Would this radio work?
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: East Coast
Would this radio work?
Would the premium sound am/fm cassette radio from a 86 or 88 lincoln work in my 86 f150? My owners manual shows an optional radio that looks just like it, but would it plug in? Thanks!
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 195
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From: Chicago, IL
Would this radio work?
if you have the original harness on the truck, yes it can, if not, you can always rig up a harness from the donor car OR junkyard car.
keep in mind this: you will NOT get any benefit as far as sound quality. premium sound uses better speakers and an amp (located in the trunk) to make it premium sound. the stereo is the same as any other factory stereo. you can install the factory amp (as I did with my ranger.. took the amp, wiring hrness and stereo out of my '87 CrownVic after installing an aftermarket stereo for it) but requires alot of pateince and wiring. i do not have the wiring codes on me right now for that amp.
keep in mind this: you will NOT get any benefit as far as sound quality. premium sound uses better speakers and an amp (located in the trunk) to make it premium sound. the stereo is the same as any other factory stereo. you can install the factory amp (as I did with my ranger.. took the amp, wiring hrness and stereo out of my '87 CrownVic after installing an aftermarket stereo for it) but requires alot of pateince and wiring. i do not have the wiring codes on me right now for that amp.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Weston, Nebraska
Would this radio work?
Go to Crutchfeild and buy a CD Player. They give you all the nessacary wiring for free for your exact car or truck. I did it in my 86 F-150 4x4 L-6, wasn't to bad to put in, but now I have a 400watt amp, subs, 300watt speakers, 6 1/2in. speakers on the receiver, so that thing really bumps. Sounds better then those kids with rice grinders rattleing there rims off. They sound like crap if you ask me.
Redneck-Cowboy
Redneck-Cowboy
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Joined: Oct 2002
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Would this radio work?
im doing the same thing i have from a 97 windstar which is the radio model most 90's ford used, black one, no knows or dials, digital radio. i will never take this radio out my truck(if i can get it in) the harness that i need that most 90's ford cars use. my local junkyards want no less then 20 for them. but i still need the plastic adapter or should i get a 84-86 radio and ac bezel?
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 195
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From: Chicago, IL
Would this radio work?
for the windstar stereo, all you really need is the bezel that has the DIN (rectangle) opening. i'll post up a pic later, but that stereo you mentioned is very similar to the one I have. they will look the same, but the difference between mine and yours is that yours REQUIRES an amp, or at least i'm almost certain of this. I know on both Club Wagons, Aerostars and Windstars they liked to do that where they use a pre-amp stereo and combine it with an amp since they use a multiple-speaker system.
I was lucky and got my stereo out of a '95 Taurus GL. the connections on mine are the same as the '85+ Ford. in fact in your application, theoretically all you really need is to rig up an amp to that stereo. the power connection should be the same.
I was lucky and got my stereo out of a '95 Taurus GL. the connections on mine are the same as the '85+ Ford. in fact in your application, theoretically all you really need is to rig up an amp to that stereo. the power connection should be the same.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 195
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From: Chicago, IL
Would this radio work?
thats how it will look. it fits like a glove! there are locking tangs on the side of these stereos, and with that, it locks right into place at the opening. the only thing, you can notice a small gap at the top edge, ut thats no biggie.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 503
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Would this radio work?
nice you got that one but the early version where it had some time plastic around very thin, i dont think my radio is prenium as this one was i think from another ford because the windstars original radio was stolen.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 195
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From: Chicago, IL
Would this radio work?
Don hermanito, does it have 2 holes on each side of the stereo like mine? does it have small **** on the left side of it? through your description, i'm assuming its an older early '90's model.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 195
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From: Chicago, IL
Would this radio work?
ok Now i know whcih one you refer to. its an older model, and was used on the '90-94 Lincoln Towncar, CrownVic, and GrandMarquis. also the early '91-92 Exploders used them as well.
thhat model will fit just as well
thhat model will fit just as well
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,038
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From: South Kitsap County, WA
I ended up grafting a headlight switch and harness out of a '87-'91 F150 to get my Topaz radio to illuminate correctly. I went to the dealership and got the headlight switch wiring diagram for my '82, the headlight switch wiring diagram for an '88 F150 (iirc), and the wiring diagram for the radio out of a '91 Topaz. These were the years of the wiring harnesses. I used the diagrams to trace wiring colors to their final destination and uses, as the colors change from year to year.
The radio fit like LTDmasta's. The radio style was a slight bit different.
-Kerry
The radio fit like LTDmasta's. The radio style was a slight bit different.
-Kerry
Last edited by kspilkinton; Oct 18, 2003 at 04:53 PM.