Dash ...bored

Stitz Love · 07-12-2009, 05:13 AM

Greetings.
Now that the Truck is mechanically well... I want to address the 'little things'. One thing is the radio does not work. the speakers are rotted and essentially gone, the control panel has strange problems, like you can turn the volume 'down' but you can't turn it up...period. The tuner will let you scroll down through the channels, but not 'up'. (CDM?)
I found a website (based in Charlotte NC) that repairs the CDM (If I'm remembering that term correctly that's 'Control Data Manager'?) evidently the guts of the stock radio is a module under the dash, while the buttons (seen in photo) are merely a face connected to it?
I can get replacement speakers locally and install them okay, but I am debating on having that stock 'under-dash box' repaired, or just replace the box and that stock face-panel with a normal radio/CD player (w/aux input for mp3) up there in the dash board.
Has anyone done this? Is there room in that face plate for an after market radio/CD player etc.? How much of a pain was it to wire it up? Was/is there a bracket kit necessary? And lastly, I would like to see some photos of your dash, if once you got bored of the stock push-button type radio, you put in something else.
As ever, Thanks.

p.s. The fan works on 'low' and 'high' but no med. at all. Is that a common simple fix, or do I need a new blower motor? hmmm perhaps that'll be a different thread...

gmctrucks · 07-12-2009, 05:33 AM

I just not long ago replaced my radio with a Alpine unit I wish I would have done this years ago the sound is super im going to list some stuff below is what you think of it. Also if you go with K-Mart speakers there going to sound like K-Mart speakers I bought mine on Ebay and they sound great.
Good luck! GMC
Alpine CDE-9846 CD player with MP3 playback *L @ @ K*:eBay Motors (item 200359283722 end time Jul-10-09 09:43:30 PDT)

eBay - CD MP3 Players, Audio Video Electronics, Car Truck Parts, Parts Accessories on eBay Motors

eBay - CD MP3 Players, Audio Video Electronics, Car Truck Parts, Parts Accessories on eBay Motors

4x6 speakers, great deals on Electronics, eBay Motors on eBay!

gm truck install kit, great deals on Electronics, eBay Motors on eBay! You might buy this kit local and save on s/h charges but again I bought here and it was cheaper than Best Buy store. Always look at buyers feedback & s/h rate one can even wheel & deal on prices of shipping with seller. Also for now I have some cheapo powered bass cannon under my back seat boy does it ever make it sound better one doesn't know what there missing out on bass now I don't care for that loud boom sound but there is lot of music that one misses out of sounds example Kenny G. music. Yes guys I like his music I like all types of music. And you so right make sure that you get a radio that reads from all sorts of files I wish mine had more meaning like music that one can record and so on. I hope this helps you out bud.

Stitz Love · 07-12-2009, 08:50 AM

gmc, Thanks for those links!
I'm curious, is this the way you installed yours? those dash panels shown have AC vents over the radio. My AC vents are off the the right of the existing radio, and there is a cubby hole you can see in my photo with some sunglasses and stuff in it. Is that where I must mount any after market stereo?
Post a photo of yours here when you can.
p.s. lol about your smooth jazz confession... here's mine; When I (musician, comic) was a young man, played and listened to rock and roll, had everything that went with it. As I grew older, I began listening to smooth jazz and the like... my observation and conclusion; The amout of se... uh, amourous activity (" lovin' ") from woman I got, was in direct proportion to the amount of smooth jazz I played.
Kenny G. is ok but put on some Walter Beasley... and cancel any plans you had about workin' on yer truck.

stumpuller454 · 07-12-2009, 10:06 AM

my old work had a 89 chevy, the dam radio and heater/ac controls were just as silly acting as yours. they would have to be repaired or replaced i figure.

smokensteve · 07-12-2009, 11:37 PM

you have to put an after market stereo in your cubby hole where your glasses are...and the existing spot where the stock radio is will become your new cubby hole...I had the exact same set-up except I had a stock cassete/equalizer where your stock cubby hole is...go to your local auto store....you can buy a kit, specific to your truck to install an aftermarket Radio/CD player, everything you need for the install is there....go to your professional auto stereo shop and they can order you a little plastic insert to put in the hole where your stock radio is now....fairly easy to do...I did mine myself...

gmctrucks · 07-13-2009, 02:28 AM

Yes where your sun glasses are that's where the new radio will be at. I even bought a wiring harness to fit my factory harness so no butchering is needed. I think www.crutchfield.com gives you a free installation kit when you buy a radio from them.
Good luck! GMC
Car Audio: Subwoofers, Car Stereos, Amps, Receivers, CD Players

07-12-2009, 05:13 AM	#1
Stitz Love Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 99	Dash ...bored Greetings. Now that the Truck is mechanically well... I want to address the 'little things'. One thing is the radio does not work. the speakers are rotted and essentially gone, the control panel has strange problems, like you can turn the volume '*down' but you can't turn it up...period. The tuner will let you scroll down* through the channels, but not 'up'. (CDM?) I found a website (based in Charlotte NC) that repairs the CDM (If I'm remembering that term correctly that's 'Control Data Manager'?) evidently the guts of the stock radio is a module under the dash, while the buttons (seen in photo) are merely a face connected to it? I can get replacement speakers locally and install them okay, but I am debating on having that stock 'under-dash box' repaired, or just replace the box and that stock face-panel with a normal radio/CD player (w/aux input for mp3) up there in the dash board. Has anyone done this? Is there room in that face plate for an after market radio/CD player etc.? How much of a pain was it to wire it up? Was/is there a bracket kit necessary? And lastly, I would like to see some photos of your dash, if once you got bored of the stock push-button type radio, you put in something else. As ever, Thanks. p.s. The fan works on 'low' and 'high' but no med. at all. Is that a common simple fix, or do I need a new blower motor? hmmm perhaps that'll be a different thread... Attached Thumbnails __________________ 1990 Chevy Cheyenne, (2wd / AC) came with a; 1994 5.7 from Police Cruiser (Caprice?) installed by previous owner. (It sat for 7 years before I bought it.) Last edited by Stitz Love; 07-12-2009 at 05:17 AM. Reason: clarify

07-12-2009, 08:50 AM	#3
Stitz Love Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 99	gmc, Thanks for those links! I'm curious, is this the way you installed yours? those dash panels shown have AC vents over the radio. My AC vents are off the the right of the existing radio, and there is a cubby hole you can see in my photo with some sunglasses and stuff in it. Is that where I must mount any after market stereo? Post a photo of yours here when you can. p.s. lol about your smooth jazz confession... here's mine; When I (musician, comic) was a young man, played and listened to rock and roll, had everything that went with it. As I grew older, I began listening to smooth jazz and the like... my observation and conclusion; The amout of se... uh, amourous activity (" lovin' ") from woman I got, was in direct proportion to the amount of smooth jazz I played. Kenny G. is ok but put on some Walter Beasley... and cancel any plans you had about workin' on yer truck. __________________ 1990 Chevy Cheyenne, (2wd / AC) came with a; 1994 5.7 from Police Cruiser (Caprice?) installed by previous owner. (It sat for 7 years before I bought it.) Last edited by Stitz Love; 07-12-2009 at 08:51 AM. Reason: touch up

07-12-2009, 10:06 AM	#4
stumpuller454 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Grande Prairie, AB Posts: 2,043	my old work had a 89 chevy, the dam radio and heater/ac controls were just as silly acting as yours. they would have to be repaired or replaced i figure. __________________ SUPERCHARGED 454 K2500 GMC! 450hp and 600ft/lbs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ27RJHfJKE "sailing with Captain Morgan often!"

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07-12-2009, 05:33 AM	#2
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 4,033	I just not long ago replaced my radio with a Alpine unit I wish I would have done this years ago the sound is super im going to list some stuff below is what you think of it. Also if you go with K-Mart speakers there going to sound like K-Mart speakers I bought mine on Ebay and they sound great. Good luck! GMC Alpine CDE-9846 CD player with MP3 playback L @ @ K:eBay Motors (item 200359283722 end time Jul-10-09 09:43:30 PDT) eBay - CD MP3 Players, Audio Video Electronics, Car Truck Parts, Parts Accessories on eBay Motors eBay - CD MP3 Players, Audio Video Electronics, Car Truck Parts, Parts Accessories on eBay Motors 4x6 speakers, great deals on Electronics, eBay Motors on eBay! gm truck install kit, great deals on Electronics, eBay Motors on eBay! You might buy this kit local and save on s/h charges but again I bought here and it was cheaper than Best Buy store. Always look at buyers feedback & s/h rate one can even wheel & deal on prices of shipping with seller. Also for now I have some cheapo powered bass cannon under my back seat boy does it ever make it sound better one doesn't know what there missing out on bass now I don't care for that loud boom sound but there is lot of music that one misses out of sounds example Kenny G. music. Yes guys I like his music I like all types of music. And you so right make sure that you get a radio that reads from all sorts of files I wish mine had more meaning like music that one can record and so on. I hope this helps you out bud.

07-12-2009, 11:37 PM	#5
smokensteve Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: North Vancouver BC Posts: 132	you have to put an after market stereo in your cubby hole where your glasses are...and the existing spot where the stock radio is will become your new cubby hole...I had the exact same set-up except I had a stock cassete/equalizer where your stock cubby hole is...go to your local auto store....you can buy a kit, specific to your truck to install an aftermarket Radio/CD player, everything you need for the install is there....go to your professional auto stereo shop and they can order you a little plastic insert to put in the hole where your stock radio is now....fairly easy to do...I did mine myself...

07-13-2009, 02:28 AM	#6
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 4,033	Yes where your sun glasses are that's where the new radio will be at. I even bought a wiring harness to fit my factory harness so no butchering is needed. I think www.crutchfield.com gives you a free installation kit when you buy a radio from them. Good luck! GMC Car Audio: Subwoofers, Car Stereos, Amps, Receivers, CD Players