I'm trying to restore the radio in my 85 Iroc Z to its original radio. When I purchased the car, there was an aftermarket radio in it with the factory radio laying in the trunk area.
It is just the standard cassette but has the 21 pin on the back.

Inside the car has the standard wires.
A blue plug with Yellow and Yellow/Brown Wire (Left Rear Speaker)
Lt Blue and Dk Blue (Right Rear Speaker)

White Plug with Lt Green and DK Green (Right Front)
Grey and a Tan (Left Front)

Black Plug with
Yellow Hot AC Run
Grey Interior Lights
Black Ground
Missing wire (I believe is the Orange Wire I have for Hot)

I have 2 lone wires not in a plug. Pink wire ( Power Antenna) and an Orange wire with Brown on it (believe it is Interior Lights)

Do those 2 wires belong in a plug or have a plug ?

I attached some pics of radio and rear of it.

Do I need a 21pin plug for the radio or can I use 14 pin plug ?
I would assume all 21 pins aren't used in my application
Any idea what pins on the radio are for what ?

Thanks

Pete

 

That is not original '85 radio-it is around 1988-89 era,with later model plug.That radio found with the car is same face and features as one of the '85 radios and would be decently authentic

 

That is not the original radio for your 1985 IROC-Z. That is a later style radio.

GM ACDelco 16140051 Radio Wiring Adapter Harness Cable Package | eBay

Should also be able to do it with a Metra 70-1862 & Metra 40-GM20

 

Thanks.
I was thinking that it might be. Could barely read the part number but barely saw a date and looks like Aug 17, 1988.

 

Which one would you use ?

 

Before I would say one way or the other I'd like to see a good picture of all the factory radio wiring and connectors as it is in the car now and a full picture of the back of the radio to see if it has the GM mini Motorola antenna connector.

Just to make sure everything is intact as the factory meant it to be.

 

ok. I’ll add some to the post

 

Here are the pics requested.


Back of radio.

Antenna

 

Wiring in car

 

Here's the back of my 87 radio. The back of an 85 radio should look like this one.


The plug on my 87 harness is one-piece, but IIRC, my 83 had a 3-piece plug like you're showing in your pictures, so 85 apparently still used 3 plugs. And that looks like the stock antenna cable for 85. So other than some cuts in your wires, it looks like your car still has its factory harness intact or somewhat intact, which means if you want to run that radio you're showing, then you'll need that adapter harness and antenna cable in one of the other posts.

 

Thanks. I guess I could also try to find the 85 style radio.

Pete

 

Probably cheaper to buy the plugs and use the radio I have. Where do I wire the Orange wire, pink wire and the orange/brown wire ?
They aren’t in a plug. I guess they would go to the 21 pin plug adapter ?

 

I'm a bit tired right now and my mind is dull. I'll reply back tomorrow with a rested mind.

 

The orange and brown wires go to a small black connector that looks like it might've been cutoff of your wires. It connects onto the white plug on the back of the radio (seen in my picture above); orange for constant 12v (clock/memory), brown for switched ignition (illumination). Pink is also hot, but I'm not sure if it's used in a Camaro; in Firebirds it powers the subs' amp and is in the 12-pin plug.

Here's a picture of my 87 harness, which should be like your 85 harness. The large grey plug replaced your 3 smaller plugs, so your 3 will be stacked when plugged into the radio (or into the adapter for the later radio). And the small black connector plugs onto the white plug on the back of the radio. If you go with the adapter harness for the later radio, it will also have that 2-wire connector like my car has/your car had, and that's what your orange and brown wires will connect to.

 

ok. Thanks. I got it.
the pink wire goes to the power antenna which my car has.
The black plug has a Yellow, black, and grey wire and a broken off wire. Anyone know what the broken off wire should be ? It’s one of the pics I posted.

 

I'm going to use Phone a Friend here and tag @John in RI because he is the resident radio expert here.

Over the years everything has run together in my head and now I am confused. I've installed thousands of radios since 1987 and now my brain is just mush.

First do you even know if the radio works? If it doesn't John is the guy that could repair it.

There are 12 pin and 12 pin + 2 pin, and 20 pin and 21 pin, at some point they went from full size Motorola antenna plug to GM Mini antenna plug, then there is steering wheel controls, Performance Sound, and Bose. Then some have a wire to control analog back light dimming and another to control digital display dimming.

John knows his stuff. Probably even has the 2 pin connector and pigtail missing on your harness.

 

Thanks.
Not sure if the radio works. Will find out when I get it wired and powered on.

 

My ears were ringing ! ( P.S. : Will never claim to be "expert" at anything ! )

@pete2833 : Send me a PM and we'll get your plug situation figured out. IMO at this point 1/2 the wires are already cut so you can/should install what-ever plugs you need to use directly to the dash harness. I can supply you with the 'early' style plugs,... the 'late' style plugs,... or a set of each. You'll need an antenna adapter too; I'll check into that and will write back to your PMs.

 

@John in RI I sent you a PM

 

This (and other) forums show me as "online" 24/7, but in reality I almost always access the web from a desktop PC,.......... & I only sit at my PC about every other day unless I'm actively working with someone on something.

I just sent you a reply......

 

Thanks
I replied to your PM