness, one for the antenna depending on the stereo you are putting in, and a mounting kit for the dash. Aux inputs are only for accessories like adding an amplifier, so if you are not doing that, you do not need them.

When my rear antenna broke, I just removed it.
The windshield antenna alone works just fine.

When i got all my stuff, i went to crutchfield and they had a "build your own system" deal. Not sure if they have it now or not. They figure it out based on your shopping cart. So if you have a headunit and 4 car speakers, that's pretty much a brand new car system so, a discount is applied for each piece and they show you the "total $ you have saved". it's not bad really. i suppose a $20 headunit from a friend is a better deal. i wanted mp3 capabilities so that why i opted out of my friend's offers.

I think i ended up getting 4" up front and 5.5" in the back i believe you can go as high as 5.5" up front and 6" in the back.



SureShot: window antenna?

some windshields have an antenna in them. it's two black lines that run down the middle.

it only seemed to work for me if the head unit was mounted at some exact angle.

i heard that that antenna in the windshield was only for a.m. radio... ???

i guess what you could do if you had some money and time was to yank an in-glass antennae from a modern car and figure out how to apply that to the FC... shave or fill in the stock antenna ...

damn should have remembered about the window antenna. haha. oh well. i don't listen to the radio anyway.

thanks. looking forward to not having to use a paper clip to switch the band and frequency, esp. since it resets everytime (another thread notes it as switched ground & power cables). those factory buttons just fall right out.

don't have the rear wiper. wonder what can be done with its button.

The mounting kit I got used the stock cassette holder things (metal brackets) to hold them up. Ill take pics in a day or two, it looks almost stock mounted :O.