Double DIN Conversion
 

So I was wondering what is needed to convert my headunit to the 01-04 spec.

For now I was just going to buy the stock radio/6-disk cd player and use that untill I could save up enough to get a nice aftermarket one. Obviously I know I need the correct bezel, but I really wanted to know what is different about the wiring between the 99-00 and 01-04.

If I install the correct bezel will the 01-04 radio slide right in and bolt up. I really need help disinguishing the differences of the wiring behind the radio.

Also when I do this I'm going to put new switches in the bezel for trac control, defrost and fog lights, do these switches use the same plugs as the 99-00? I would have to do some rewiring for the defrost(which is by the headlight knob) and maybe the foglights(by cupholders).

Thanks guys for your help.

If you go to any car audio place, they should be able to answer all of these questions for you.

So I have read that I can use the 01-04 6-disc cd player and it will bolt in and plug in with no problems.

Someone help me distinguish if the 99-00 and 01-04 switches have a different connector and harness for the switches.

False. They all will bullshit you or just tell you what their computer says. Especially for a stock application.

I'd know.

The wiring should have nothing to do with it, you'd just get the wiring harness for the aftermarket radio that you bought, and then just get the bezel for the 01-04 cars.

Ta-da.

Very true, I'm going to get a stock 01-04 cd player/radio on the cheap untill I can blow money on a nice aftermarket one. I'm almost sure the 6-disc radio will hook right up.

And I wouldn't?

Also, don't bother "upgrading" to that 6 disc stock headunit, it blows and probably won't work right anymore.

What about it sucks? Mine has been messing up for a long time now, I'm lucky to even get my cd's back when I press eject. Also the awefull skip when I go over bumps. I just can't dump money for a nice aftermarket headunit right now and I dont want to buy a cheap one and have it break or not opperate how I want it to.

I had the 6-disc for years with no problems, but I have heard of guys having the same exact things you're experiencing.

I say just save up and wait. I know its a pain, but at least with buying an aftermarket one you can take it back if it doesn't work.

krenogin. I install car audio at Best Buy all day long, with the exception of one other guy all the other ones back there don't know jack shit about car audio, and what cars can take what, etc.

Thats why I'd know.

Plus you can't use a tree and a come-along to pull out your radio....

Yeah I would like to get a new stereo for mine too, been loving the XM Sirius Radio feature in the rental I been using since my accident. But I wonder how the HD Radio compares to it?

Damn bro, that's not even krenogin.

I might even get it for free so it's worth trying out, I have a shorty antenae and get shit reception so I listen to cd's all the time.

I have a 2000 and changed my HU to a double din. Just buy the trim piece from a 01-04, and you'll have to cut the two tabs on the side that split up the dins. You'll see them when you remove your trim piece. Nothing hard about, just need to finagle some stuff, but it's easy. If you can spend a couple hundred bucks, you can get a dvd unit.

Great! Someone that has done this. So everything plugs in fine and dandy right? I just cant spend that much, or want to, right now. I can get a 6-disc cd player for free from one of my buddies and it worked fine when he removed it.

Okay now I need to tackle converting the switches to 01-04. I can get all three switches for $30 from a guy on SVTP and I'm having him look for a radio trim also, so I dont have to buy a new one.

I bought a cluster trim from doobie that I'm going to paint silver, but its for the 01-04 which doesnt have the rectangular hole for the defrost, that's why I want to move all of the switches by the shifter. I guess when I get them I will see what the conectors and harness look like and if they will hook right up or if they're different. Unless some one else knows what they look like, that's what I'll have to do.

Being called Krenogin makes today the worst day ever T_T

And yeah, I'm one of those guys who had all those problems with that headunit. It's also acting up in the F-150 and Explorer. They just aren't durable from my experiences.

If and when you do this, PLEASE do a nice extensive and descriptive write up.

I had this same idea about a year ago and I have a Mach 460 6 CD changer just chilling in my closet. I would love to make the conversion.

I'll make a writeup. I hope you guys can learn from the frustration and mistakes that are going to be made.

I doubt it will be that hard honestly, worst part would be having to wire some plugs or connectors id imagine.

Exactly, it's just the amount of stuff I'm doing at the same time is going to make it a lot harder.

I don't know where I pulled Krenogin from...lol. I guess I saw him in another thread and just figured it was him trying to be the all knowing god again.

I apologize. Next time

You should look at painting the trim piece too. I did it in the Cobra, and I think WNRacing was who had it originally on here. Breaks up the interior pretty well in my opinion.

That's exactly what I'm going to do along with the piece around the gauge cluster. I already ordered color matched paint from LRS for the 03-04 cars. My interior is going to be looking good when I finish.

Yes sir.

Make sure you use some adhesion promoter. Sand it down with some fine grit sand paper (i had some spare emery cloth), spray it with the adhesion, then I did about three coats of paint and three of clear just to protect it from getting nicked-up.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._3296986_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4910433_n.jpg

I love the Screaming Yellow interior! It's just not me, I already bought this:
http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/...Interior-Paint

I might paint my interior Chrome Yellow after seeing yours, but not right now. I want your side scoops bad.

I got my paint, mac overlays, and new plastic gauge cover today from LMR. Should be getting the gauge cluster trim and radio trim any day now. I can't get the radio so I'm going to have to save for an aftermarket headunit, unless someone wants to sell me theirs.:)

Money's getting tight since I'm trying to buy a motorcycle right now.

Okay, I finally got the radio trim and decided to try painting it. I cleaned it and used primer. It was definately not the color I thought it was. It was more of a dark grey, which is not what I was looking for. It has some cool sparkles in it, but I want silver.

I'm going to stop by autozone on my way home and take pictures before and after I paint it.