STEREO UPGRADES

[james ross]

To any and all:
Now that we have discussed the air suspension leaks I would like some
info on my next step in the upgrading of my coach. THE STEREO! I have
the manuals for the coach but Iwould like to hear from some who have
done it. I have the old 8 track stereo and would like to upgrade to a
cassette with seperate disc drive and new speakers.
What speakers to use in the roof panel where the light and small
speaker is now? Just above the driver's and passengers window. Also in
the rear compartment. Do you have to rip the interior out to run new
wires or??????? The newer stereos are not the same size as the old GM
radios and the newer stereos don't use the two knob system. How do you
install them in the old hole and have a nice finish after to the larger
hole of the old stereo????
What should I look out for?????? If this has been previously discussed
to death, perhaps someone could e-mail me personally with the info.
Thanks in advance and all the best to one and all in the New Year.

Jim Ross
1976 Edgemont

 

[bill wallace]

> To any and all:
> Now that we have discussed the air suspension leaks I would like some
> info on my next step in the upgrading of my coach. THE STEREO! I have
> the manuals for the coach but Iwould like to hear from some who have
> done it. I have the old 8 track stereo and would like to upgrade to a
> cassette with seperate disc drive and new speakers.
> What speakers to use in the roof panel where the light and small
> speaker is now? Just above the driver's and passengers window. Also in
> the rear compartment. Do you have to rip the interior out to run new
> wires or??????? The newer stereos are not the same size as the old GM
> radios and the newer stereos don't use the two knob system. How do you
> install them in the old hole and have a nice finish after to the larger
> hole of the old stereo????
> What should I look out for?????? If this has been previously discussed
> to death, perhaps someone could e-mail me personally with the info.
> Thanks in advance and all the best to one and all in the New Year.
>
> Jim Ross
> 1976 Edgemont

You want Crutchfield, Richmond, VA. They have radios with the two knob
configuration. I bought Kenwood model 3006 or something like that. It also has
plug to control CD player. Early GMC's had one side of speaker connected to
ground. Mine (78) did not. Either run an extra wire or get the device they have to
isolate radio ground from speaker ground. Obviously a series of audio
transformers. Costd $29.00. Much better than fishing wires. Check with ohmeter to
see if one side of speaker is grounded. Crutchfield has 800 number, but right now
it eludes me. Call 800-555-1212 to get it. Hope this helps.
Bill - K3SVO

"This day will go down in history. For the first time
a nation has registered all it's firearms" Adolph Hitler, 1935

 

[scott woodward]

>To any and all:
> Now that we have discussed the air suspension leaks I would like some
>info on my next step in the upgrading of my coach. THE STEREO! I have

I just finished a stereo upgrade on my coach. Very similar to what you are
proposing with the cassette/radio control head and remote CD changer. I put
the CD changer in the small "box" under the co-pilot seat. I think that it
is good use of the space.

> What speakers to use in the roof panel where the light and small

I used 3.5" round in the front and 4x10" in the rear. The Pioneer speakers
I used were direct replacement in respect to the existing mounting studs.

>wires or??????? The newer stereos are not the same size as the old GM

Bill Wallace is correct with his comment on the issue of speaker wiring. I
chose to run new wires in lieu of a transformer type connection. I couldn't
see spending that much money on a quality stereo just to have a transformer
modify the frequency response.

>radios and the newer stereos don't use the two knob system. How do you
>install them in the old hole and have a nice finish after to the larger

The unit that I installed was of the newer style without any knobs (dubbed
DIN, I believe). It was actually the easiest part of the installation
compared to running the wires. I used a trim ring to cover the gap that was
present around the periphery of the stereo face. It looks very nice.