97 ranger stereo
Guest
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97 ranger stereo
Hi,
I have a 97 ranger with am/fm stereo cassette. I want to have a cd player but don't want to go with aftermarket player, because I want to keep my dash original. My stereo has buttons to control a cd changer, but the ford dealers says $500 for the changer. Another option is to find an original am/fm/cd ford unit for sale. Does anyone have any suggestions??
I have a 97 ranger with am/fm stereo cassette. I want to have a cd player but don't want to go with aftermarket player, because I want to keep my dash original. My stereo has buttons to control a cd changer, but the ford dealers says $500 for the changer. Another option is to find an original am/fm/cd ford unit for sale. Does anyone have any suggestions??
Guest
Posts: n/a
97 ranger stereo
If you want to keep the dash looking original but still have a great quality cd player, get a catalog from Crutchfield. They are a company out of Virginia that specializes in audio equipment. They provide listings that tell what equipment fits each automobile perfectly and then if you buy from them you don't have to cut any wires when you install the player. They provide exact hookups for each player. Their phone # is 18009553000. I have installed several radios from Crutchfield and just installed one in my 1994 Ford Ranger. Perfect fit. They just had a huge clearance sale and I got a 450.00 Kenwood cd player for 249.95. I had the entire unit removed and replaced in about and hour and a half. Good luck.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 655
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, KS
The dash changed some between '94 & '97. I have a '94, & an industry standard-style stereo fits perfectly. The '97 has a taller opening. Your choices are:
1. Find a cd player from an equal truck. I doubt you'll find one in great condition. And, as you've learned, the stealership will charge A LOT of $$$.
2. As the other user posted, check out Crutchfield.com. If you order a head unit from them, they give you a free installation kit. For a '97, they should have a dash trim piece that fills the space completely, and gives you a little storage pocket under the unit. They usually look good. You can easily put it back the way it was if you save the parts.
I know you want a stock look, but I only recommend #2. A modern head unit will sound 10x better than some late '90's OEM junk. Replace your speakers, if you can. The stock ones are TERRIBLE. You might as well use cassettes if you keep the stock speakers.
Crutchfield rocks. You can't beat them. You can easily look up what equipment fits your vehicle. Have fun.
1. Find a cd player from an equal truck. I doubt you'll find one in great condition. And, as you've learned, the stealership will charge A LOT of $$$.
2. As the other user posted, check out Crutchfield.com. If you order a head unit from them, they give you a free installation kit. For a '97, they should have a dash trim piece that fills the space completely, and gives you a little storage pocket under the unit. They usually look good. You can easily put it back the way it was if you save the parts.
I know you want a stock look, but I only recommend #2. A modern head unit will sound 10x better than some late '90's OEM junk. Replace your speakers, if you can. The stock ones are TERRIBLE. You might as well use cassettes if you keep the stock speakers.
Crutchfield rocks. You can't beat them. You can easily look up what equipment fits your vehicle. Have fun.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 482
Likes: 5
The dash changed some between '94 & '97. I have a '94, & an industry standard-style stereo fits perfectly. The '97 has a taller opening. Your choices are:
1. Find a cd player from an equal truck. I doubt you'll find one in great condition. And, as you've learned, the stealership will charge A LOT of $$$.
2. As the other user posted, check out Crutchfield.com. If you order a head unit from them, they give you a free installation kit. For a '97, they should have a dash trim piece that fills the space completely, and gives you a little storage pocket under the unit. They usually look good. You can easily put it back the way it was if you save the parts.
I know you want a stock look, but I only recommend #2. A modern head unit will sound 10x better than some late '90's OEM junk. Replace your speakers, if you can. The stock ones are TERRIBLE. You might as well use cassettes if you keep the stock speakers.
Crutchfield rocks. You can't beat them. You can easily look up what equipment fits your vehicle. Have fun.
1. Find a cd player from an equal truck. I doubt you'll find one in great condition. And, as you've learned, the stealership will charge A LOT of $$$.
2. As the other user posted, check out Crutchfield.com. If you order a head unit from them, they give you a free installation kit. For a '97, they should have a dash trim piece that fills the space completely, and gives you a little storage pocket under the unit. They usually look good. You can easily put it back the way it was if you save the parts.
I know you want a stock look, but I only recommend #2. A modern head unit will sound 10x better than some late '90's OEM junk. Replace your speakers, if you can. The stock ones are TERRIBLE. You might as well use cassettes if you keep the stock speakers.
Crutchfield rocks. You can't beat them. You can easily look up what equipment fits your vehicle. Have fun.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 655
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, KS
When I visited the Ranger/B-Series posts last night, this thread showed up as a RECENT one. I didn't read the date, I seldom do when the thread is one of the first TEN on the list. Maybe there's an issue with the site or the way it shows up on Android phones. Sorry I'm an idiot.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
Thanks for the new info, phoskins. There are still plenty of '97 Rangers on the road and this helped me with some stereo decisions. It'll pop up when other folks do a search, too.
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Junior User
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No harm done, its just a post lol
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