i want a better radio...

[RunUoveR]

so i want to put a more modern am/fm/cd head unit in my car BUT i dont want some big neon glowing thing in the middle of my dash looking like something out of fast and the furious. something that could almost pass as stock or not look really out of place is what i want. i dont need a really loud top of the line system either. just something that i can put my music collection to better use with. i was also considering pulling the speakers out the back and replacing them with something in the stock locations, still hidden away. the stock ones have a stacticy crackle to them so i think its time for replacments

im also looking to get one of those wireharness adapters so i dont have to butcher the stock wires in the dash or the dash its self

any advice or recomendations would be greatly apperciated

thanks

[LumpyCheeseman]

if you wanted to come down here, i could set you pretty good. i can get gear for good prices, i do good work, and you wont be dissapointed.

you wont have much luck finding a headunit that isnt flashy. i just found one today finally that has a stock look, but its double din, so it wont fit in a panther.

a good radio to go with though, is the eclipse cd3100. i just installed lincolnmania's, helped gadget install his, and will be installing grand_marquis_gt's as we reinstall the interior in p79. i believe all three were had for something like 130 apiece on ebay. older model, but still new in teh box, and are a most awesome radio.


edit: "here" is tremont, pa

[Jason_GMQ91]

I liked Pioneer cd deck myself.

[LumpyCheeseman]

typically i would normally say pioneer, kenwood, or clarion, but that eclipse i mentioned is a hell of a radio for the price, and having experienced it, its pretty easy to use, easy on the eyes (even supports dimmer feature!!) and expandable (has aux/ipod/cd changer input as well as being cd/mp3).

[yucatec]

Dear Panthers,
I've the same problem: I hate the Wulitzer look of the modern radios - including, alas, the eclipse. I've installed two old Blauplunkts in sucession - good sound but not so good reception.
Donald McCaig

[Lincolnmania]

you need a new antenna donald........those power antennas not so good after 20 yrs......and i do believe new ones from ford are made of unobtanium

[P72Ford]

Put it in the glovebox, and then it doesn't matter what it looks like. I have some SONY jammy in mine, and with the green face lighting it fits right in with my gauges, and even the factory dash lighting. But, its in the glovebox, so it really doesn't matter how it looks to me.

[1987cp]

Put it in the glovebox, and then it doesn't matter what it looks like. I have some SONY jammy in mine, and with the green face lighting it fits right in with my gauges, and even the factory dash lighting. But, its in the glovebox, so it really doesn't matter how it looks to me.

This reminds me, have I seen pics of that installation?

[Jason_GMQ91]

you need a new antenna donald........those power antennas not so good after 20 yrs......and i do believe new ones from ford are made of unobtanium

amazing my Lincoln's original power antenna still works great and my GMQ's as well.

[yucatec]

Dear Panthers,
I've got a NOS power antenna. Reception poor. Since I mostly listen to itunes on the road, I can live with it. DOnald

[RunUoveR]

the glove box is a long way away from who evers in the drivers seat though

[89merk]

Pioneers always been my favorite, click on my cardomain link and you'll see my se up. Nice and simple.
I bought the wire harness for 10 bucks wired the harness to the radio, put the radio on the stock bracket that held the stock radio, plugged the radio into the stock plug. Just find ground and youre good to go.

[86VickyLX]

you need a new antenna donald........those power antennas not so good after 20 yrs......and i do believe new ones from ford are made of unobtanium

They still had some power antennas in stock at the dealership by my house (mast and units). They're not made of unobtanium, they're made of unaffordium.

[gadget73]

Want something that looks stock? Rob a complete system out of a late model Panther. The JBL stuff sounds good, has an optional CD changer, and doesn't look too out of place. The down side is the wiring harness you have to fish from dash to trunk after removing it in one piece from the donor car,no mp3 disc support, and if the head unit dies you're looking at probably 200+ bucks to have it rebuilt if you can't find another working one. I have the stock JBL in my Mark VII. It sounds good, and I have the $285 receipt from the previous owner having the single disc CD player refurbed. No way would I spend that much coin on it.


And I'm not sure I'd use Wurlitzer as an accurate name to describe the horrible bling that some aftermarket radios have. The jukes were at least stylish in their own way, and Wurlitzer radios were actually very plain looking things. http://www.antiqueradio.com/Jun02_Jukebox_Wurl.html

[RunUoveR]

i was actually in pepboys today getting something else and they had a cheapo cd player on display that actually looked pretty simple and unnoticable. does anyone know where i could get the harness adapter and dash mounting kit online? maybe ebay or something a little cheaper then out of the store? and also how does the molding come off from around the radio and climate controll? i wanted to avoide cracking it

i like those boss 302 badges 89merk lol