Anyone know of an easy way to allow an mp3 or ipod plugin since there is no cassette in these? Same would apply to a mobile XM. I use the cassette with a pigtail in my truck and it would be great to have some option for the Camaro.

 

There is no easy way that I know of. The method I used involved opening the radio case, cutting some wires and splicing in some long wires to go to a 2/4-way audio jack on the instrument panel. Most folks put the jack on the front of the radio someplace. I wanted it less conspicuous, and therefore had to use longer wires and outside the radio.

 

Thanks, I had hoped there was some simple jack location possibly on the disc changer in the back or elsewhere. This is a good fix for sure. I have decided to start using the car more (9,745 miles) so wonder if I could eliminate the disc changer and use that wiring for the connection. Also I wonder if that would defeat the steering wheel controls. While on the subject sort of can a person make a Bluetooth connection and it work. Wife uses hers in her truck and if she takes the car I do not want her shifting a 6 speed and on the darn phone too. Do you think there are 3rd party things a person could buy and I do not want to chop the car up and replace the radio really. Thanks again.

 

You can't use the disk changer cable for anything else but the changer. It uses a computer-like bus for control. You would have to somehow fool the radio into thinking the changer was playing ok. As it is, the wiring I posted also needs to have a working CD in the player running at the same time. That's so the radio keeps the amps running while "thinking" a CD is playing. It's far from a prefect solution but I know of no other way with this radio.
The steering controls are not affected by the wiring mod. The car has no Bluetooth capability.
What you are looking for is probably a newer head unit. I am just trying to keep mine original and still have some flexibility.

 

Thanks. I will do what you did if I can. I, too, do not want to cut up the car and want the factory radio to be intact or appear to be. With less than 10k miles I am not doing anything I cannot undo to make it like it rolled off the assembly line.

 

Let me know if you need more details.

 

Why not just go with a Monsoon Cassette HU? ALL '97-'02 Monsoon Cassette HU's will control the stock 12 disc changer, then you can have CD, Cassette, and even Bluetooth with ION's new Bluetooth Cassette. Mine just came in today. It's FAR, FAR from CD quality, but it was nice to finally bluetooth my phone to my '98 Z28 with stock Monsoon HU today...

 

If he is happy with the cassette adapter's sound quality (not the best), that would work.

 

That's what I was thinking as well...

As a side note to the OP, Monsoon Cassette HU's can be had in the $30-$50 range on eBay if you're patient, but if you want one that matches your interior perfectly, make sure it's from an '00-'02. The '97-'99 HU's were a dark gray and the '00-'02 HU's are black, so there is a bit of a color difference if that matters to you...