Rockytee
Newbie
Posts: 7
Loc: North AL
Reg: 01-21-23
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02-01-23 09:26 AM - Post#2854001
Hello all. I signed up for Chevy talk a couple weeks ago and have been looking at a lot of posts and have learned a lot. I have a 1989 GMC K1500. I want to know if anyone makes a true factory replacement radio. I do not like the ones that replace where the EQ/tape deck goes. I've check LMC and just done a basic Gooogle search and I've not seen anything that looks like a quality replacement/brand that will replace the head unit. Also want to replace the speakers in the back corners. (single cab-short bed) Looks like I'm going to have to take most the cab apart just to get to them. Any help with that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Rocky
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 CowboyTrukr
"11th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 4850
Loc: Salt Lake City
Reg: 06-20-09
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02-01-23 05:37 PM - Post#2854024
In response to Rockytee
As far as the radio head unit, there isn’t one. The actual silver colored head unit is under the dash above the gas pedal. The dash display unit is simply the controls and display.
Greg
‘01 Silverado 2500HD 8.1/Allison 1000 Xcab/LB
'00 Explorer XLT 4.0 SOHC V6 Auto
'95 K1500 Z71 EC Short Step 5.7L+0.040/NV3500 SOLD
"The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing" Sir Edmund Burke |
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kingkreeton
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 1726
Loc: Nashville TN
Reg: 04-15-11
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02-01-23 05:44 PM - Post#2854026
In response to Rockytee
No, you are going to have to go aftermarket or find a used one on Ebay. You will roll the dice with any used electrical product from Ebay. Especially one that old. If it were newer, less than 10 years old, you could assume it will work fine for years. Older ones, I wouldn't bother.
If you are worried about originality, you could always hide your aftermarket radio in the glove box and control it from you phone. That's what many folks with classic cars do.
Hope this helps.
Shane
64 Impala SS:
Chevy Performance 350HO
4 Speed Muncie
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2plus2
Member
Posts: 1290
Loc: Mission,BC
Reg: 02-03-05
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02-01-23 09:08 PM - Post#2854036
In response to Rockytee
You can do one of the retrosound radios of you want to spend $ :sad :
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_068SANTACR/RetroSou n...
69 Canadian Pontiac 2+2 Convertible
Factory L48 350 Chev,TH350,PW,PT
99 Silverado RCLB 4.8 NV4500 14BSF 4.10's locker 6" Procomp 35'S
07 Town Car Loaded,Tinted,Getting Bagged |
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Rockytee
Newbie
Posts: 7
Loc: North AL
Reg: 01-21-23
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02-02-23 06:19 AM - Post#2854041
In response to CowboyTrukr
Yeah the control interface was what I meant by the "head unit". I have always thought that was a goofy design. THREE parts in three separate sections to do radio and cassettes.
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Rockytee
Newbie
Posts: 7
Loc: North AL
Reg: 01-21-23
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02-02-23 06:26 AM - Post#2854042
In response to kingkreeton
No, you are going to have to go aftermarket or find a used one on Ebay. You will roll the dice with any used electrical product from Ebay. Especially one that old. If it were newer, less than 10 years old, you could assume it will work fine for years. Older ones, I wouldn't bother.
If you are worried about originality, you could always hide your aftermarket radio in the glove box and control it from you phone. That's what many folks with classic cars do.
I would love to keep it original for sure, but wouldn't mind going to an aftermarket as long as it would replace and fill where the control interface is at. Having to lean over in the seat to change stations or adjust volume is so annoying. I know most radios come with a remote but I know me well enough to know that it would not be that long before it was lost. Lol
Hope this helps.
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Rockytee
Newbie
Posts: 7
Loc: North AL
Reg: 01-21-23
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02-02-23 06:34 AM - Post#2854043
In response to 2plus2
YES!!! That is pretty much what I was looking for!!! I would rather it have a CD player on it but not a deal breaker. WOW! You weren't joking about the $$$$$!!! Thank you!
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CowboyTrukr
"11th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 4850
Loc: Salt Lake City
Reg: 06-20-09
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02-02-23 12:35 PM - Post#2854056
In response to Rockytee
Learned something new today. Wow! $400!?
Greg
‘01 Silverado 2500HD 8.1/Allison 1000 Xcab/LB
'00 Explorer XLT 4.0 SOHC V6 Auto
'95 K1500 Z71 EC Short Step 5.7L+0.040/NV3500 SOLD
"The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing" Sir Edmund Burke |
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 someotherguy
Senior Moderator
Posts: 29668
Loc: Texas
Reg: 08-01-03
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02-02-23 01:33 PM - Post#2854059
In response to CowboyTrukr
To gain aux input function in order to play from my phone via whatever means (mp3's, streaming, etc.) I'd just add a bluetooth dongle to the factory radio, assuming the CDM box hasn't croaked. There's a member on gmt400 dot com forums that has hacked an aux input to his factory radio and if I recall it would be through the cassette inputs.
I did a similar hack on my 2006 factory radio, through the XM receiver's input wires. A small bluetooth dongle is pretty cheap but read the reviews on them first, as some have annoying characteristics (like a loud tone over the speakers when connecting.) The ones I've used are "Millennia" brand from amazon, currently $35, hook up +12/GND and then the audio lines. Works great, easy to pair the phone to it, small device easy to tuck away in the wiring bundle with the radio.
Richard
| 06 Silverado ISS / 06 Silverado SS / 06 300C SRT8 / 93 C3500 dually |
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Rockytee
Newbie
Posts: 7
Loc: North AL
Reg: 01-21-23
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02-04-23 09:18 PM - Post#2854137
In response to CowboyTrukr
I KNOW RIGHT!???
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Rockytee
Newbie
Posts: 7
Loc: North AL
Reg: 01-21-23
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02-04-23 09:20 PM - Post#2854138
In response to someotherguy
I had two left over cassette adaptors to try that. Then bought another new one. It just keeps changing directions. IDK? SMH
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Rockytee
Newbie
Posts: 7
Loc: North AL
Reg: 01-21-23
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02-04-23 09:22 PM - Post#2854139
In response to someotherguy
To gain aux input function in order to play from my phone via whatever means (mp3's, streaming, etc.) I'd just add a bluetooth dongle to the factory radio, assuming the CDM box hasn't croaked. There's a member on gmt400 dot com forums that has hacked an aux input to his factory radio and if I recall it would be through the cassette inputs.
I did a similar hack on my 2006 factory radio, through the XM receiver's input wires. A small bluetooth dongle is pretty cheap but read the reviews on them first, as some have annoying characteristics (like a loud tone over the speakers when connecting.) The ones I've used are "Millennia" brand from amazon, currently $35, hook up +12/GND and then the audio lines. Works great, easy to pair the phone to it, small device easy to tuck away in the wiring bundle with the radio.
Richard
I have looked as best I can but do not see any kind of aux input in the main unit or the control panel back. I'm guessing that wasn't a thing back then.
Have also tried the Bluetooth to FM adapters (2) and one has that humming crackle sound you describe. The other doesn't seem to match any of the supposed stations. You can hear it but it is like the station is like .001 off station. If that makes sense. I would be fine with the FM but if I get more than 30-40 miles from the stations transmitter I start loosing the station. Like the radio is out of tune.
Edited by Rockytee on 02-04-23 09:26 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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 scrambldcj8
"4th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 2719
Loc: Belchertown, MA
Reg: 04-06-03
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02-08-23 06:51 PM - Post#2854280
In response to CowboyTrukr
IDK, 400 doesn't seem to bad. It's been a while since doing any stereo stuff....but back then a good head unit could easily go for more than that. Maybe it's not a complete unit or I'm missing something?
What that unit needs is the USB and/or an SD port on the face, I know its meant to be retro. But, a little port would be easier to access. IDK, but appears to be a good option....I presently have like one station that half way comes in on my '94
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