GtoRockz

Could someone tell me what newer factory Pontiac CD head will bolt and plug right into my old cassette spot as a plug and play with no modifications?

I have searched and read about it but am still unsure what exact factory CD radio to order. They sell them here http://www.hifisoundconnection.com pretty reasonable.

Want to keep the red display factory look and be able to play cd's.

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

3rd gens are a 1.5 DIN size & the 4th gens are Double DIN (2 DIN) sized.

The dash can be modified to fit one, but requires some cutting to both the top & bottom of the stereo opening.


But I hafta ask you about something......What are those 3 small molded holes in your dash pic, just under where the gauges are? I have never seen any holes like those.

84redta

iTrader: (34)

The three molded holes in the dash are for dummy lights. It's a base model dash setup with just a speedo and gas gauge with a load of dummy lights.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...20sale/187.jpg

As far as a 4th gen radio, You will not be able to plug and play because the plug for the back and the antenna changed in 1989, buuuut, you can get the harness from the 4th gen car, and do like me. Go to walmart, spend the $8 and make an adapter from their selection of harnesses to make the newer radio plug and play. Next you'll have to go on ebay and order an antenna adapter. This will be a standard radio adapter available for 89+ cars that adapts it to an "aftermarket" style, which is infact one of the original designs used by many manufacturers. I've done this myself, but been fortunate in finding all the parts in the junk yards i scour and have done it all for free (minus the $8 adapter from WM). As far as the radio, i believe i needed to trim one of the side brackets slightly but mine fell right in and bolted up.

5.0ta

iTrader: (1)

Direct fit Yes!...I fitted a GM Monsoon head unit from a wrecked '00 T/A into my '86 T/A...( after purchaseing an adapter plug for the wireing harness ) the metal mounts on the head unit needed only a little grinding to fit...after the mods, the bracket mounting holes lined up perfectly with the mounting holes in the car's radio housing and it fit like a glove!!!!!!!!!!!...I love GM engineering!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also...any late '90's early '00's Pontiac CD unit should work... again...you'll only need an adapter for the wireing harness. I have a '99 Grand Prix CD head in my '95 Grand Am.

*84redta...thanx for mentioning the antenne...I forgot about that!

GtoRockz

Thanks for the info guys.. it sounds do-able just not as easy as i had heard it was.

84redta is correct about my dash, i actually love the look and helped me make a decision on buying the car although it would be very nice if they were working gauges

GtoRockz

That Monsoon is what I should look for then. Do you by any chance know the part number for the required harness?

5.0ta

iTrader: (1)

Actually any Pontiac CD unit from a late '90-early 00 Grand Prix...Firebird and possibly Bonneville should work!...Sunfire...Grand Am and TranSport/Montana van head units were different and won't work I think.

The adapter I used is by "SCOSCHE"...the package says: model# GMDA '88-05 GENERAL MOTORS...I purchased it off the shelf at Walmart in the car audio section...if you can't find one there try www.scosche.com ...HTH!

84redta

iTrader: (34)

Don't go looking for a monsoon radio...it is utterly identical internally to a regular model. That is often the misconception of these radios, that it was something special or bigger internal amp, but it's not, it was just correlated to the amplifier system inside the car. The radio has nothing different but the faceplate. Thats why in a monsoon car, you can take a regular cd player of that year range, plug it in, and it works just like a monsoon radio would. A good piece is something out of a 98+ firebird, which is the same as some of the grand am's and grand prix's, very universal, very easy to use, very little grinding is needed to fit them like a glove. Also if you wish, you can even get the theftlock feature to work without that much work. Great radios and cheap and easy to get your hands on god forbid you need another in a few years.

GtoRockz

Think I am going to have to take your advice and just make one work. I have upgraded the speakers with high end JL C2-690tx's and am going for concert hall sound (Will add power) but really want to keep the stock appearance.

Although, Pioneer had a pretty nice looking 1.5 Din Super-tuner with adjustable back-lighting colors that i thought was a great option but they are no longer available.. of-course..

ellocojorge

iTrader: (1)

4th gens are still 1.5 din

Stephen

iTrader: (12)

I stand corrected. I've never tried it myself, just going by what I'd heard, so no personal experience. Sorry for the wrong info.

y84pauloflondon

I got a CD player from a 00 Grand Prix, got it to fit right in w/grinding metal mounts like 5.0T/A said. But I don't remember having any problem with the antenne!!!

Al Hasse

If you're concerned about the color of the buttons, that's easy enough to change. I changed the white backlit buttons on the 2002 Theft-Lock model I have to red by painting the back sides of the buttons. Disassembly required to remove the faceplate, but still quite easy. I used some plastic model paint to do the job. I put up a thread a while back, I'll have to search for it after I get home.

EDIT: You can find that thread here...

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...umination.html

1ADan

iTrader: (4)

doing the same thing here; scrapped the old 97 GTP but kept the radio for the TA

84redta

iTrader: (34)

In 89 they switched the radios from the regular 3 plug 16 pin setup to a 4 piece, molded together 18 or 20 pin i believe, and in that transition, was the change of the antennas from the normal big plug seen on the back of 99% of aftermarket radio's now-a-days, to a smaller, half size identical plug, that you normally need an adapter to use unless you cob-job it by spreading the pins and then it's likely to fall out. Most car radios as mentioned above from Pontiac, with exception of the newer (98+ish) Bonnevilles, you can use almost any newer pontiac radio.

RacerX13

After searching here on this subject I just tried this. I have a Monsoon head unit out of a 2000 Z28 and it does NOT fit in my 88 Formula! Two problems-first, the case of the newer one is larger and I had to cut a notch out of the heater duct to get it to drop all the way in, when I found the second problem. The face of head unit is about 1/8" farther out from the brackets which is just enough to keep the faceplate trim from seating-it won't go on far enough for the clips to grab. I did have to cut about 1/4" off of each of the brackets first too, and they were only long enough to reach one of the mounting screw holes on each side-not both. Had I known about the problem with the depth of mounting BEFORE I cut the brackets I could have bent them forward and then back 90 degrees to sink the radio in enough but now the brackets are too short since I already cut them. The stud on the rear of the Monsoon does line up with the rear bracket which was the whole reason I was doing this in the first place. The aftermarket head units have a provision for a rear stud but it isn't offset like the GM ones so they aren't supported in the rear and all the weight hangs off the fragile front mounting screw bosses-with leverage. This is why my original radio pod was broken and I didn't want to have the new pod break in the same way. I'm utterly disgusted with the whole project and ready to stick a stock radio in it-if I had one. My 88 also has the 87 and older style plugs on the wiring harness.

GtoRockz

Sorry to hear that RacerX13, this is exactly what i was hoping to avoid. There has to be a better fit from a stock radio. I installed a pretty pricey JVC and the pre-amp sucks so i still want a factory CD player, my factory head has a better pre-amp.

RacerX13

I'm going try to take the head unit apart and see if I can get the brackets off. If they will come off then I might be able to swap them with the correct third gen brackets and make it a proper bolt in. If it works I'll start a new thread with pics.

5.0ta

iTrader: (1)

RacerX13,

Could the Chevrolet unit be a little different from a Pontiac?...do you have some pics of the Z28 head unit?...as I stated in my posts a factory head unit from a 2000 T/A was a virtual bolt in. I had to slightly modify the mounting brackets but I never had any of the fit problems you've described which leads me to think...could the Z28 unit be slightly different from a Pontiac.


This is the 2000 T/A unit I fitted in my car.

RacerX13

I thought the dashes were all the same on 4th gen Camaros and Firebirds but I wouldn't be surprised if they used different radios. This is the one I have-

http://www.hifisoundconnection.com/S...id/0/SFV/30046

Mine says Monsoon on the face but otherwise identical including the brackets.

5.0ta

iTrader: (1)

Ahhhh...from the pics of the Chevy radio I noticed how far back from the face the brackets set, that is why the radio sets out too far...the brackets on a Pontiac unit is set back only about 1/4" from the face thus setting the radio deeper in the dash...Camaro and Firebird dashes must be slightly different!?!?...once you solve the bracket issue it should fit fine, or maybe look into a Pontiac radio unless you prefer the Chevy.

RacerX13

Update-I finally got it in there but it wasn't easy. There is no way to remove the factory brackets. I ended up cutting them off and fabricating some to sink it down flush. It just BARELY fits. I had to notch the heater duct a little more on the left side, and the wiring and plugs have to be in exactly the right position to get the head unit all the way in and still get the console in. I ended up going to the salvage yard and cutting the new style radio pigtail off another car to make a jumper harness. I have a GM service manual for my 88 and also one for a 2000 F body and without them I would never have figured out how to wire it up. Had to get an antenna adapter too. Anyhow, it's in there now, it sounds great, it looks like a factory install, and it's supported properly on both ends so the radio pod won't break again.

I ended up with two of these head units. I got another one out of a 2000 S10 that looks identical on the face except it doesn't say Monsoon-and there are differences. They have different circuit boards for the faceplate, and the non-Monsoon unit has a cooling fan on the back passengers side-it would not have fit. Both are 2000 model year and production date.

GtoRockz

Good job Racer!

Stangski09

iTrader: (10)

Ok, I got a factory head unit out of an 1993 Bonneville yesterday, it looks just the monsoon except where your cd is I only have cassette.
Now I have an 88' GTA so it has the factory wheel controls. I took my head unit out and went to put the bonneville one in and only 1 out of 3 plugs actually plug in. Now I know one is for my wheel controls and I wont get that one too work, but what about the other one? I think the other one is for the lighting because the radio works, but it doesn't light up correctly.
If there's an adaptor or something could somebody point me in the proper direction?

Thanks!

y84pauloflondon

Stangski09- Q. why did you go with such a old deck to R/R into your GTA for? Eventhough its a Monsoon, I would expect a newer deck to be better in quality!?!?

Stangski09

iTrader: (10)

Well, I just found it at pick n pull and got it for cheap. But I actually went with one out of a 2000 S10, so I got the monsoon, just kinda bummed it's a chevy deck.. Oh well, I got it for cheap as well.

y84pauloflondon

I got one from a 00 Grand Prix (CD w/7 eqlzr) for $100. I didn't really find anything cheaper on Ebay or kajiji. Plus all deck lights are red/orange.


BTW, I'm 1 of 1509.....

Stangski09

iTrader: (10)

I just go to pick n pull. I like my new deck, I dont care that it displays green.
1 of 1509?
I'm like 1 of less that 500

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

Figured I would post here instead of making a new thread on this subject.

I have an 88 IROC, and I just put a 4th gen dashboard in, and was going to get a 4th gen radio, but the wiring isnt working for it.

I cut the radio pigtail off of a late model 3rd gen, and got a wiring adapter from wal-mart and mated the 2 together using my big chiltons manual. The radio does not work, but the illumination does when I turn the headlights on.

I know the wires are correct, as I have an adapter to plug into the late model harness with an aftermarket headunit, and it works fine. I noticed on the back of the 4th gen unit there are 4 slots with pins in it, whereas the late model 3rd gen plug only has 3 slots to plug in.

Ideas?

Badass355ciz28

iTrader: (17)

is there a lil red led blinking on it.if so then it has a theft lock system in it and will not operate without a certain code to unlock it.......

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

I dont believe so, the screen did not say "Loc" on it, it only lit up when I turned the headlights on. But the screen itself didnt say anything.

401kfirebird

iTrader: (1)

thats interesting...i installed a 99 grand prix gt stereo (with the 7 bar equilizer) in my 92 bird and it was plug and play. the stereo has theftloc on it and that wasnt an issue. it turned right on just as if it was in my grand prix. i believe the 88 factory wire harness is the first year they changed it (correct me if im wrong). so you shouldnt have needed an adapter. i didnt need to do anything to my wire harness nor y antennae. it all plugged right in.

bradley23150

iTrader: (10)

They changed it in 89.

I already made an adapter to adapt a pre-89 radio to a post-88 radio, and the wires are correct, I double checked them with my multimeter, and like i said, I plugged in an adapter and aftermarket unit in and it worked fine.

My car is cursed.

JimRockford

I ran into the same problem,the fourth gen Pontiac cd players dont fit directly into the console either because the case top extends too far back and hits the side defroster ducts.

The third gen cd players got around this issue by having the front of the deck protrude from the faceplate of the console to accommodate the cd mechanism. The fourth gen cd players have a flat face and as a result had to extend the case back to make room for the cd mechanism.

Another hinderance is the fact GM chose to make the side brackets on the fourth gen cd players non removeable,they are a part of the case so you cant simply unbolt them and use the brackets from your original stereo. You either have to trim them down,or I suppose you could break them off altogether and Jb weld a pair of third gen stereo brackets onto the sides.

I already have a factory correct third gen cd player that I will install once it comes back frombeing serviced,but thought I'd give this a try meanwhile since I picked up a working fourth gen Pontiac cd deck cheap.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

I wanted to post this here instead of starting a new thread. In case anybody else wants to do this, I had to cut away the support bracket at the back of the pod for the support pin, and I trimmed a little of the plastic on the left side (but I may not have needed to)

I also had to drill a new hole in the Bracket that is attached to the radio, because the holes are in the wrong place

DrkHwk

As posted above I just installed a 4th gen head unit and the holes didn't line up at all. I ended up cutting off some of the mounting tabs on the new head unit, and made some new ones that would press against the tabs that I had cut down, to hold the head unit in position. It worked good. I ended up goin with the cassette head unit. Pretty sure I can run a cd changer if I want.