Howdy All!!!
Well, we brought the new '71 home last week. What a beautiful car!! I can't thank you all enough for your input and thoughts.. I will be posting pics as soon as I can figure out how to do it!!
Well now, I, not being the ultimate traditionalist, would like to (NEED TO!!) upgrade the stereo to something with CD capabilities. I've looked around, and the one company that keeps coming up is "Custom Autosound". I'm wondering if any of you fine folks have used them, or if not, what stereos have you had the best luck with??
I really appreciate all your replies to all my novice questions, and if anyone has easy-to-follow instructions on posting a picture, I could use that too!!
My Best To You All,
GRIZZ

Grizz,

Part of the joy of an early C3 is the crappy radio! The only time mine is ever on is if I'm waiting for someone in a parking lot & the engine is not running. Otherwise . . . way too much rumble. Sorry I can't advise on upgrades. Looking forward to seeing your pics!

~ Joe

|QUOTE|GRIZZ said: Howdy All!!!
Well, we brought the new '71 home last week. What a beautiful car!! I can't thank you all enough for your input and thoughts.. I will be posting pics as soon as I can figure out how to do it!!
Well now, I, not being the ultimate traditionalist, would like to (NEED TO!!) upgrade the stereo to something with CD capabilities. I've looked around, and the one company that keeps coming up is "Custom Autosound". I'm wondering if any of you fine folks have used them, or if not, what stereos have you had the best luck with??
I really appreciate all your replies to all my novice questions, and if anyone has easy-to-follow instructions on posting a picture, I could use that too!!
My Best To You All,
GRIZZ |/QUOTE|

Grizz,

I have heard that with most aftermarket radios, you need to do some cutting of the dash mounting trim. If you ever decide to go back original, you have to buy new trim.

Mine is original, so I just act like it is 1979, and listen to the crappy stereo. Amazing, the difference in stereo's, and speakers since then.

Grizz,
I have the radio you are looking at. The USA5 ( I think it is a 5 ). am/fm sterio plus cassette. I also got the 5 CD changer with it. The controls are extremely small and the readout dial for the stations and CD tracks is even smaller. The only time I can hear the radio is when I am standing still ( it is a 100 watt unit ) and the CD changer is a real pain in the butt. It works one day and craps out the next. I sent everything back once and the unit I got back was not much better. If you want my best advice on this....buy an after market gauge bezel, cut out the radio mounting spot, remount your gauges and mount a good head unit in it and slap an amp and CD changer in the back. OR buy a completely remote unit ( I think the company is secret audio ) and do everything using a remote control.

Hey Grizz, you can also check out www.crutchfield.com
I have purchased from them before and they are very knowledgeable, nice and price competitive

|UPDATED|8/12/2002 9:59:45 PM|/UPDATED|

Congrats on your "new" Vette...!!! I've gone just the opposite direction as you in regards to the sound system (or lack there of!). A previous owner had installed an aftermarket "noisemaker" which just didn't look at all right in "The Toy". So I hunted down an original AM/FM stereo radio to replace it with. Haven't gotten it to work completely yet, but thats ok as I'd rather listen to the sound of the car than tunes when I'm out and about.

|QUOTE|GRIZZ said: ... and if anyone has easy-to-follow instructions on posting a picture, I could use that too!! ...|/QUOTE|

In the upper right hand corner of most pages within the site you will find a link for Help. While still somewhat incomplete, there should be enough there to get you through the steps of getting images uploaded into your Personal File Folder. After that it is relatively easy to post an image. Feel free to ask for any assistance if you can't get an image to display.

I had an aftermarket pioneer headunit and disc changer put into my Vette when I first got it. Music was important then because it was my only car. Now that I have a truck I took the pioneer stuff out of the Vette and put it in the truck (which the disc changer was stolen two weeks ago from under my drivers seat) and now I put a temporary really low performance aftermarket headunit into the vette because it was free. Now when I'm in the Vette I only want to hear the car running and I sometimes wish I wouldn't have cut the intrument bezel. I haven't decided which road to take... either getting a repro bezel and an old style unit or just getting a better aftermarket to fit into what is already cut. I could glue the cutout back in, but I doubt that would look too good . Stereos in these things are a tough choice.

One other thig I forgot to mention. If/when you put a new stereo in it, make sure you get the plug in harness for the factory wiring. That way if you want to go back to stcok when you sell it, you can just plug the factory one back in. The guy I bought mine from cut all of the wires and now it is a mess under there.

Congrats Grizz on the new baby.

I may have an answer for you regarding your radio. I have developed a plate that allows you to modify your center gauge bezel to accept a modern DIN radio. You will have to cut away a porton of the bezel but the plate "hides" the cut. It is very professional looking when finished.

If you are concerned about cutting the original gauge bezel you can get one from me already modified and store the original.

The reason I came up with this adapter is I purchased a Custom USA-5 and CD changer. My disappointment after spending over $500 is still some issue for me. (Mine is for sale too for $75.00 and I don't think it is worth that!!!!) With the cost of the plate, a new bezel, a 160 watt am/fm/cd player, 500 watt amp, and rear speaker box for around $700 I have a stereo that overcomes any amount of road noise and doesn't sound like I have tin cans for speakers.

With this adapter you can put any brand and options you desire, up to and including the DVD players now available.

If you have questions, e-mail me at alex@vettespecialties.com

Alex,
I just took a look at your site. VERY NICE. You will be hearing from me by e-mail with a couple questions. First question being "how do I convince my wife that after buying the USA5 and a CD changer, that I need to spend another 600-800 dollars for another sterio"
I hope you don't mind but I am going to put a link to your web site on this post cause I think a bunch of the C3 owners out there may be interested in it.
Sigh, I can not remember how to make this actually link instead of just showing the URL. Would one of you moderators DETAIL how to make a link work on a post? I managed to get it working on my profile but not out here.
Thanks !
http://www.vettespecialties.com

|UPDATED|8/16/2002 8:46:34 AM|/UPDATED|