adding MP3/Acc hookup to factory radio

[Low87]

What success has anyone had in adding a hookup for an MP3 player to your factory radio?  I've seen a few methods, mostly one that inserts into the tape deck or one that transmits a radio signal.  Is there a way to wire in to the system?  Just looking for something cheap for the time being.

[zieg85]

I bought one like this below.  Try to contact the guy and see if he would do this for a reasonable price???

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1978-87-Chevy-Camaro-Trans-Am-Truck-GM-Delco-FM-Radio-/300590995022?pt=Car_Audio_Video&hash=item45fc9e964e

[beastie_3]

Those would be the two cheap options. You can buy a factory radio that has had the internals re done to include capabilities to accept a mp3 player via cable.

[Low87]

Thanks for the feedback.  I'd seen you post about the ebay guy when I searched zieg, looks like a great option.  More than I want to spend right now, but that's what I'll get in the future.

Any thoughts on what would sound better, the transmitter or the tape deck?

[beastie_3]

Ive never had problems with a transmitter, but it might work better on a digital head unit, not a turn dial version.

[zieg85]

Thanks for the feedback.  I'd seen you post about the ebay guy when I searched zieg, looks like a great option.  More than I want to spend right now, but that's what I'll get in the future.

Any thoughts on what would sound better, the transmitter or the tape deck?

I bought mine for $136 to my door, seen them go cheaper.  I really am wanting a AM 8track stereo just to be different and the guy I bought it from said he would go through it, clean it up and put a MP3 jack in it for around $100 labor if I sent it to him, but that was going on 2 years ago.

[jaredts]

I've had a couple of the transmitters, and helped a friend install a cd changer (Sony) that came with one.  In my opinion they are a pain and the sound quality isn't great.  The cassette adapter isn't too bad, but the quality is questionable as well (that's what I'm using in my truck for now).  Why not just leave your factory stereo alone and buy a cheap amp and plug your mp3 into it?

[Low87]

Why not just leave your factory stereo alone and buy a cheap amp and plug your mp3 into it?

Because I had no idea I could do that.  How would that work?

[heavychevy91]

I have been using a cassette adapter in my 1998 chevy lumina with the factory radio for the last 4 years and have pretty good sound quality, i like them better then the transmitters because the sound is consistent and there is no searching for "blank" radio stations. I also live in an area that has some radio interference (overhead powerlines) so it seemed to work better for me. i bought mine form target for about $15 bucks its a monster brand and has help up pretty well. just my 2 cents.

[jaredts]

Why not just leave your factory stereo alone and buy a cheap amp and plug your mp3 into it?

Because I had no idea I could do that.  How would that work?

Buy the headphone jack to rca adapter and wire up the amp to pos/neg. and to your speakers.  If you wanted you could run the existing stereo into the amp inputs as well with a switch for inputs.  You could build a custom console with amp and speakers and plug your mp3 into that if you wanted.  That would leave the existing system untouched and the console would only have pos./neg. as external wires.  It depends on how much you want to spend and what kind of sound you want.  If you're wanting to spend like $10 I'd go for cassette adapter.  I'll be making similar decisions at some point, but will probably just cut the dash and install a receiver.  I don't want to fiddle with an mp3 player driving down the road as a long term solution.

[paniolo]

This give me a vision of modifying my radio like the one linked on ebay above.  Splicing a mini headphone plug into the stock cassette wiring on the inside should be doable.  Vision of a small phone mount on dash with a cable to the oem radio and having a blue tooth headset enabling auto muting of radio with incoming/outgoing phone calls.  Very elegant hands free and MP3 while keeping the stock dash solution.  Its down the list a bit but if I get it done will post up a project on it.

[Ferrari]

I know it's bringing back a dead topic, but I just bought one of these for my 81 Silverado.  Looks great in the dash
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-Autosound-USA-630-1969-69-Chevrolet-Chevy-Pickup-Truck-Stereo-Radio-USB-/320771699084?pt=Car_Audio_In_Dash_Receivers&vxp=mtr&hash=item4aaf7bb18c

[Captkaos]

We sell Retrosound radios for these trucks..

http://store.73-87chevytrucks.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=7&Category_Code=RADIO