I don't like how every car stereo made today looks like it belongs on a god damn space ship. However, I think my factory deck sounds like ****. So I'm going to upgrade some stuff, but I want it hidden. Out of sight. What do I have to do to move my deck from my dash, to the center console? I have the stock deck in there now, I will upgrade to something better when I do this. Thanks guys.

 

Sound like it would be difficult. You have to reroute all the wires for your deck under and up into your center console. Then you have to find a way to secure it inside the console so that it doesn't move, to prevent skipping. It can be done, but it will take a little ingenuity.

 

Basically just extend all the wires to the new location and fab up some brackets

should take a couple hours of rewiring but nothing too difficult, you just gonna have to get a lot of different colors of wires unless you wanna tape off both ends with a letter to keep them straight

 

will the cd player work if it is facing up instead of flat? Or perhaps, is there a small deck i could get, with cd changer controls? Hell, if this cant be done, can anyone recommend some decks to me that DONT look like they belong on the Enterprise? I want something that matches my interior (basically stock, I have Trans Am seats in it, but I don't have any painted interior panels or anything goofy like that.

 

This is the one I'm prolly gonna get soon enough, basically just black, blue gauges when on, looks pretty normal

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...749707725&rd=1

 

that would be a good option i was just gonna suggest the same thing.. its fairly plain and would work well

 

hey that is pretty slick. Thats a good possible option, thanks!

 

This is the one we're getting ready to install in my dad's BMW. He wanted something that didn't look like it belonged in the Enterprise either, so we went with this one.

http://www.cardomain.com/item/SONCDXF7715X?vq_id=none

It's a Sony, which alot of people here don't like, but I'm sure it's a great deck. I can give you more details on it when I get it installed and play with it a little. It's pretty good looking, I think, if you want something that doesn't look gaudy. Check it out, you might like it!

 

That ones not too bad either... I'd like to find a really small one that had cd changer controls, that would be ideal..

 

you could always mount it in the glove box.. also some clean stereos that look factory would be the nakamichi stereo.. i just got the new jvc touch screen cd player and must say it ended up being a very clean install and doesnt look out of place.. there are only five buttons on it and it is all black..i have the back ground setup to match the factory gauges.. do a search for the jvc touch screen.. youll probably like it.. if not try nakamichi..

 

I would recomend just looking around online for one that has a simple design that you like.

 

OK you guys are missing ONE HUGE ISSUE!!!

I'm planning to gut my console and fiberglass some things in. I've been studying both consoles in my 86 Z28 and 2000 camaro and it can be done "tastefully" but it's gonna take alot of fiberglassing!!!! You guys are talking a stealth looking radio housing in the console of an f-body. this is what I came up with

3rd Gen: (if you hack the oem console)
* Nothing "radio sized" will fit near the ashtray
*you could try the area where the window swithces are, but it will have to be a very small HU
* Or you could try to mount it in the front kick area (near the pedals) but you'll need a HU with a remote so you wont be breakin ya back changin cd's

OR. you could take the oem console out, make a custom frame outta MDF that incorporates your radio, switches, and gear shift, then glass the whole thing.

4th gen:
* have'nt found any real room to work with, other than the change tray. which would have to be cut out for anything medium sized



Your best bet since you dont want it looking like a spaceship (which is dependant on you, not the shop or installer), is to go for the armrest in the console if you dont want to use your glovebox. It's the only other place you can mount your HU out of view and have it in reach. But even with that you worry about the HU playing cd's correctly, they're not like cd changers.

 

Is there a possibility of getting a CD player or deck with a detachable face, and putting the face in the console and having it control the deck, whereever I put it?

 

Mike, I'll second the Nakamichi decks. A friend had one, EXCELLENT quality and SIMPLE. Plain looking, but sound great and easy to use. You can get their mid-grade 40Z online for a somewhat reasonable price. They have some pricey stuff too if you wanna go that route.

Of course you can always do the detachable faceplate thing if you feel like taking it apart and soldering wires to replace the contacts.

 

Hey Jim, whats your definition of a somewhat reasonable price? I like my music, but I like my go-fast parts more!