Radio
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1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2023
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Radio
I recently bought a '89 F-250 XLT Lariat. With no radio. (Single Din hole) I took it to car toys and they said it would be almost 2 grand to install a basic radio. Claiming that with the age of the truck they have to replace the speakers and re-wire everything or a new radio won't work. When I asked why they said the current speaker have a single wire whereas newer speakers have two wires and and new radio would be set up for 2 wire speakers and the single wire speakers won't work. I'm tempted to just go to Walmart but also don't want to waste money on a new radio for it not to work.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2017
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From: Northern Ontario
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Is there a rectangular connector and antenna cable in the hole where the radio goes or is all the factory cabling missing?
If factory cabling is there a factory radio(from a junkyard for example) will plug right in, it wont sound as good as a modern system but it will work... assuming the factory speakers are still functional. If the speakers are dead you can replace them with something else, speakers don't care if the ground goes to chassis or back to the head unit, but a modern head unit may not like that setup.
Is this a reg cab or crew? There are only 2 door speakers in a reg cab of this vintage and only 4 (I think) in a crew, so there isn't a ton of speaker wire to run if you did want to do that.
If factory cabling is there a factory radio(from a junkyard for example) will plug right in, it wont sound as good as a modern system but it will work... assuming the factory speakers are still functional. If the speakers are dead you can replace them with something else, speakers don't care if the ground goes to chassis or back to the head unit, but a modern head unit may not like that setup.
Is this a reg cab or crew? There are only 2 door speakers in a reg cab of this vintage and only 4 (I think) in a crew, so there isn't a ton of speaker wire to run if you did want to do that.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2022
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I call bs, I plugged new speakers in, was sent a radio from one of our fellow forums member, and all the adapters, while not pretty or perfect (I can't get stock trim on) cost like $50 plus $100 for speakers, plus whatever you are willing to spend on a radio. Nowhere near $2000
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2023
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Yeah...definitely not a $2000 dollar job. I've put three different radios in my 94 and took five minutes is all. Should be fairly similar in the bricknose. I'm still running factory speakers and wiring and they're actually not that bad for everyday yes. Just don't put them on blast...DEFINITELY didn't turn them up so loud they vibrated the mirrors and blew one of them out...
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 416
Yeah...definitely not a $2000 dollar job. I've put three different radios in my 94 and took five minutes is all. Should be fairly similar in the bricknose. I'm still running factory speakers and wiring and they're actually not that bad for everyday yes. Just don't put them on blast...DEFINITELY didn't turn them up so loud they vibrated the mirrors and blew one of them out...
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 991
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As of right now I'm running a 20 dollar Jensen unit. Really nice radio and for the price even better. Although I like it I'm looking at a red Pioneer head unit because I hate the blue lights on the Jensen. Super bright at night and just kind of annoying to have that thing lighting up the entire cab. That and the microphone sucks so I can't take calls through it either which is the entire reason I wanted this radio.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2022
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As of right now I'm running a 20 dollar Jensen unit. Really nice radio and for the price even better. Although I like it I'm looking at a red Pioneer head unit because I hate the blue lights on the Jensen. Super bright at night and just kind of annoying to have that thing lighting up the entire cab. That and the microphone sucks so I can't take calls through it either which is the entire reason I wanted this radio.
This is mine, the color changes, or I can set it steady. No mic, but I don't need it. Eventually I'll figure out the trim situation, as I'd rather not butcher the original trim, I almost did.
It's from a totalled Cadillac
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2023
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Sweet! That's very similar to the one I'm looking at. I think the one I'm looking at doesn't change colors but I've changed all the lights to either the factory green and orange or red. Probably will eventually change the green gauge cluster to red as I like the red at night. Enough to see but not ungodly bright.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,697
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Sweet! That's very similar to the one I'm looking at. I think the one I'm looking at doesn't change colors but I've changed all the lights to either the factory green and orange or red. Probably will eventually change the green gauge cluster to red as I like the red at night. Enough to see but not ungodly bright.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 991
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The red floor lights aren't as bright as they look. My phone just brightens these pictures automatically. As you can see that blue is pretty damn bright. The picture doesn't show it well but leaves a horrible glare in my eye. Only reason I'm hesitant on changing the dash lights (which I might add don't bother be much at all and can be dimmed) but there's this green film on the back of them you have to scrape off to actually make it another color. Kind of a pain but I definitely have considered it.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,697
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Lol u can't see the hot glue holding down the shifter boot on mine.
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