Pictures of Stereo Installs

100percentjake wrote:

What is the best way to open up the back of the dash radio pocket? I have a really nice double-DIN Pioneer that I'd love to have in my Riv but it's too deep to fit and I don't really have any tool that could cut out plastic in the back of what is essentially a bucket like that.

My install guy just busted it all out with a long flat screwdriver and a hammer. He went along making a "scribe" mark with it, and then eventually broke it all out. My Alpine was going to stick out like mad, too. It's nice and flush after the "mod".

I'm not saying go ape shit and start blowing apart your dash. My buddy has been installing for years and knew right where to start hammering. I didn't ask questions.....

If you're worried, there's nothing back there. It's just a giant plastic cage. Break the back flat section out, and the radio slides all the way back.

I used a Dremel with a drill bit. It's pretty messy but a lot more precise than just hammering it out. Either way works fine, like Abaddon said there's nothing important back there.

I wonder if the cage was there to reduce NVH (or as the Asian Indians say, BSR - buzz Squeak and Rattle).

I went around the edge drilling holes and vacuuming out plastic, then went between the holes with a flathead screwdriver and a rubber mallet. Super soft plastic. Worked great.




I put in my double DIN Pioneer and painted the dash black. Anyone know how to separate the "wings" on the door cards from the rest of the door? They look like they pop out but I can't figure out where to pry or what hidden screws might exist.





Ignore the uneven-looking paint on the dashboard. There's a lot of greasy handprints that make it looks like garbage. I need to wipe it down with some degreaser.

Looks like that worked well!
Stereo upgrade is on my list.

There has been others who painted the "wings" hopefully they'll chime in.
I like the look of the black, it reminds me of my Regal's dash.
Jbird

99rivman posted this:
"They do come off of the door panel, but with a lot of difficulty! With the door panel removed you can see the tabs from that panel on the inside, they are actually melted or hot glued in or something of that nature. I'm sure they can be removed, I have never done it, but you would have to hot glue them back in or something like that."

Yes. They have to be broken out, and then fastened back in somehow. I recommend a 2-part plastic epoxy.

Well that's lame. Maybe I'll just get creative with the masking and paint them on the car.

I'm just looking for instruction on exposing the CD player in my '95 Riviera. It keeps spitting out the CD and giving an error indication. I have a spare but don't want to mess up the cover. I THOUGHT that I asked this question yesterday and I got notified that there was an answer but I cannot find it (thus this 2nd attempt).

JohnRedman wrote:

I'm just looking for instruction on exposing the CD player in my '95 Riviera. It keeps spitting out the CD and giving an error indication. I have a spare but don't want to mess up the cover. I THOUGHT that I asked this question yesterday and I got notified that there was an answer but I cannot find it (thus this 2nd attempt).

the '95 Riv dash differs from the '96 and later, and you got an answer already: https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t1187p75-write-up-riv-dash-and-door-removal#190868 - there is a chance you could not see the excerpt from the manual that was scanned into the reply.   That scan answers your question.

Basically the trim plate just pulls out and you may need to open the cupholder door for clearance.  Once the trim plate is off then IIRC there may be a DIN mount or screws I forget which. If you have to use DIN radio tools to remove the CD player, then there's a U-shaped wire you stick into a couple holes on each side of the device to relieve a couple springs and slide it out. If screws they will be obvious.

When Lance answered you he recommended you get a manual.  I support that - you'll avoid issues if you do and they are not that much when you find them: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1995-BUICK-RIVIERA-OLDSMOBILE-AURORA-GM-SERVICE-REPAIR-2-MANUAL-SET-/232343093429.

Replaced the FH-P8000BT (from 2010) with a new FH-X731BT (late 2016 model)




I could go on and on about reviewing these two against one-another but I'll hold off unless somebody's shopping for something and wants the info.
The cliffs - new one has all the slick new built-in features but is not as nice as the old one


On a related note, I did away with my ipod mount to the left of the head unit. The new head unit has a search menu that I can live with so I wanted to get the ipod out of view

This is where I have it for now - we'll see how that goes but I have a feeling I'm gonna have to do something a little more elaborate than just throw it under the steering trims lol

https://www.eonon.com/mobile/Eonon-101-Inch-Android-10-Universal-Double-Din-Car-Stereo-with-Bluetooth-50-Car-GPS-Navigation.html

Bought it a few years ago. Covers the HVAC (but its still accsesible) but the vertical height of the entire screen is adjustable. I set the climate control and usually never touch it again . Plus because the cars dimmer control runs through the radio and then to the HVAC controls, when you dim the dash lights (turn on the headlights ) after stock radio removal, the HVAC stays full brightness ..so the large screen sort of blocks it anyway so it's not a bad thing at night.. I also run a 2000 watt amp out for the speakers and 800watts for a 10in Pioneer sub box sound is superb and on a budget. ( the pictures are below this app is difficult to use and upload pictures seems to be big pain and I ended up deleting them somehow so see them below)

Its basically Android with wifi. You can use a data card too if you wish to have mobile wi fi but i just tether my phone to it for that. Included a dash cam and software that records on a usb stick,a back up cam, 1 usb port i use for exteral hard drive plus another usb port I wedge into the dash as you can see. Fit perfect. The EQ is left over from stock radio...I had added the eq because it uses blue tooth so in affect I had a stock radio before with bluetooth and amps sub and the works..but the 10.1 inch did away with its need and I dont use CD or cassette any longer. So the old eq fills the hole well and looks like it almost belongs so i have yet to remove it. I have Torque app on it as well and i put an diagnostics lead extender i got on Amazon so i can plug the OBD adapter in the center console instead of the dash . Easier for tuning and the torque app...comes with navi too so you can use google maps, waze or and embedded program (separate memory card slot in head unit behind screen) as i did . The amps are from amazon, Lanzar(?) And the 6x9 are Lanzar and the sub is Pioneer. Door speakers are cheap walmart Duals i think but i have Infinity Kapas to go in later.

I thought about putting a big screen Android device in there too, but this... I'd say 10.1" is a little bit too much )
On the other hand - whatever makes you happy, man, it's your car. It's nice to have big screen )

Personally I find the big screen goes well with the giant printing on the gauges. Just from the giant printing on the gauges alone it's obvious to me that these cars were built for people that maybe had not the best Vision anymore but I like the printing the big fonts. Fortunately my vision is still pretty good.

I did an MVH (media head unit no CD). with a shallow chassis to avoid cutting. Front and rear JBL speakers and a Pioneer 40x4 amp work for my genre of music. I wanted a low key unit in this car just in case I park it on the street away from home to try to avoid surprises.
Dash by Brian Cohen, on Flickr

DeepFrozen wrote:

I thought about putting a big screen Android device in there too, ...

He-he. I thought and I did. Bought 9" Android head unit on PX6 chipset with 4 Gb of RAM - quite enough for navigation.

Mine doesn't look like an overkill, all vents and HVAC controls are easily available.





I use this HU only for navigation and for my back-up camera. For music, BT streaming and hands-free phone calls I have 1 DIN Kenwood media player with DSP.