I have an 89 Firebird with the stock AC Celco AM/FM Cass unit salvaged out of another vehicle. I was wondering if anyone had the wiring diagrams for it. I want to use the Cass head as the input point for my computer which was installed in the back. That way I could just moutn a switch on the face for toggle between radio and computer so that my MP3's, DVD's and what not can be heard without having a second system. My aim is to get this doen and keep the ar looking as stock as possible.
thanks!!
Todreich

 

well, i don't have a diagram, but i would guess there's somewhere between the tape head and the amp that you could tap a switch/input line into. in the meantime (i know this is the low-quality approach) you could use one of those discman-tapes and hook it to the computer.

the point you'd be looking for to tap into would be about where the radio selects between the tape and radio signals, if that helps any. the other catch would be signalling the radio that the "tape is in" instead of defaulting to AM/FM, even without a tape when you want to use the computer.

 

Well, I have a decent supply of cheap AC Delco Am/Fm Cass radios to play with now and I am mapping them out. I think that I will be able to put a single switch on the face of the radio where the tape was so that i can signal "tape" mode and let the output from my computer (an old laptop for now, but later a P4 notebook base) run in on the tape head in side. I have measured the output of the CD/ tpae adapter that you are talking about and I can get that from the line out on my computer and using a pot to tune it down so that the signal won't overload the tape head input channel. I may even (to save time) just gut a tape adapter and let it sit inside the deck al of the time. I am playing with my wife's adapter at the moment so I am not allowed to cut it open yet. If I can get this to work I will post it to the boards so that others who like things to look stock and play mod can have fun too.

 

well, the problem in fidelity is more than just signal to noise ratio, sometimes tape heads or their associated circuitry are limited in frequency response too, since they're assumed to be playing tapes that are.


if you have no interest in playing tapes, you could permanently insert a discman-tape adapter, but route the wire on the inside and have it go to a face-mounted 1/8" female stereo jack. then just run a 1/8" cable from computer to radio. also, i'm not sure how much you'd need to knock down the computer's signal, usually between master out and wave out volume controls you can get a pretty good range of voltages...

good luck though