Hi,
I know this question isn't totally thirdgen related, but I've got a question about moving the deck from my '89 Firebird (which is sitting and not making the trip to college), to my daily driver '97 Ford Escort.
Yeah yeah, I know, it's an Escort, but I didn't get to choose it.

My question is, would it be possible for a COMPLETE electronics newbie (me) to unhook the deck from the Firebird, and put it into the Escort.

I understand there's a DIN system for rating how big the decks physically are? Well, the one in the Firebird is the usual size (its a 40X4 Kenwood - probably bottom of the line to middle, couple years old), but the stock one in the escort is about double the height. I know you can get cheap faceplate adapters so there's no gap, but I'm worried about the internal mounting.

SO, boiling it down, I have 2 questions:

#1 Will the Kenwood physically mount inside the Escorts old deck location? Without any fabrication I can't do with regular hand tools?

#2 Do I need a different wiring pigtail/setup when making the transition from GM to Ford?

Thanks lots! If anybody knows any good how-to sites for decks, I would also greatly appreciate it!

 

why not just take the bird to college?

 

Heh, good question.

The answer involves a lost VATS key, no insurance, and an ongoing swap from TBI to carb, with better heads, and a bigger cam.
I have 90% of the parts ready, its that last 10% that's really killing me. I'm going to have to see what kind of a school-year job I can get.

Definitely looks like the Escort will be my driver for at least a few months, and I don't want to be stuck with tapes!

 

Do I need this part?

Wiring adaptor thing

Is this all I need for the wiring?

I'm trying to track down a faceplate adaptor, too. Crutchfield sells them for $30, maybe I can find one used.

Is this all I need?

Thanks lots.

 

the wiring will not be the same so you will need a new harness that will fit a escort.

The braket will/should fit in. Older fords use euro sized dins (opposed to Gm/Chrysler's 1.5 din). Not sure about a 97 escort, but my dad's 99 f-150 has a double din sized tape player in it. And I dont have my crutchfield chart near me to check, but a lot of times they aren't accurate as i found out.

 

If you click on the link in my last post, it will take you to an eBay auction for a Ford wiring connector.
I'm sure it's the right one, so my question is about what else I will need.

Will all I need for the swap is the wiring connector, and a new adaptor faceplate to fit the deck into the dash?

Thanks lots!

 

Wal-Mart sells factplate adapters for like $10

 

Yeah, unfortunately, my entire button cluster has to come off.
The climate controls (temperature, fan setting, and vent position), the big head unit buttons (obviously made for those nearly blind drivers that can't read small numbers), and the rear defrost button are all on one plate that comes off to access the stereo. The new adaptor has to have all the dials and the button.
In other words, I have to drop $40 for my adaptor.
Oh well, wish me luck.