Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

Hey guys,

I picked up a Monsoon Stereo off Ebay from a 2002 Camaro for my 84 Bird. Yes, it's a Camaro one but I like the look better than the ones out of the 4th Gen Firebirds.

I've been reading the boards and trying to find information on how to install this thing. It seems pretty strait forward but there is a question of the speakers. Apparently the Monsoon system is different somehow but the posts weren't very clear.

From you guys with Experience...I'm running 2-pioneer 4-way 6x9's in the back and 2-pioneer 4-1/2" in the front. I had to replace my stock speakers when one blew...anyway... Will the Monsoon stereo hook up and run just fine without adding anything to it or is there something else I need to do? I read mention of amps for each speaker or some such nonsense. Thanks in advance for any help and advice!

PackmuleTA

Ok if your car has the orignal wire harness you will need

METRA 70-1677-1- adapter for the 84 wire harness (12 pin)
METRA 71-1858-adapter to fit the 2002 stereo (21 pin)
METRA 40-GM20- antenna adapter

it will connect just fine,speaker wise. will take some cutting to get it in but worth it, I'm in process of putting a regular 2002 stereo in. Same process just different stereo

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

Where can I pick up those adapters? Will any audio store work?

PackmuleTA

I got mine from www.installer.com. Good place, or any good audio place should be able to order them

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

Ok, I'm running an aftermarket Pioneer Stereo as well. Previous owner put it in. It's the reason that I picked up the Pioneer Speakers. Can I expect the original harness still attached or will it be hacked up? (I've never actually swapped a stereo before though I have wiring experience).

PackmuleTA

hopefully whoever put it in before used a harness and not chopped everything, If they used a harness, then you won't need the 12 pin adapterbut never know some previous owners are idiots. I tested mine today and everything works so far haven't got my subs in yet. For the speakers, more than likely cut the stock connector off at the speakers and put the pioneers on.

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

Cool. I hope mine gets here before the weekend. I'm going to order the 12 pin plug for my car just incase they did hack it and the 12-21 pin connector for the new stereo so it's done "Right". Also, like you suggested, I'm getting the power antenna adapter.

For the power antenna adapter, will my current antenna plug....plug into the adapter? Or do i need to splice them together?

PackmuleTA

its not a power antenna adapter, its an antenna adapter because the factory stereo uses a smaller wire so you need an adapter to make it fit in the stereo. Dont know what for but there is no way to get a stock antenna wire into one of those stereos

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

Hmm...ok. I'll probably know what you're talking about when I see it. Hopefully I'll have both the Stereo and the wire and antenna adapters by tomorrow. If not, it'll probably be a project for next week.

PackmuleTA

once you get everything it will be easy. No doubts my 5 yr old could almost do it. I had a sony and my new factory radio sounds 100x better. Dont really understand but it is. Looks better and sounds better I would recommend this to anybody.

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

Well, I finally got my pigtail harness in from the website you mentioned and went about installing the stereo this past weekened. It worked great, except the damn stereo face is LARGER than the opening in my cover panel! GRRRR.....

Did anyone else have this problem?

ScrapMaker

If you have an aftermarket deck already, you will probably be disappointed with the delco deck...

P.S. there is no such thing as a monsoon headunit... it's just a regular old stereo, not much better than the ones that came in thirdgens

archemedes

there is a reason most 4th gen guys scrap the monsoon, the base system sounds better

BLACK92B4C

I thought the Monsoon has a seperate amp? Yours is working fine? I have an extra on sitting around I may try to put in my 1991...

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

Well, this one says "monsoon" on it. The car it came off of had the Monsoon system in it. As for better...I had a Pioneer that I really liked...except that the Face stopped opening so I can't use the CD player anymore. I've had it warranty replaced twice already for the same thing. So to hell with it. As for sound...this one sounds just fine to me. Then again I've never been much of a stereo conosour (Ok, so I probably spelled that word wrong...).
----------
I hooked it up last night and it works fine! All the speakers have sound and no problems so far.

ScrapMaker

It's going to work just fine, because the Monsoon system has nothing to do with the headunit. The amplifier is in the back of the car, next to the alarm and spare tire. It takes the speaker-level outputs from the headunit, amplifies them, and sends them out separately to all the components. Some go through cross-overs internally, and some are done with basic crossover systems near the component speakers. -- The tweaters in our cars are powered directly from the headunit.

I'm glad you are happy with your stereo, but the "Monsoon" label means nothing. Yay for marketing!

Out of curiosity, what Pioneer deck did you have? I am about to send my DEH-P9800BT back for the second time for the unit intermittently not opening, and the contacts on the faceplate cause the screen/controls to die sometimes, and I have to turn my car off and on to get any control back... Annoying... Maybe they will send me a new one, since I have the Premiere model.

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

I have a DEH-P80MP Pioneer stereo from 2005. I paid over $300.00 for the head unit back then and then like an additional $300.00 for my 4 speakers all from Best Buy. To their credit, Best Buy honored their warranty to replace the unit but my warranty ran out. So because of the problems with the face plate not opening I will never again buy a stereo that requires a moveable faceplate to access the CD player.

ScrapMaker

I thought you said "Bose" the first time I read this.

um--say what?


Stock 4thgen headunit is to car audio, just as flaming pile of dog crap is to doorstep.

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

That may be true, but for those of us that don't have $300 or more to throw at a decent head unit it works pretty good. I'm simply happy because I now have a stereo that I can play CD's in again. Someday I'll have money to throw at a stereo...after the motor, suspension, interior, new paint. LOL...

ScrapMaker

Yeah, for the stock-appearance, it's fine, but $50 radio from Wal-Mart will have more features and sound much better.

PackmuleTA

IMO the 4th gen stereo sounds and looks alot better than the higher range Sony CDXFW 700 that I had in it. Including the stock speakers, I cant wait to get my Pioneers hooked up and see how it sounds. I know sony stuff is crap but still should sound better the stock chevy stuff.