Custom radio istall idea...

[V]

So, ive been thinking about doing a stereo upgrade in the V.

I could swap out the complete OEM radio and install a aftermarket stand alone setup. BUT there are a few reasons why thats not my primary option..

first off, the stock radio has Navigation...
second, The factory radio has all the personal preference controls accessed through it, like driver settings, etc, as well as all the vehicle info including outside temp, fuel economy, battery voltage etc.
third, The factory radio screen serves as an information display for seatbelt/headlamp warnings, when Traction control engages, as well as confirming setting of competative mod and Stabilitrack on and off.

The reason i DO wanna change the radio are the following...
Better radio quality, RCA outputs for an amp, USB and bluetooth capabilities. I would still be using the stock BOSE system for the interior speakers by using a specific interface for the car.
and the stock CD changer is having issues, often i cant change tracks becaus eit wont be able to find the song and i end up having to go to a different CD or back to the first track. Its a common issue with this radio.
And buying a used radio, in good condition is 500+ bucks...

With the custom setup im thinking of doing, I'd first remove the 6 disc CD changer section of the OEM radio. the width is the same as the the aftermarket radio. Once the CD changer part is removed then the climate controls would be lowered about 2" down the where the ashtray currently is. The ash tray front would now just become a filler panel since i dont use it anyway plus i have a 12v power port on the back side of the center console anyway.

The oem radio would still stay connected and functional but its speaker outputs would be connected to the AUX inputs of the new radio. That way, I would retain the NAV system and OnStar/XM(neither which i use currently though)

The following pics show a rough photoshop of my idea...
1st pic is how the stock setup is.
2nd pic is how the new custom install would look.
I know i could make it function, just a lil time consuming to do...

Opinions?



http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/dash1.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/dashmod.jpg

[V]

heres a similar type install, except mine would be lower to allow keeping the stock screen...

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/2506/3781/31264390001_large.jpg



and here is a stand alone only setup, which IMO looks too empty..

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/1/web/2437000-2437999/2437346_12_full.jpg

[V]

and for those who think i lost my mind even considering this...
here's an exploded veiw of the Navi radio... see how the changer unit is basically separate.

http://www.cadillacfaq.com/faq/answers/img/navrad-ins.jpe

[V]

im doing it, lol.

I pulled the radio today, opened it up and yanked the 6 disc CD changer section.
I then cut out the front of the metal radio housing to allow the Pioneer radio to slide up into it.
Once that was done, i measured a lil, and cut the CD slot are out of the radio face itself.
I have a little more fine trimming to do but its pretty close.

Tomorrow ill work on the lower bezel. Mainly dropping the Climate controls down about 2". with how im doing it, I dont plan on doing and filler/fiberglass work to any of the bezels.

Then on thursday I should be ready to splice into the wiring and get it all functional.



Heres a quick shot of the Pioneer radio just mocked up in the stock radio. Thats as far as i got tonight.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/radio1.jpg

[sweetbmxrider]

you are crazier than they say :lol:

[V]

i think of cars as legos.... they come one way, but you can do SO much more with a little imagination... and by unbolting and unscrewing anythigng in sight...

[sweetbmxrider]

you and matt should hang out more often :lol: he always compares his car to legos

[wretched73]

looks pretty sweet to me, your gonna look pretty officially with all your screens and buttons and what not

[Green_Phoenix_LT1]

Looking good. A buddy of mine did a similar job with his 2008 subaru outback legacy. Pretty much the same factory type set-up as yours and his turned out really sweet. Good luck with everything.

[V]

ok, evening 2 of working on it is complete, time to rest.
Tomorrow i gotta make mounts to the main frame for the new climate control location, and then cut the old ashtray face down to make the new front lower filler panel.
I pulled the power port from inside the ash tray and im going to mount it center in the lower filler panel and it will look almost stock.

heres a current status pic....

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/radio2.jpg

[ib4200]

that looks great!

[wretched73]

looks like it belongs that way

[thunder]

looks like it belongs that way

agreed

[V]

heres a pic of the basically finished center dash section. I just gotta pop in the top air vents which were untouched but are out in the car.

Other than the climate controls being 1.75" lower now, the ash tray no longer exists, just a filler panel but as you can see, i moved the 12v power port to the pass side of that panel.

Next step is wiring it all up.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/100_4251.jpg

[V]

I wired the radio tonight, so far...very good. its late and im tired so ill post more info about it this weekend.

[BonzoHansen]

Can you get the 'pioneer' off it w/o damaging it?

[Tru2Chevy]

Yea, I say try to get the Pioneer logo off, and add a second factory power port to that lower section and it will look just about perfect.

- Justin

[Jersey Mike]

It looks like you cut the ashtray door?

[SteveR]

Wow, that looks great.

[V]

It looks like you cut the ashtray door?

yea, like i stated earlier, ash tray door was cut 1.75" and is no longer a door.



I have plans to deal with the gloss trim, it will all be matte black soon enough and the pioneer will be gone.

The stock volume knob and all EQ controls of the stock radio stayed intact, even the navi voice guidance is fully functional still.


Here are some installed pictures... and i even found a nice background to put on the pioneer...

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/0507101246-01.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/0509102122-00.jpg

[qwikz28]

That looks amazing. Paul, I'm impressed man.

[Jersey Mike]

yea, like i stated earlier, ash tray door was cut 1.75" and is no longer a door.



I have plans to deal with the gloss trim, it will all be matte black soon enough and the pioneer will be gone.

The stock volume knob and all EQ controls of the stock radio stayed intact, even the navi voice guidance is fully functional still.


Here are some installed pictures... and i even found a nice background to put on the pioneer...



http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/0509102122-00.jpg

That looks stellar!

This guy on the Cadillac forums was making LED HVAC units, that eliminated the amber light & put out a more white light, for the CTS/CTS-Vs a while back, I think he still does a few projects here and there.
Here's a link to one of his posts, his name is Rob. Let me know if you want his email.
http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/1647823-post3.html

[V]

that led swap is interesting but not my taste. It would look too out of place IMO.

[sweetbmxrider]

very, very nice!

[Green_Phoenix_LT1]

A+++++ job Paul. It will look even better once you have the trim matched up.

[LS1 4Good]

You have some big balls to go cutting at your dash panel like that.. something I could never do!

[BigAls87Z28]

DUDE! That looks awesome! Really friggin awesome!

[maroman88]

that does look awesome

[FoodStampsz]

/jealous

[mandinggo01]

that look good

[V]

ok, i finally got around to ordering the product that will allow me to make the pioneer trim matte black, should be done this weekend.

I had also bought a black paint marker and touched up the chipped/peeling paint on the buttons. They look a whole lot better now.

Once i get to swap in the new polycarbonate nav screen lens, and clean it all up[, ill post some more final pictures.

[V]

I FINALLY got to doing the matte treatment to the pioneer head unit, i also re-did the part of the bezel between the 2 screens to clean up the cut line. ill get pics up tomorrow when i reinstall the radio..again.. lol

[V]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/ctsradiomatte.jpg

[92REDBIRD]

Looks good, did everything fit the way you wanted?

[rbaksi]

Looks great man, the matte makes it blend in well and not out of place. I'm guessing its impossible to get lost with two navigation units lol.

[V]

yea, the pioneer unit isnt navi, thats one of the reasons i wanted to keep the stock radio