New Radio Suggestions (Page 1/1)
Additivewalnut FEB 27, 12:17 PM
My poor radio has finally decided to give up the ghost. Screen hasn't worked since I've owned the car, and now the channel knob has stopped functioning. New radio time! Are there any good stock looking radios I can pull from the scrapyard that just fit? I'd go for a fancy ass bluetooth deal but I don't like how they look with the rest of the very 80s interior. Would one out of a 90s firebird fit or something?
richard in nc FEB 27, 03:08 PM

quote
Originally posted by Additivewalnut:

My poor radio has finally decided to give up the ghost. Screen hasn't worked since I've owned the car, and now the channel knob has stopped functioning. New radio time! Are there any good stock looking radios I can pull from the scrapyard that just fit? I'd go for a fancy ass bluetooth deal but I don't like how they look with the rest of the very 80s interior. Would one out of a 90s firebird fit or something?



theres a guy on here that reworks the console area to swap the radio and heat control and allow a double din radio to be installed.however you seem to want a radio to fit the stock hole.later gm radios will fit with a wire harness adapter.
cvxjet FEB 27, 03:41 PM
the best radio to install in a Fiero is the 4th-gen Firebird Monsoon radio with CD....A guy on here (In The Mall) modifies them with an Aux-input jack and then a harness to adapt them to our harness.

Also, you can contact "Replacement Radios" they do similar thing for the Monsoon radios

One nice thing about the >>Pontiac<< version of the Monsoon; The readout is ORANGE like our instruments- not green like original Fiero radios.

[This message has been edited by cvxjet (edited 02-27-2024).]

Additivewalnut FEB 27, 04:58 PM

quote
Originally posted by cvxjet:

the best radio to install in a Fiero is the 4th-gen Firebird Monsoon radio with CD....A guy on here (In The Mall) modifies them with an Aux-input jack and then a harness to adapt them to our harness.

Also, you can contact "Replacement Radios" they do similar thing for the Monsoon radios

One nice thing about the >>Pontiac<< version of the Monsoon; The readout is ORANGE like our instruments- not green like original Fiero radios.






that would be fantastic! I'll see if I can track that guy down!
1985 Fiero GT FEB 27, 06:23 PM

quote
Originally posted by Additivewalnut:


that would be fantastic! I'll see if I can track that guy down!



What is the difference between the monsoon one and just the generic Pontiac one that looks exactly the same, my Fiero has the tape version of that with an aux jack run to the cigarette lighter area, and my dad's Fiero has the CD version, neither say monsoon, but they look the same otherwise.
Mike in Sydney FEB 27, 06:34 PM

quote
Originally posted by 1985 Fiero GT:


What is the difference between the monsoon one and just the generic Pontiac one that looks exactly the same, my Fiero has the tape version of that with an aux jack run to the cigarette lighter area, and my dad's Fiero has the CD version, neither say monsoon, but they look the same otherwise.



I believe the "Monsoon" version of the radio had the amplifier for a premium sound sytem. You can get a radio that looks the same but doesn't have the "monsoon" label on it. I have a similar radio in all three of my Fieros. I got them out of '96 - '02 Pontiac Grand Prix's. Get the wiring conversion from Replacement Radios Makes replacement a 30-minute job at most.
Additivewalnut FEB 27, 06:41 PM

quote
Originally posted by 1985 Fiero GT:


What is the difference between the monsoon one and just the generic Pontiac one that looks exactly the same, my Fiero has the tape version of that with an aux jack run to the cigarette lighter area, and my dad's Fiero has the CD version, neither say monsoon, but they look the same otherwise.




How does running the aux jack work? I'm assuming there's some disassembling and soldering involved, but could it be done fairly easily or is it really difficult?
1985 Fiero GT FEB 27, 09:20 PM

quote
Originally posted by Additivewalnut:
How does running the aux jack work? I'm assuming there's some disassembling and soldering involved, but could it be done fairly easily or is it really difficult?



Yeah disassembly and splicing into 2 tiny tiny wires, then connecting a special jack. The way I did mine was splice the wires into a 6ft ethernet cable, to put the aux jack in the center console by the cigarette lighter, I also got a 4 pole aux jack, and cable, and wired up a little microphone in the instrument cluster and the button on the end of the cruise stalk (like wired headphones, I have a button that can play/pause, previous/next, a microphone for calls, and stereo signal.

It isn't hard if you know how to do it, what's hard is finding the right wires, if you mess that up, you can destroy the radio, and/or your phone, it is the same wires between the CD and tape versions, but they are in a different internal connector (used the same motherboard, with one connector for CD one for tape, and then a daughter board for the CD/tape. It is different on basically every radio generation (as many have unfortunately found out)

[This message has been edited by 1985 Fiero GT (edited 02-27-2024).]

Vintage-Nut FEB 28, 11:31 AM
If you want to refurbish the factory Declo unit; I heard good things about 'Wags Klassic Electronics' - Vintage Delco Repair

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/613613486896043/
email: wagsklassics@gmail.com
phone: 402) 677-5182

------------------
Original Owner of a Silver '88 GT
Under 'Production Refurbishment' @ 136k Miles

Additivewalnut FEB 28, 11:48 AM

quote
Originally posted by Vintage-Nut:

If you want to refurbish the factory Declo unit; I heard good things about 'Wags Klassic Electronics' - Vintage Delco Repair

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/613613486896043/
email: wagsklassics@gmail.com
phone: 402) 677-5182



refurbishing, frankly would be perfect. That would be amazing if he could put bluetooth into this thing