Replacing stereo for 78 280z

[ZCarLife]

I'm looking at a 78 280z to buy that has the original radio. I want to replace it with a cd player/radio. How much can I expect to pay for something that is good quality (the stereo and labor for a place to put it in for me)?

Thanks,

C

Edited September 24, 2009 by ZCarLife

[draztik280]

Pioneers are really good brand and affordable for me. but this is just me. In my opinion, I say stick with the original stereo or buy a retro stereo to keep it's originality.

[EScanlon]

http://www.cartoys.com/

[FastWoman]

There are different lines of thought with regard to originality. There are the mint-condition, factory original cars with all the original stickers, original types of tires, original wheels and caps, and maybe even a factory original battery without the battery acid in it. These cars are a beauty to behold and are often quite valuable. However, you can't actually *drive* them or enjoy them the same way you would an ordinary car. An aftermarket stereo in such a car would destroy much of its value.

Then there are the cars that the remaining 99.5% of us own. If it's a nice car, don't go cutting holes in your sheet metal, and make sure you can put everthing back to original if necessary, but yes, do go for a stereo you like. Everyone else does, and it won't really hurt the value. If it's not a particularly nice car, do whatever makes you happy.

As for cost? It all depends on what you want. I'd be careful of professional installers, though. They often do rather "meatball" work. They won't love your car the same way you do.

[260zCaliCar]

I had a lot of luck installing a retrosound stereo, I can plug a flash drive full of mp3's into it, or even connect my ipod to it using a headphone jack.

I cut the faceplate myself. It didn't require any modification to the dash, or console. So if I ever wanted (and I don't know why I would), I can always put the original radio back in.

This stereo also comes with a remote control, so if you want to leave the original radio in place for originality, you can install the retrosound stereo under the seat or in the glove box.

Just an option.

[Travel'n Man]

I had a lot of luck installing a retrosound stereo, I can plug a flash drive full of mp3's into it, or even connect my ipod to it using a headphone jack.

This stereo also comes with a remote control, so if you want to leave the original radio in place for originality, you can install the retrosound stereo under the seat or in the glove box.

Just an option.

I agree and install worked great for my '72

[TomoHawk]

I can confirm the bad installs those "professional" installers do. I took my car to one, becauuse they had a sale on JVC car stereos, and I even gave them a copy of the wiring diagram for the 280Z radio harness, and I found it crumpled on the floor later. The idiot actally wired the radio into the HEATER and the HAZARD switch wiring! I didn't findout until that winter when I took the radio out for torage. He didn't even use crimped connectors as I ordered; he used those cheap plastic snap-things.

I tore the whole thing out myself later that winter and wired the radio correctly into the radio harness, soldered the places where the plastic taps cut the wire and covered the joints with shrink-tube.

Those (discount) professionals don't care about your classic car with the traditional wiring. They just want to get your car out the door so they can do the new car with the easy wiring job that's already done- they just plug the radio into the car and collect payment.

I wonder if they actually know anything about car electrics, besides what the installation paper says.

thxZ

Edited September 26, 2009 by TomoHawk

[ZCarLife]

I wonder if places that specialize in working on older Z cars could do it for me (if I get a car that I want to replace the stereo in) (and know what they are doing with installing it!). I also was wondering with the other posters with the retro stereos.. to do that, could I have a cd player with it, in the glove box or under the seat as suggested? What I want is even just a one CD stereo with am and fm radio. One that is MP3 compatible for cds that are burned...

Thanks for the info,

C

[TomoHawk]

IIRC, the retro stereos are basically a receiver and a CD controller. the CD layer goes under the seat or in the trunk, and all you see is the display.

they now have a USB port on a 19 inch wire.

http://www.retrosoundusa.com/products/category/id/1

Edited September 28, 2009 by TomoHawk

[Frankensteinz2]

Yeah this is a decision of originallity, if you want to keep it original, go with the retro. If you want some real sound, that you can tweak, you need to go with the newer brands however, expect some cuttin and modifiying.

Frankie

[260zCaliCar]

I'm really not looking to get blasted again (which seems to happen to me a lot here ), but I think you can get some "real" sound out of a retro stereo.

It has a pair of RCA pre-amp outputs in the back so it can be used as a head unit and plugged into an external EQ (even though it has an EQ built in), and then that plugged into all the amps you want.

So, between two AUX inputs (one in the front and one in the back, the one in the back uses RCA jacks), a USB port, and the RCA preamp outputs you can actually put together a very respectable sound system. Granted, and this may be important to you. It definitely doesn't have all the "bling" of some of the other head units that are available.

So the debate in my mind is more "bling with sound" or "originality with sound"... If your about originality you can get it all with the retro and a bunch of external devices... If you want bling, then the retro will fall short and you'll need to get a different head unit. Either way, after the head unit, everything else can probably be the same (but, again, I don't want to inflame anyone, so this is something for the rest of you to debate)...

FYI the retro stereo has 64 watts X 4. That's not terrible.

[260zCaliCar]

On the other hand if your really want to impress people, get a double din stereo and install it in your glove box. Then when you open it up you can have a large display pop out with navigation, satellite radio, and a dvd player. When nobody is around you can control it with a remote control.

That would be pretty cool.