Hello again,

I have another couple of questions, come to think of it.

I'd like to replace the stereo in myE'84 244; the AM/FM Cassette has gone bad (virtually no reception, only plays in fast-forward, and sends sound only to the right side of the car). Does anyone know of a head unit that will fit easily into the stock slot? From what I understand, friends of mine have had to purchase new wiring harnesses or something like that. And I don't want to do any cutting to my dash...so can anyone help me? I'm looking for a good AM/FM CD player that'll fit the slot (and preferrably the wiring) of the stock system.

Thanks!

Volfro

take a look at crutchfields.com. They will sell you a good head unit, and everything you need to install is included(wiring,template, etc.)
The extra wiring is for adapting the head unit to the volvo.

You can also find this stuff at some of the major electronic stores(frys the good guys,etc).

Theres no need to cut or drill holes in your dash.

Also, if your head unit is down by the gear shift and you want to move it up to center of the dash there is a template that fits right into the dash. You just have to move whatever is there now. In my daughters 82 there was a small compartment that had to be removed. Then reroute the wires up. But thats up to you.



Lawrence

It's an easy job, I just did it on my 1987.

To do it ultra-easy, get the template with the proper opening. If you're really on a budget, adapt the existing plate with the compartment. You got a Dremel?

The stereo has an ISO-interface. The Volvo has not. So you need the adapter cable. Plug and Play.

Regards,
Erling, Norway.

Great, that's very encouraging. I just need to know where to get the template you talked about. I AM on a budget, but that's okay; I can save for a little longer to get the template, assuming it costs anything. Anyway, where do I get it?

Thanks for your help!

Vincent

Well, I do not know the situation in the US, but over here 'all' the car stereo dealers got them. Plus the Volvo dealer.

I even got one extra lying around, bagged and unused. I found this third-party template to be a bit glossier than the rest of the dash, so I adapted the original one (cut off the compartment box).

If you're not in a hurry, I can send it to you by surface mail. Contact me at ebrox@online.no if interested.

Erling, Norway.

Hello,

Yes, it would be nice to be able to move the stereo up to the top of the dash. Mine's located at the gear-shifter, like you said, and there's nothing but a small compartment at the top. Where can I get the template that you talked about?

Also, I checked out Crutchfield. Great site. BUT the wiring mods it offered only bypass the stock amp. And they only offered a few four-inch components that fit the speaker slots in my car; though I'd be happy with the Kenwoods that they offer, I'd like something a little bigger, and a sub to go into my trunk (yes, I'm a teenager). Do you know if I can safely cut bigger holes in the back for larger speakers? And would the new wiring with the new head unit support the needed amp?

If you don't have any of that info, it's alright. I mainly want to know about the template for that upper compartment for my stereo.

Thanks!

Vincent

It bypasses the Volvo amp because the head unit has a better one built-in. Most decent head units also have RCA preamp outs so you can use a seperate aftermarket amp, attached to a sub in the trunk, gigantic speakers on the rear shelf, etc.

As far as enlarging the factory holes for speakers in the rear shelf, if you're comfortable with cutting the fiberboard of the rear shelf (rather like cutting a hole in a cardboard box), and don't mind pulling up the trim to get wires from the head unit to the amp and the amp to the speakers/sub, it should be no problem.

jeff daigle
'89 745GL 130,000 mi

Just a clarification, the website for Crutchfield is www.crutchfield.com (no "s" at the end). I just got an Aiwa MP3 CD headunit from them for our 1990 245, and included in the cost of the stereo was a wiring harness to adapt the factory wiring to the stereo's wiring harness, an installation kit to easily mount the stereo in the upper dash with no modification, and detailed instructions, specifically for my car. Everything works great, and the stereo went in very easily. I've been ordering from Crutchfield for about ten years, and they definitely have the best customer service in the business.

-Keith