Got an 87 GTA. When I bought car the original radio was gone and the wiring was butchered. The plugs were cut and the wires were just balled up and shoved to the front of the console.

Have an original style radio now and want to fix the harness back to stock. Suggestions? I would like to just find orig style plugs so that I can plug right into the orig radio.

Where can I get the correct plugs?

 

wrecking yards.

 

Metra also sells them new, both Male and female so things like that do not happen.

 

Thanks for that Metra tip! Called them and they gave me a local distributor and got hooked up w/ the stock plugs as well as an adaptor if I decide I want to go with an after market radio.

Wow I didnt realize how crappy these old stock radios sound. I hooked it right up and was good to go.

I want to keep the stock look but I have got to do something about sound in my car. I know my options are limited becasue its a Vert but Ive go to do something.

The distributor told me he has seen somefolks restore these old cars and leave the stock radio in and put an aftermarket somewhere else in the vehicle has anyone seen this before?

 

I Put the stock one in my 88 GTA with the equalizer on it and it didnt sound too bad..( I was just testing it out) but I have aftermarket speakers in it too.

 

they make aftermarket stereos that look stock but have all new technology in them. I seen one a few months back on the speed channel. Cant remember the brand.

 

You can also use the stock deck and hook the speaker outputs to a line level converter. This changes the speaker level (high) to preamp level (low) so you can amplify the stock head unit. Unless you get a really good one, it can introduce noise into your system, and even the good ones aren't perfect.

Here's an example of one...



It's something I'm considering for my 89 RS and the 2002 Delco deck I have in it. I'll have a stock look with some decent sound, but nothing like the system I have in my 92 RS.

 

Yeah, you could do line output converters to set up some amps using the stock radio. I've also seen someone mount an aftermarket radio under the passenger seat, and somehow have it work hand-in-hand with the original radio. So all you did on the original radio was turn the volume know, but you used the aftermarket one under the seat to do EQs and skip trakcs (via remote). It was a very sleek design, but I have no idea how they got the stock radio to control volume of the aftermarket radio.

 

I am going to have to do something because what I have now is not going to make the cut. I have been doing a lot of reading over the net and have found that lots of folks have dealt with the delima of keeping stock look while adding power and flexability to the stock radio.

What folks are doing are adding amps, crossovers, and speakers in select places in the car. I def want the stock look so I am going to keep reading up and I believe I can put something togther.

Please keep the ideas coming everything I am reading on here is very helpful

 

line out converter and add an mp3 input to the stock radio replace the speakers add a sub if you want. that way you will be getting a cleaner digital signal (via mp3 input) and with the line out conv you can add more power plus never have to worry about anything other than where to run the line for the mp3 player. If it was me into the center console. I have seen a few installs where they made the vehicle charge the mp3 also but unless you are on a long trip it doesn't matter. Just my thought. I am probably going to add the mp3 input to my new alpine when I get my vert running it is waiting for a th400 and big block now so it'll be a while. So many ideas not enough cash kinda thing.

 

Was thinking the same exact thing re the mp3 jack. I need to get up to speed on what I need when adding amps, crossovers, etc. Where can I go and get some good info for someone wanting to diy.

What I want to do is (remember this is a vert)

• new speakers
• more power from stock radio
• mp3 hookup
• make job look as stock as possible (most important to me)

Would you all suggest a component speaker package w/ tweeters etc or what for this car. Please let me know what size and spec speakers as well. I really want a good sounding system but again using my stock head unit.

I really want to get the most I can out of whatever speakers I put in the car because I realize there is not much room. I noticed that in some reading folks were using crossovers to break off power to tweeters so that they could send more power to 5 1/2 or 6 1/2 inch speakers mounted in the back of the car to get some semblence of bass. Shaking the ground with bass isnt needed for me to be happy but I would like to have a stereo that puts out respectable in low end range.