claytonjn

iTrader: (5)

I'm looking to buy a factory radio for my Camaro. I want it to have cassette. I would prefer a Bose one, but will that work? I know they have stickers on the back saying they don't work with normal speakers (my car is a '92 RS Vert - I'm assuming it didn't have a bose radio initially). Does anyone have a list of all radios that will fit and work properly, and a list of all radios that use the factory harness in the 92 Camaros?

my82roc

iTrader: (101)

Basically any gm radio from 89-at least 2002 will be plug and play.You might have to do slight mods on the mounting brackets on some models but for the most part they all will work for your application.I have 92-95 GM Delco Buick CD Players in both of my irocs.The 89 was plug and play while the 86 needed an adaptor wire harness and antenna adaptor

58mark

iTrader: (3)

if you look at a service manual, you'll see the way a bose system is wired up is radically different than a normal system. I wouldn't want to go there for such a minimal upgrade.

Do you have a factory radio already? The camaro has specific mounting brackets on the radio that can be pulled off and placed on most other radios from that era...

claytonjn

iTrader: (5)

No, the guy I bought it from had a Kenwood KCD-X810 (I think thats the right number) which doesn't work. Luckily he didn't mess with the harnesses in the car when he installed it so a factory one should just plug in if I get the right year. I'm ultimately planning on running a CarPC through a factory unit with aux installed. I would like to get the best sounding/looking factory unit with a cassette player that I can find. I would like to get a delco bose gold unit, but it won't work? I found one on ebay from a cadillac that appears to have the exact same connections as a regular delco from a 90 camaro.

EDIT: Here's pics of the one I want to get.

SolarGoldRaptor

You will need specific Bose speakers with a Bose head unit. Those speakers have a built-in amplifier

You should look for the UX1 units (equalizer, cassette, am/fm), they sound great IMO :


This is a Pontiac unit, the Camaro version has a black faceplate and black buttons, and the backlighting is white.

claytonjn

iTrader: (5)

I would like to upgrade all the speakers to Bose, but I know I'll have a hard time finding them, so it would be a slow upgrade. I can't just hook up an amp between the Bose radio and non-Bose factory speakers for now?

-srs-

You can use the radio output to feed an amp but you'll need a special line level converter. Think it's around $60-$80. It's been a while since I worked on those.

claytonjn

iTrader: (5)

So perhaps I'd be better off collecting Bose speakers first, then getting a Bose radio. But until then I have no music so I guess I should just find a cheap temporary radio.

8t2 z-chev

bose radios work good with normal amps and speakers
-you just need amps with a lot of gain as the low-level
output from the bose is pretty low voltage.
I run a 1984 bose in my'82 hooked up to an "old skool"
'80s system-it rocks

Brock Lee

My 91 Formula RPO code sheet says my car came with Bose coax speakers and tape deck with EQ. Is this the stereo my car is supposed to have?

jstoltz

iTrader: (16)

If that is what is on the rpo then yes it should have bose setup with the kick panel speakers with the built in amps. Not that big a deal you can still find them check with thirdgen ranch and house of camaro. both great businesses and you might get luck and thomas or denny might have the complete setup. if you get it and have a radio there already just make sure that the previous owner(s) didn't hack up the wiring.

Dr.NickRiviera

Are you doing this for sound quality or restoration?
If restoration, you need to find out what the car came with from the factory. If sound quality, buy the cheapest after market head unit and speakers you can find. They'll sound better than the stock stuff from the 80's-90's.

jstoltz

iTrader: (16)

8t2 z-chev

actually,when properly amped and speakered,the delco
radios have very good sound quality-waaay better than
cheap aftermarket,better than most good aftermarket.
One of the best modifications i did to my system was to
disconnect the 4x6 dash speakers and add good 6.5
woofers to the lower door panel(u.s.made eminence,no
cheap crap here)then added 1"dome tweeters to the
inner door handle area (morel tweeters) imaging was
much better,harshness gone.All amps are "old skool"
u.s. made,around 400 watts all together

claytonjn

iTrader: (5)

Both, and neither. I want a factory HU so it's less prone to theft and looks stock, but I don't care if it's actually the correct one. I'm not keeping the entire car stock, but I'm also not "pimping it out." Sound quality is also not really that important to me, but if I'm getting a factory radio I figure I might as well get the best I can.

Dr.NickRiviera

We can agree to disagree, but factory radios suck.
The Bose unit from the 3rd gen's can't compare to a $100 Pioneer or Sony deck of today. It's a plain fact of technological advancement.

OP, if you are going carpc, i highly suggest getting a deck with a proper aux in. It will make things so much nicer. Trust me. I'm running a tape adapter to my mp3 player on my truck and it sucks. I'm just to lazy to buy a new head unit for it until i decide if i want to keep it much longer.

claytonjn

iTrader: (5)

I had the factory Delco radio in my 98' Regal for a while and used a cassette adapter and was fine with it. I installed a Kenwood DDX-512 only because the cassette player stopped working. I honestly liked them both. I'm just as content listening to vinyl or a cassette as I am listening to a 320 bit rate digital audio file going through an expensive HU. Personally, I just think having the stock radio/cassette and hooking up a CarPC would be awesome. That's just my opinion. I can understand why people disagree, but for my purpose, I just want to get the best Delco unit I can.

I am planning on either buying one of the Delco units with an aux in installed, or installing one myself so that should give slightly better sound quality than a cassette adapter.


I basically want to know how easy/difficult it will be to run a Bose unit (like the one in post 4) to factory speakers until I can get my hands on Bose ones. Also, I'd like to know if anyone has purchased any of the units off ebay with aux in installed if radio and cassette is completely blocked off when an aux is plugged in, or only when somethings playing on the aux or what. I would like to be able to keep the CarPC plugged in at all times and switch between radio, cassette, and CarPC. Would I have to unplug the CarPC when I want to listen to radio?

Also, does anyone know if the color of the display on the units can be changed? I know the buttons can...


Thanks for all your help, everyones advice an opinions are a great help.

Al Hasse

A Delco deck with an auxiliary input isn't hard to find, nor is it hard to fit. Find one that has the capability to control a CD changer, then use that auxiliary function to route the audio to your head unit. Precision Interface Electronics (PIE) makes a nifty converter to use the deck's aux input, I used the piece to input satellite radio to my deck, no RF modulator here


https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/car-...elco-head.html

claytonjn

iTrader: (5)

That's a good idea, but the radios with cd changer aren't really my style. I still would like to get a Bose unit, but I'm even more lost now as to how to get one working in my car...

EDIT: The RPO code for the radio the car came with was UN6. Which unit was that? Anyone have any pics? Thanks!

SolarGoldRaptor

I think it must be this exact one, with yellow markings : http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Delco...fAudioQ5fVideo

claytonjn

iTrader: (5)

Thank you. If that's the case, I'm definitely not going to get the correct one, because I'm not a fan of the yellow lettering. The connections on the back of this one and the Bose Gold from the cadillac I posted earlier appear to be exactly the same. Shouldn't they just plug-and-play?

58mark

iTrader: (3)

IMHO, a white letter radio in a yellow letter car would look worse than an aftermarket unit. I did the opposite, put a yellow radio in an 89, thinking it wouldn't bother me. I was wrong. a week later I had to go but a radio for an 89 (hard to do, because 89 was the only year for the correct harness, and white letters)

here's pic of what you would have (but in reverse)



I personally don't think the bose units are worth ANY extra money. get a regular delco and good quality speakers, and you'll be riding down the road very very happy

claytonjn

iTrader: (5)

I agree that I wouldn't want to mix and match, but I already picked up white HVAC controls, and I'm going to be getting white door locks, etc. shortly. They only thing that will still be yellow is the gauge lettering (does anyonoe make black gauge overlays with white lettering for the Camaros? I'm assuming all the electronic instrument panels had yellow lettering...)

The Bose isn't really any more money, I just don't know if it'll work...

58mark

iTrader: (3)

wow, you really DON'T like yellow do you? lol

you going to replace the hatch release and the electric window switches too, or just take the yellow paint off of them?

claytonjn

iTrader: (5)

Haha, I'm not THAT against yellow, I just prefer white. Mines a vert so no hatch release, and the window switches are already worn off. All I have to replace are the lock switches and mirror control. And the hood release...found a white one at a junkyard but couldn't figure out how to get it out without cutting the cable...

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

Outside of getting an original radio for a show car or original restoration I don't get why anyone would want any of the factory head units. Aftermarket units are VASTLY superior to the stock units. Even using the factory speakers I noticed an improvement in sound quality when I switched just the head unit in my 87. For what the factory units cost on Ebay and through other sources your practically getting raped. For similar money you can get a modern radio with more features.

I just don't get it I guess.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

totally disagree. Aftermarket units have more power, but but for pure sound quality the delcos are really good units, as long as the speakers are in good condition. Old delcos get a bad reputation because they are matched with paper cones.

claytonjn

iTrader: (5)

I completely understand what you're saying. I replaced the Delco unit in my '98 Regal with a Kenwood DDX512 (although didn't notice any sound improvement) There's two reasons I want to go factory. For one, I want to reduce the likelihood of someone cutting into my top as much as possible. Second, I want to keep the "old-school" look and feel. I don't care if it's the correct one but I want it to look like it could have been...

58mark

iTrader: (3)

plus, putting a single DIN radio in a camaro just looks strange to me. I love the clean look of a factory radio

SolarGoldRaptor

What units have you tested so far, there are sooooo many different models that it's impossible to say "aftermarket is superior to Delco".

I don't know if you've listened to a good quality vintage Hi-Fi system, but I'd say only a very few modern systems can equal those. My father has a Sugden A28-II amp on his Hi-Fi system, the sound is amazing and it's 30 years old.
Now I'm sure a modern high-end head unit is indeed way superior to any Delco HU, but personally all I want is stock looks with good quality sound. I got mine for $20 with a non-working cassette deck, but after replacing the belt and a bulb it works flawlessly. I've added an auxiliary input for $0.

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

Its not terribly scientific and I can't remember all the models of head units I've owned. I have however had tons of different vehicles and as a result I've had a considerable amount of factory GM radios spanning 1984 to 2005.

I've had the factory AM-FM stereo cassette system common to most F-bodies in the late 80's. I've heard the factory UQ7 sound system and head unit. Neither sounded all that great. My $150 JVC unit sounded better using the same speakers. I've had the factory unit in my 1997 Suburban and I've had the Monsoon system in my 2002 Firehawk. I've even had the factory Bose CD head unit in my 2003 Silverado. These never sounded as good as any aftermarket unit I've owned. Be it a $150 JVC or an $800 Kenwood, they were always better. Sound quality is almost entirely subjective so judging it is difficult. I've rarely changed head units in my trucks so I spent years with the factory radios in some cases. On the other hand I've changed head units in quite a few of my F-bodies and I've always found the aftermarket units to be a vast improvement over the stock units even when stock speakers were used.

SolarGoldRaptor

That makes sense then

Now I have the UQ7 system in my 84, but I haven't had the chance to use it.
When my car will be back on the road, I will buy a nice set of speakers and subs.
I did a little research this afternoon, and I found out that round speakers were much better than the oval 4x6" or 6x9" speakers often found in cars.

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

Just to add onto what I said earlier, newer factory radios have come a long way. They are much better than they were 20 years ago. I haven't felt a need to change the head unit in any of my daily drivers for several years now despite aftermarket units sounding a little better. At this point the main reason I'd be inclined to change a factory unit out now would be in order to get features the original didn't have. Beyond subjective sound quality the AC Delco radios from the 1980's upwards into the early to mid-2000's (which are often so popular in our cars for their OE look) do not have many of the features that many people are looking for these days. You don't get MP3 compatibility in many cases, iPod connectivity, XM/Sirius satellite radio compatibility, Blue Tooth capabilities, or onboard storage for digital audio files. You also won't see compatibility with USB devices which is becoming more and more important for consumer electronics. These are all features that you can get in radios for around $200 which isn't much more than many of the factory radios made in later model Pontiac / Chevrolet cars are going for. So again beyond going for a factory look in which the look of the unit is more of a concern than how good it sounds or what features it has, I just can't see any reason to by some decade plus old head unit that's incapable of some of the most basic features aftermarket radios offer.

claytonjn

iTrader: (5)

I'm attempting to achieve an OEM look with modern technology by installing a CarPC through the stock unit. I'll have all the modern features I want, as well as the look I want. I don't really care about sound quality.

I think of all the Delco units, this is my favorite (model#16060810). Anyone know where I could find it? I've been looking online and only found one place that wants $100...

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

I found one just like that at the junk yard this weekend. It was sitting in the back hatch area of a Camaro. Unfortunately it probably wouldn't be there by the time I ended up back over in that neck of the woods. It was at U Pull It in Ft. Worth Texas I believe.

claytonjn

iTrader: (5)

The U-Pull-It places around here yank all the radios before putting the cars out. If it happens to be there still if you go back I would really appreciate if you could grab it.

Even better would be this one, if anyone has one...

87WS6

iTrader: (1)

Most of the places do have the radios pulled out in advance but not all of them. Pick N Pull doesn't take them out but unfortunately even some of the better factory radios are torn up and tossed onto the ground when people tear the cars up looking for whatever. I've seen many factory radios with missing *****, busted face plates, and cracked casings. If its still there this next time I go I'll grab it. Though I'd be surprised if it was still there.

58mark

iTrader: (3)

unless i'm mistaken, all camaros had black *****. if you get a unit like that, you'll want to replace the *****, or paint them. shiney chrome doesnt belong in or on a camaro

try ebay, and make sure you get one with a warranty

claytonjn

iTrader: (5)

I like the shiny chrome looking *****, that's why I like that unit. But you're right, I'm not sure how it'd look in the Camaro...

SolarGoldRaptor

I like those ***** too, they were found on Oldsmobiles and Buicks. Cadillacs also had them but there is an engraved crown of leaves on it.

claytonjn

iTrader: (5)

Yea, the one I posted earlier had the engraved *****. Opinions on the chrome **** one with EQ (sound quality and appearance)? Worth $100+?

SolarGoldRaptor

$100 seems a bit steep for a base factory cassette HU. Unless it comes from a very low mileage car, and has been tested and serviced I wouldn't pay that. As I said, I got the better and much harder to find UU6 radio and paid just $20. It's not mint but it works perfectly (one bulb and the belt had to be changed) and the faceplate looks new. I've read that there is a noticable difference in sound quality between those non/EQ and EQ units.

The unit you like is, according to my research, an Oldsmobile unit (flat black faceplate, shiny metal buttons). Buicks had the glossy black and chrome faceplate with blue backlighting and the same buttons, Pontiacs had the flat black faceplate with red backlighting and black buttons but a grey power button, and Chevys had the flat black faceplate and black buttons.

I found those two auctions, $50 each but they don't have the shiny *****, and they're newer. You can make an offer on one of the two :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Olds-...Q5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1994-...fAudioQ5fVideo

Another one without the shiny buttons :
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1989-...Q5fAccessories

One last thing, DON'T FORGET THE SIDES BRACKETS ! (they SHOULD be part no : 10030589). Unit from different brands are very likely not to have the right brackets for a Camaro. They're easy to replace. You may have to move the rear centering "nut" as well.

claytonjn

iTrader: (5)

The one I posted in #36 does have an EQ, so those are better sound quality? Does anyone know what models have a red display for the clock and everything? Is it possible to change the display color?

SolarGoldRaptor

It should be better yes, but then again, I don't have a lower end unit to compare.

The radios with the red digital screen was only on 83 DT500 Pace Car Trans Ams.

claytonjn

iTrader: (5)

Aren't there newer ones from Pontiacs with red displays? I'm not crazy about the newer ones with all the more rounded buttons but I thought there were more with red displays...

Yor

4th Gen pontiac radios have the reddish orange tinge, yes. I have a 4th gen AM/FM cassette 7 band EQ in my car right now, but I think the cassette player on mine is messed up. I use one of those cassette mp3 adapters and the music comes out far louder in my passenger side speakers.

But yes, 4th gen radios from almost ANY pontiac are reddish, and with an adapter harness can fit in 3rd gens.

J_Makk z28

those ***** look like ***** of a 80's caddi. i liked them @ first so when i pulled my factory radio from pick-a-part, i also pulled those ***** but didn't like the look after all. stayed with the black 1's. i also ran an amp and sub box to the factory radio with a lil gadget i got for under $20 from walmart. looks stock but sounds after market. gonna add a flip down monitor and a hide-away-dvd soon....my question is what size bulbs fit the radio and how many do i need?

primaryfitness

what adapter harness?

one92rs

iTrader: (5)

out of a 2002 avalanche

58mark

iTrader: (3)

depends on the year of your 3rd gen

89 and up use the newer harness, pre 89 needs an adapter to easily use newer radios