Replace radio with screen?

[Mean_Green]

Factory radio has a couple of buttons missing. I don't know if the rest of it works, nor do I really care. I don't listen to radio, nor do I carry cassettes or CDs. I removed the antenna.

I see some products out there that claim to fit a '98. Are they direct install using the same mounting? What about power wiring? Don't care so much about speakers as I won't be using audio. More interested in one of the units that include a backup camera. Front mount dash cam would be good too as an extra. Less interested in mapping, but as long as it doesn't need extras and subscriptions, I might be OK with that. BT to display notes from phone might be good.

 

[east302]

The factory radio is a 1.5 DIN size versus a double DIN which is what most (if not all) aftermarket Apple CarPlay and Android Auto receivers are manufactured to.

The wiring is easy and harnesses can be purchased from Crutchfield and other car audio places. They typically mount using the factory mounting points though some require cutting the back inside of the dash when the receiver is too deep to fit.

The problem is the double DIN size. These aren’t my pictures, but you would either have to fit a trim surround bezel on the new radio, cutting the factory bezel a bit…



…or buy a new bezel. Metra DP-3003 is one and there are plenty of other manufacturers to chose from. That bezel (paint to match) has the opening sized for the double DIN so that you don’t have to cut out the plastic horizontal piece between the radio and HVAC control.

​

Metra’s kit includes a template for cutting new holes to lower the a/c control. Otherwise, the top of the labels are obscured:



I put one of those Metra bezels in my son’s 98 a year or so ago but didn’t take any pictures of it. The supplied clips were junk and I had to reuse some of the factory bezel clips though not all would fit onto the Metra panel. And so, it didn’t stay on all that well and we’ve since sold the truck. For the price ($150?) I thought they could have improved on the clip attachment points.

That’s about it for radio options unless you can find a 1.5DIN or a single DIN with a small screen.

Another option for rear camera is a rearview mirror with an integrated screen. Gentex is one manufacturer that comes to mind.

 

[Mean_Green]

Too much DinDin.

I see a few singles, but they look weird with the button/knobs off to the sides.






Not sure how far I'll go with this. Don't want to hack stuff up or replace the entire cowling. I see kits that say they include one and the wiring adapters for 80 bucks or so, an additional charge over the $75-100+ for the unit.

 

[Mean_Green]

New to the DIN thing, but this looks like a double, even though it says single.

https://www.amazon.com/Touchscreen-Carplay-Rimoody-Bluetooth-Multimedia/dp/B09WR6D6L2

And there's this one (among many others)

https://www.amazon.com/AMPrime-Bluetooth-Receiver-Multimedia-Support/dp/B08XLTYJYY

But can the no-names be trusted?

 

[Swagfu]

I put a double din in my 99. Had to get a new dash panel and I had to trim some plastic inside the din area. Hear is the finished product.

 

[Mean_Green]

Not interested in replacing the panel or cutting stuff.

I've looked at a few 1 DINs and an adapter bracket that fits them into the factory space. The ones I've seen have rear cameras, but I'm not convinced the screen is big enough to make the view usable. And even at $50 or so for both , I haven't been able to push the Buy button.

 

[Scott in AZ]

Sony w/out CD player fits in the dreaded 1.5XDIN space well because they are relatively shallow, but you will need a new Bezel such as this Metra. Don’t forget to change your speakers, they are likely blown and disintegrated. Crutchfield is super helpful.

 

[Mean_Green]

Got a little one Din thing with a backup camera and a trim ring for it that is supposed to be a direct fit. Don't really care much about the speakers. My hearing isn't that great and I may not have music playing anyways.

But now I'm wondering about the CD player and what might fit in that hole. Since I have to pull the dash apart again to do the radio, I'll probably remove it. Maybe some kind of auxiliary meters?

 

[PG01]

Got a little one Din thing with a backup camera and a trim ring for it that is supposed to be a direct fit. Don't really care much about the speakers. My hearing isn't that great and I may not have music playing anyways.

But now I'm wondering about the CD player and what might fit in that hole. Since I have to pull the dash apart again to do the radio, I'll probably remove it. Maybe some kind of auxiliary meters?

Pack of cigarettes or 2

 

[Mean_Green]

In process. Will get another shot of it powered up later. I was going to ask what that other connector was, but there was another one just like it plugged into the CD player, so that seems to be it.