turbo a 5.3 and run it through a full 3” exhaust with no cat and you get a car that’s quiet enough to hear the valve train chatter away. First time in 7+ years it’s been quiet enough to do that. So naturally I put in a sound system (pioneer 4x6 dash and kicker 6x9 in the sails) but I couldn’t run a head unit as my car got gutted and they took all that cr@p 5years back. So I stuffed the auto down window harness wiring in there with my AEM progressive meth controller and a few other things... packed to say the least. So I used a kicker powersports amp 100w or 50w x2 at 2ohm which I sent to the speakers so each got 25w. I used a RCA to 3.5mm adapter and used my phone as my head unit. Worked great for the last year or so. But now I’m driving the car more and it’s annoying to do this and hold the phone for GPS and have backup camera on the mirror.

So so I decided to spend some money on a good radio that does everything I want. My 2018 ram Laramie has apple car play and for GPS and hands free texting/calling is beast and I can use my Sirius radio via my phone. So I look for a decent unit that fits my needs and Jesus they are expensive. Plus I didn’t want a double din bc I still need to put my progressive meth controller in the radio are for stealth and convienece. I decided against motorized as they tend to fail and your $hit outa luck! The only radio I could see working was the Sony X100 single DIN, fixed 6.4” touch screen, apple car play and it was $400 at crutchfield. Still $400 but they decided to put it on sale a day or so after finding it and price dropped to $350... eBay has them at $375 but crutchfield has the freebies and amazing customer support. I could have waited for the eBay coupons but decided to throw crutchfield my biz as I got most of my ram system from them as long as the prices aren’t horrendous. So I got the radio for $350, free 30 amp relay and pigtail and a stock harness adapter. It’s a tyco relay so it’s a good one! I can’t use the harness as they cut everything out when the car was gutted.

So fast forward I run all new 16 gauge speak wire and everything to the console. Relocate all the window harness cr@p under the console (PITA) and get that all done. Tonight I make my own mounting and bezel hacking up a cracked OEM and using a 1/8” abs sheet over it for added strength and cleanliness. Plugged it in and bam all is well. Radio works, it fits and I get my easy to use FM, Sirius, GPS, hands free texting and calling and pandora etc. touch on the radio is really nice and it’s a nice light unit. Radio is Loud! But I need a sub RCA adapter and having issues with my backup camera working. Overall, this should be super fun and I expect some relaxed driving in my future!

I’m leaving space above as I need room for my electric cutout switch and my EFI handheld screen for datalogging and tubing.

Anyone on the fence about this style radio, it’s so far perfect! It won’t fit in the stock location so you have to fab something up but it’s not hard at all.






And of course the custom touch 👌

Thanks!

Added a couple of pics of my new wallpaper nothing better than a pic of the actual car your driving in case you forget! Lol.

I also fixed the rear camera issue so it works! Just need a RCA splitter for the sub preout and to route the hidden antenna wire.

I’m on a audio kick right now. Decided I was maxing out the 10+ yr old pioneer 2 ways in the dash which had deformed cloth surrounds and had a 20w nominal rating. The new Sony headunit puts out a certified 20w rms per channel and I could hear distortion when I cranked it up. Crutchfield had a sale so I decided to pickup some new dash speakers. I got some Rockford fostgate prime 4”’round 2 ways and scoche speaker adapters and I got some doom mat speaker baffels for the rear 6x9s. The new RF primes have a higher 30w nominal rating and should be more efficient than the 4x6. I already wired in some PAC bass blockers before so it was a simple plug and play. The driver speaker was not as easy an install but it does fit with the air vent routing but just barely.

Installed everything and the boommatt in the backs and cranked it up, much clearer and the rear 6x9 now have a little more bass than before. But that’s why I have subs lol. The system is as good as it’s gona get now and I’m happy with it.

boom Matt helps with noise and allowing the speaker to be protected/sealed in the back. Think of it like putting a subwoofer in a sealed sub box vs just being open. I cut a hole in the bottom so it acts like a ported sub box in a way and increases the lowend on the speakers. They are louder with the ported boom mat than without and it was noticeable. Not a bad mod for $10.

That looks sweet!

I haven’t installed a stereo since the 90s. I was looking at a single DIN Apple CarPlay stereo so I could use Maps and music apps. It would make the car more fun to drive around.. I have the stock radio but I don’t think it needs to be in the car unless I get it to a concourse level show car.

I have an single DIN Alpine unit from the previous owner with an iPod cable that is in the lighter compartment. How hard is it to hook up newer radios to these ancient cars? Just power, illumination, antenna adapter, and a harness adapter?

I have a power antenna that does work as well. My previous IROCs never had power antenna.

Its pretty simple. Basic hookups. Not all dvd style radios support Apple car play/android radio. Most of them are $400 and up and have only been out a few years max. Just bc it has a iPod cable doesn’t mean it’s comparable for maps etc. unless your talking audio only.

This radio has stepped up my driving big time. The maps and speak to text has already come in handy. Next year even more so and more in the years to come if I relocate as I won’t know the area.

Thanks!

I was looking at a single Din pioneer flip up that supports Apple Car Play and Android. It is going for $450, but might be worth it considering I have to use my iPhone in my lap right now to try and get directions..

I would also be psyched to have my Pandora stations and Spotify in there..

I know my way around my area, but often find cruise nights and car shows in places I’ve never been. Having Apple maps on a screen would be helpful..

Gotta watch the motorized faceplates, the Motors wear or break and your stuck.

I agree on Pandora, I have no antenna anymore (just put on a $5 single wire one and it picks up decent but I mainly use Sirius XM on my phone through the headunit, works great since it’s HD quality.

I do worry about the motors on those.. I’d hope the Pioneer would hold up over the lower end brands.. It is $100+ more