Radio Applicability

Hey Folks:

I'm considering upgrading the radio in my '96 Roadmaster wagon so that I can run my iPod without the cassette adapter.

When I go to Crutchfield's website, it only lists two or three radios that will fit the Roadmaster. In investigating a bit further, I think it's because the well the stock radio is in isn't very deep, and the depth of most of the radios in Crutchfield's catalog are deeper by 2/3s of an inch.

I'm pretty sure I can make up a plastic spacer that will provide the necessary clearance, but have any of you retrofitted a modern radio in your Roadmasters? Any more serious issues I need to be aware of?

Thanks!

I don't know if this is the avenue you're looking for, but there are places online that sell an OEM radio for that car with an AUX jack installed right in the face to run things like MP3 players...so that's an option. I forget who mentioned it, maybe Matt or Dave? I think there was a video or something.

Matt Trakker wrote:

I don't know if this is the avenue you're looking for, but there are places online that sell an OEM radio for that car with an AUX jack installed right in the face to run things like MP3 players...so that's an option. I forget who mentioned it, maybe Matt or Dave? I think there was a video or something.

I looked into those, but it seemed like a lot of money to get what amounted to a radio with limited functionality.

I'd keep the old radio if someone wanted to put it back in. Normally, I'm kind of fussy about keeping the stock appearance in older vehicles, but I'm not that wedded to the look of the one that's in there now.

We're living in the golden age of automotive electronics. When I was in high school, I remember putting an analog Radio Shack cassette player on layaway and paying for it for an entire summer. That thing must've been $120.

Now, for about that much money, you can get a CD player with bluetooth that wirelessly runs your iPod and sends your phone through the speakers. It's amazing.

Yeah, understandable. I replaced the worn face on my Tahoe's head unit instead of putting an aftermarket one in because I was being OCD about it, but I'll probably try to upgrade some things in the future, it's more than fine for now though.

My other cars are driving me nuts though, the Caprice has a Roadmaster radio in it that works fine but is antiquated, and the Impala has a non-working AM radio.

Matt Trakker wrote:

My other cars are driving me nuts though, the Caprice has a Roadmaster radio in it that works fine but is antiquated, and the Impala has a non-working AM radio.

I have a solution for that Impala

When I had the Riviera, I wanted to use my iPod, but I didn't want to change the appearance of the dash.

I sent it to Robert Pacini at Precision Stereo Repair in Utica, NY. For about a hundred bucks, he replaced a few capacitors, made it sound absolutely fantastic, and wired up an auxiliary jack for me that I stashed in the console.

The guy does great work for short money. Here's the article I wrote on it:

http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2009/11/01/hmn_tips2.html

Yeah, the car had a 1980s vintage aftermarket 2 knob cassette player in it when I bought it, but that stopped working. Had the AM in the trunk that came with the car so I put it in there for looks, but still nothing. I think the monospeaker in the dash may be junk. Still have to figure that one out, I've heard the dual cone replacements can crack the dash!

But, that's pretty ingenious there- Maybe I'll look for a period correct AM-FM for this car and do that, but the basic AM in the car looks really cool and is in mint condition too. Planning on finally getting an iPhone or iPod soon so this would be great, either way I already have an MP3 player...

I have an older pioneer in my RMW using an adapter from bestbuy and it fits fine. The back area behind the radio is plastic and if you really want to make it fit you can cut that out to gain a little room. Whoever put the radio on my fleetwood did just that.

I have a Pioneer double DIN DVD radio in mine. I needed to do a little trimming of the plastic inside the dash, IIRC, but it wasn't bad. Chapel here has an Alpine(?) double DIN in his.