'87 IROC VERT

iTrader: (4)

Am I the only one that likes the better of the OEM/factory systems?

To avoid the 'Besy Buy' look of a silver Sony or other single DIN cd player crudely stuffed into my double DIN radio area with a cheap plastic adapter, I opted for the stock stereo.

But, who has tapes anymore? And most of the tape players don't work anyway, seeing as they are now pushing 20 years old in some cars. So, I searched for the Delco/Bose am/fm/cd player that was an option in some cars. I found a guy on Bay that sells them with new faceplates, and with an updated laser eye that will read/play newer MP3 CD's. I was thrilled.

However, I didn't have a Bose car! So, I called the seller, George of Sipple Electronics (I can find his contact info if anyone is interested) and he took the Bose radio, and swapped out the Bose part of the internals with a standard amp and gave me a small antenna adapter and a custom made harness adapter so i wouldn't need to cut any wires at all.

So, when the radio arrived, I simply plugged it in, put it in and it fired right up. It sounds great, looks perfect (it was, after all, an option) and maintains that 'stock' appearance that I like so much about my car. I did install XM Radio in my car, but it has a built in FM modulator, so I mounted the receiver near the ECM under the dash, and simply ran the wired remote control/display combo out by the instrument cluster using Velco to mount it, so if I ever went to a car show or something I could hide it. Also, this way it is not permanantly installed with any screw holes, etc.

Okay, the downside - I did pay almost $400 with shipping for this radio. But it sounds great, it's loud enough to hear on the freeway with the t-tops off and my Flowmaster exhaust competing for my attention, and is easy to use.

I'm sure this isn't going to get rave reviews from the base-pumping guys with the subwoofer boxes and mega amps. But I have a 4 year old I drive and pick up from pre-school every day while listening to 80's music on CD's that I've burned. Taking off the t-tops is about as wild as I get these days!

I really like keeping the parts of the car that people see as factory as possible. Wheels, body, interior, etc. My favorite cars are the ones as look really nice and are nearly 100% stock.

If anyone cares to see how nice this Delco/Bose system looks, let me know, I'll email a photo.

NEEDAZ

Something vary fishy here. There is NO graded optical pickup. The optical pickup has NOTHING to do with wether or not it will play MP3s. MP3 is a compression format, you need a way to decode it. It's a hardware/firmware thing, NOT the optical pickup.

'87 IROC VERT

iTrader: (4)

Hmmm. I don't know what to say. What you say does sound right, however I am playing MP3 CD's that I burned myself. Even my 2000 Mercedes S500 sedan wouldn't play those CD's.

Is it possible there is another explanation?

vernw

iTrader: (2)

I too like the looks of the factory stuff. Which is why I bought a Monsoon AM/FM/CD off eBay for $100 and installed it un my 91 Formula. Just hooked up the factory tape player radio connector and it works fine thru the 4 factory speakers. Love it!

NEEDAZ

Maybe a radio from a newer GM, that dose play MP3s. I think my sister 2003 Olds plays MP3s? Can you post a pic for the radio?

ScrapMaker

maybe he means that he is burning mp3's... but his burner software is converting it to a regular audio cd... people always this confused...

mp3's mean that your disc has about 150 tracks on it...

I think it would be really cool to find a double din or whatever the stock radio size is, and have it actually fit, and have kick *** features..

88IROCDT

iTrader: (1)

I would like the contact information for George at Sipple electronics.

'87 IROC VERT

iTrader: (4)

Here is the contact info for the guy on eBAY I bought my radio from:

George Sipple
Sipple Electronics
8:30 am - 5:30 pm
(877)404-4516

They take credit cards over the phone.

Whoever said I was not playing MP3's was right - I did indeed burn CD's using NERO and they are maybe 15-20 songs each, as opposed to the 150 or so that an MP3 CD would yield. I am 99% sure that the ad for the radio said it had an updated read head for playing MP3 CD's, but maybe the guy meant it can play burned CD's. Some older cars cannot, but this player can just fine.

Tell George that Robert Carlson referred you, told him I would send him referrals if he made me happy with the deal, and he did.

p.s. make sure you tell him if your car is Bose or not - if it's not, he can still make the Bose unit work in a non-Bose car. Something to do with swapping an amp and also a wiring adapter. No wire cutting needed.

Saigon_Bob

iTrader: (2)

cool .. although i think you coulda done a lil better for $400 if it looks like the stereo that came oem in the car i think thats pretty cool. esp. if you think about the fact that they done make our cars any more and they will be classics in no time

88IROCDT

iTrader: (1)

Thank you for the info on George, when I call him I will tell him that you referred me.

'87 IROC VERT

iTrader: (4)

Yeah, I could have done better for $400 for sure - maybe an Alpine or something with XM Radio instead. But, I wanted the 100% factory look, and it is the correct GM Delco Bose unit that was available for the IROC/Trans Am that year, it looks correct and is cosmetically perfect. So, I got exactly what I wanted.

Probably my biggest challenge has been to reassure myself that spending tons of money fixing and replacing parts the 'correct' way is not a complete waste of money. New OEM center console - $350. New OEM headlight motor (not rebuilt) $250 installed. You get the idea. But now I have a nearly perfect car that might not be worth money, but is at least a clean example of a 1987 Trans Am. I suppose it might even be cheaper to buy a low mileage garage queen, there are a few around. But I suppose it's a labor of love, and it is, after all, my car

A side note: there were some less expensive units out there, but this guy was willing to make the Bose system work in my non-Bose car, and he was very knowledgeable. So, it seemed better to pay a bit more for a perfect unit from a reputable seller than to get a junkyard radio. Not that I have a problem with junkyard parts - sometimes that's the best deal. But for a radio like this, I wanted to know I had somewhere to turn if it didn't work.

88IROCDT

iTrader: (1)

I just bought a 1988 IROC convertible with 38,000 original miles about a month ago.
Feel the same way you do, want to make some improvements but want to keep her as stock as possible.
I found George Sipple's store on Ebay, I will let him know he came highly recommended by you when I order.

Derek The Great

When the F bomb was handed down to me it was pretty close to exelent condition, so i dont wanna butcher ne wires n so decided to go with the stock look as well. the original unit was tape player option with treb n bass controls. that had to go bc bass was either 100 or 0% for sumreason n only played the left channel with tapes. I like the stock look bc everythin is easy to get at n adjust, no funny ***** or crap n BEST OF ALL, buttons r same color as interior lights n i like that orange. So with money in the wallet n tools at my side i set out to scavenge junk yards to look for that Cd player radio, woulda been sweet bc i prob coulda used factory harness, but i nver found one. My only other option for better sound is to go aftermarket, n Alpine makes a radio that fits the discription better than the other stuff ive seen n has power to boot, 26 Watts RMS per channel. The Stereo Model is CDA-9835. only kicker is that is 550 bucks, but if i cant find that Factory cd player that is my only other option