I have an 89 firebird formula, and i have a new head unit. I want to take out the old stereo and replace it with the head unit. I have the fitting kit already too. Can anybody tell me how to easily install a new head unit in to my car? Does it install in to the existing wires? Thanks!

 

If you're going to be powering your existing speakers with the new head unit then yes, you'll be using the same ones that are connected to your existing radio. To make this install as easy as cake, I'd go to your local audio shop and ask for a wiring harness adaptor for your specific car, you'll be able to simply connect the wiring harnesses of the existing radio to this adaptor then splice those wires to your new head unit. It will make things go MUCH easier and you'll be able to return to the stock radio easily later on (if you ever want to do that). The other way, is to connect the new head unit to RCA's and run them to an amp, then from the amp to the stock wiring. The antenna will simply plug right in and that should be about it, unless you have other features on the head unit that plug into a car alarm, DFS (for Pioneers) or things for cell phones, aux wiring, etc.

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~Luke
'91 Firebird :: 305/TBI/700R4 ::
Mods: Catco cat - Flowmaster 80 series - B&M Shift kit - TA tail lights - GTA rims - K&N - MacEwen guages
Stereo: Pioneer DEH-P8200R - Cadence 4x6's - Pioneer 6x9's - Kicker amps - Kicker 10" CompVR
::R.I.P.::'87 Firebird - Firebird parts - Selling an '80 Firebird for a friend
Moderator of tranny board over at TransAmGTA.com

 

if you want for save some $$...

This will take some time..

find all your paired wires (speaker wires, all diff. colors) and touch them to your other paired wires, when a set matches, splice them. keep doing this untill you have all your speakers working. (you may have to go back and rewire, so that the front is the front the left is the left, etc. Then just connect the ground to ground (black), power to power (red), ignition/accessory wire to ignition/accessory wire (usually yellow), RCA to RCA (usually blue)

It's more work, but if you like to do things yourself like me, you won't mind. It just makes you fell pround of you stuff. peace,

 

You can feel proud with a wiring harness and still have the pride of knowing you didn't hack your car up. If you want to fit big slicks in your wheel wells, are you going to take the time to roll the inner fender or just cut the fenders bigger with a Saws-all? Take the time to do it right. There are multiple advantages to using a wiring harness:
1. You don't hack the stock wiring. This should be self-explanatory.
2. You can put the stock radio back with ZERO hassle.
3. Swapping to another aftermarket radio is just as easy as putting the stock one back in.
4. You can make your electrical connections in a clean, well lit area with the proper tools and plenty of room to maneuver them instead of doing it down inside a dashboard hole where you can't see what you're doing or get anything crimped properly. You can also do an ohm check on the bench to ensure all proper connections before you hook up the radio.

Wiring harnesses only cost about 10 bucks, and will make your life much, much easier.

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