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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Topic started by: Jeff86inMS on September 11, 2014, 11:47:59 am

Title: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: Jeff86inMS on September 11, 2014, 11:47:59 am
Hello all,
The Radio in my 1986 C-10 custom deluxe has finally bit the dust.  I figure now is a good time to upgrade.  I definitely don't want to cut the dash to fit something in, so I am looking for suggestions on a radio head unit that will fit.  Some options I would like to have though are AM/FM, USB, maybe even something I can hook my Iphone too.  I don't care to have a CD player as I don't think it fits the whole anyway.  I have looked at a radio made by "Pyle" (brand) for around $30, but wonder if you get what you pay for, meaning that sounds cheap.  I'm not interested in paying what Custom Auto Sound wants for a vintage looking radio, but I'm willing to spend up to $100 if needed.  Can anyone make some recommendations on a radio that would fit with those options?  Thanks!

Jeff
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: 87_M15_Army on September 11, 2014, 12:23:21 pm
Pyle is not really a good brand, mine failed on me. You do get what you pay for, garbage. I suggest looking on amazon, they don't have bad prices on anything that I have bought.
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: zieg85 on September 11, 2014, 02:20:10 pm
FWIW, If I was going to look for another I personally would find a Delco ETR top of the line and have the 3 mm plug installed to plug in an I-Pod.  I have a stock AM-FM that works great but with the upgraded tuner and separate tone controls would be a plus.  I prefer the stock look.  This is what I got now.
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: dsgb610 on September 11, 2014, 03:26:26 pm
Thats the same radio I have in mine. The tape player just went out last week. Ive established a decent tape collection. I will opt for the Custom Auto Sound retro looking one. I also like the stock look. Especially since the hacked up dash looks bad imo.
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: ryan.navis on September 11, 2014, 08:25:43 pm
I ordered one from custom autosound few years ago. Fits right in just like old radio did and looks the same but has am fm usb and aux. I have a sub hooked up to it right now with 2 6x9 pioneers and sounds excellent.
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: blazing816 on September 12, 2014, 02:47:51 pm
hey Zeig how did you put that 3.5mm in there. I just got a mint Delco one....and that would be awesome if I could do that.
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: zieg85 on September 12, 2014, 04:05:58 pm
hey Zeig how did you put that 3.5mm in there. I just got a mint Delco one....and that would be awesome if I could do that.

I bought it that way from a vendor on eBay.  I did contact him and he would consider doing that to any GM radio but it has been a couple of years since I talked with him.
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: VileZambonie on September 12, 2014, 05:20:52 pm
Google adding 3.5mm or Bluetooth to car stereo
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: blazing816 on September 15, 2014, 10:01:14 am
Google adding 3.5mm or Bluetooth to car stereo

Yeah I know, I just was asking him, because if he did it I would trust his method over random forums, that's all.
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: frotosride on September 22, 2014, 09:13:30 pm
If I'm not mistake classicaudio.com has modern replicas that will fit and give you all the modern convince that you're looking for. Personally I made a bezel/box to fit a modern pioneer on the tranny tunnel..only because I already had a head unit and would never cut up the dash.
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: roundhouse on September 22, 2014, 09:47:33 pm
I've heard that modem speakers won't work with the stock radio because the stock radio uses a common ground and the modern speakers require a separate ground for each speaker ??
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: zieg85 on September 22, 2014, 10:43:18 pm
I've heard that modem speakers won't work with the stock radio because the stock radio uses a common ground and the modern speakers require a separate ground for each speaker ??

I have non-stock speakers in the back of my extended cab with my stock delco am-fm-cassette
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: frotosride on September 23, 2014, 07:39:25 pm
I've heard that modem speakers won't work with the stock radio because the stock radio uses a common ground and the modern speakers require a separate ground for each speaker ??
Just to be clear you are not talking about group ding them to the chasis are you.I know to many it may sound dumb but you can't blame some who just doesn't know. The factory wires work fine if you regard polarity. If you have a center speaker in the dash the it is usually powered off of one of the other dash speakers and that is the only time the polarity may change for the speakers.other than that there should only be a positive and negative from the radio/head unit to each speaker. If you have any other wires you definitely need to look at a schematic and delete any extras. Honestly the easiest way as far as simple wiering goes, just run new wires to each speaker. That's what I did.used 12ga speaker shielded speaker wire from the head unit to each speaker to eliminate the chance of any old factory wiring issues/grounds or shorts.
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: roundhouse on September 23, 2014, 09:56:22 pm
Guy at stereo shop told me that modern speakers would damage the factory radio because there wasn't enough ground wires

We have modern 3" speakers with crossovers in the dash wih the factory radio and wires and it works fine

Going to add 6" speakers in the kick panels since the PO hacked out holes

And some 6x9s in the back corners

Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: frotosride on September 24, 2014, 04:02:53 pm
The reason most modern speakers won't work with the factory radio is because of impedance. And minimal required nominal watage. You can get them to work but you will have to make sure they are 8ohm.
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: zieg85 on September 24, 2014, 06:41:19 pm
Original factory speakers are 16 ohm I believe.
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: frotosride on September 24, 2014, 08:02:19 pm
They may be and that would make more sense because the factory amp in the radio isn't stable below 4ohms
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: roundhouse on September 25, 2014, 07:49:25 am
Explain please?

How do I tell what ohms my speakers are etc ?
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: frotosride on September 25, 2014, 10:55:38 pm
I guess the easiest way to put this is to think of ohms as a valve the higher the ohms the less flow(more resistance) and like wise the lower the ohms the more flow(less resistance).  How this applies to redios/amplifiers. The amplifier be it a stand alone or one inside a radio/head unit is specifically designed to putout a specific amount of wattage base on the resistance of the speakers you are powering. When you lower the resistance the amplifier will be like heck yes I can push harder...and it will push its self beyond its intended output and burn the reisstors an possible catch fire. Most speakers are labeled on the back of the magnet. If there isn't a label you can simply use a multimeter to check ohms by placing it on the ohms symbol and connecting to +/- terminals. The ohms viewed by the miltimete will Bea little off but know that speakers are typically onlymade in 4,8,16ohms.
 Hope this helps a little
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: 78BIG-TEN on September 26, 2014, 07:25:30 pm
A lot of the older GM speakers were tagged 10 ohms
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: roundhouse on September 26, 2014, 08:37:54 pm
these are the ones in the dash
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: roundhouse on September 26, 2014, 08:38:33 pm
and this
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: frotosride on September 28, 2014, 06:59:45 pm
Well at least you got good quality. Mbquarts has good clarity. These are 4 ohmspeakers with a nominal input of 30-80 watts. They will not sound the greatest with the factory radio mainly due to the low wattage output of the factory radio. If you hook up an amp you will enjoy them a lot more. The crossovers are post amp so they would be wired as close to the speakers as you can.
Title: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: roundhouse on September 29, 2014, 07:11:19 am
Well at least you got good quality. Mbquarts has good clarity. These are 4 ohmspeakers with a nominal input of 30-80 watts. They will not sound the greatest with the factory radio mainly due to the low wattage output of the factory radio. If you hook up an amp you will enjoy them a lot more. The crossovers are post amp so they would be wired as close to the speakers as you can.
We're planning on an amp.  We have a couple laying around

Also have the matching 5" mb quarts with separate tweeters and crossovers for the kick panels
Since they already have holes hacked in them

Get some 6x9s in the cab corners
Maybe a sub under the seat
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: roundhouse on October 04, 2014, 09:52:27 am
When i wire up the amp. Using the stock factory radio Do I need a line output  converter ?
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: frotosride on October 04, 2014, 10:50:15 am
It depends on the amp. Most older amps and especially cheaper ones allow you to wire the speaker outputs to the amp. You can tell your amp has this feature if it has a pig tail connector with the wires protruding from it. Other wise for the best sound quality and least feed back from the electrical system you will need one. Just make sure that you hook up the ground for the auxiliary adapter and don't join it to any other grounds.
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: IdahoMan on October 08, 2014, 04:02:52 pm
How do the new production of radios compare to the OEM radios?

I believe my radio is OEM and I really like it. You can turn the tuning knob and it perfectly and crisply moves to each radio channel. Occasionally it will be
Title: Re: Truck Radio Options? Looking for suggestions!
Post by: frotosride on October 15, 2014, 03:07:50 pm
If all you want is to listen to the radio you may not notice a difference. However the factory radio is designed to only put out specific frequencies designed for the factory speakers when you amplify it you will surely notice a lot of feedback but it's true my up to how good sound quality you want