Stock Radio Retrofit

[Minuit]

But Minuit, why would anyone want to do that? You should get your head checked! Everyone knows iPods and MP3s are the only way to listen to music in your car! :roll:

 

I want to put a factory Jeep radio in my MJ (no, it still isn't running. I got my priorities set right!) instead of the fancy CD player it has now, and here's why:

 

- The radio wiring in there right now is.... dubious. Someone in this truck's history thought wire nuts were appropriate for a vibrating, bumpy riding automobile. As a result the radio occasionally cut out, and it even went into protect mode once. I don't like that.

 

- The expensive radio is the only remotely stealable thing inside the MJ right now. I really, really don't want my truck to get broken into when I get it back on the road.

 

- I'm going for more of a restoration focus on my build. A 2013 era CD player doesn't match the 1984 era interior, and the stock radio just looks better.

 

- I am one of approximately 15 18 year olds in the world who listens to cassettes. I have a pretty sizeable collection.

 

Now that I've bored you with that, assuming I can find a working '91-'96 radio, would the only thing I need to do in addition to that is find an intact radio harness, cut what's in my truck now out, and splice the stock wiring back in? Would an older AMC radio (really big assumption that I could find a working one) also work? How many different model years will match with the wire colors of my '91?

 

Sorry for the long post, but any help would be appreciated.

[johnj92131]

Hear you on stealing a fancy radio. Mine had a Sony when I first got it. Took a year for some to take it from the truck. 6 years later I replaced it with a stock radio. Last week it crapped out. I have 1 more stock radio I will try. Wire colors seem to have changed every couple of years at jeep. Best to stay with 91 to 94 I think. Also just found out base truck like mine was not wired for more than 2 speakers. I also need to figure out radio wiring.

[Strokermjcomanche]

In addition to the 87-96 mj / xj radio , you can add a fm modulator that will allow you to play an mp3 or anything that uses a 3.5 mm headphone jack . This will allow you to play both and the wiring can easily be hidden so it doesn't get stolen .

[Dando]

In addition to the 87-96 mj / xj radio , you can add a fm modulator that will allow you to play an mp3 or anything that uses a 3.5 mm headphone jack . This will allow you to play both and the wiring can easily be hidden so it doesn't get stolen .

I highly recommend this, it was incredibly easy to do. Stock radio with the ability to plug in an audio device and listen to whatever I want to, plus when not in use my audio cord is completely out of sight and tucked away in the ashtray.

[johnj92131]

Not to take this thread off track, but where is the how to??

[Guest]

I'm no audiophile, but the only one I can say that rivaled the Chrysler deck IMO was the old GM Delco unit from the mid-late 80s. My old man had one in several of the cars he had when I was a kid, and I used to really crank it up when we were cruising down the roads.

 

Since I have a decent amount of the little buggers laying around (2 AMC branded ones from 84 - 87, several of the Chrysler ones ranging from 90-95) I can tell you that the only real changes were in the AMC years and early Chrysler years. IIRC, there were at most 4 different colors for in-truck wiring through the years. This is just visually from what I've seen from different XJ's and MJ's at the pick and pulls though. Any wiring harness you pull from an XJ can be mated to your MJ if you can sort out the coloring. I recommend you get the harness from the truck you pull the head unit from (to avoid confusion if different colored wiring schemes are present).

 

Most were small, subtle wiring changes, but others were sometimes 3-4 wiring colors reversed or modified for different purposes. AMC seemed to be the worst at this though, Chrysler, not so much, especially in the years you're looking for. I highly suggest getting the Chrysler "Dobly Surround" tape deck. Believe it or not, it makes a noticeable (but subtle) difference when using the tape deck or an Aux. cable running to your phone. I believe it only really effects songs with bass, or at the very least, gives them an overall increase in volume (from what I can tell).

 

Haven't had a chance to listen to the AMC decks I've got yet. Haven't had time to get any of them tested, what with working 40+ hours a week now. Below is the wiring for an 87 AMC deck, IIRC. My truck has virtually the same wiring found in what was left of the harness from the PO's dubious attempt at "installing a totally rad radio, brah". It's a different animal, but should give you a basis for discerning your own wiring.

 

I highly suggest before you pull the radio that's in there now, to make a note of what wires went where on the newer radio. I didn't do that before when I pulled the old radio out, and took me a good afternoon of guessing to figure everything out.

 

[Rockfrog]

If you need a radio, just so happens the 92 parts XJ has a quality stock cassette deck. PM me and I'll add the plug and pigtail for it. Just cover shipping.

[Jeep Driver]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1980-s-AMC-AM-FM-Radio-American-Motors-for-car-Jeep-/301538840167?rmvSB=true

[Minuit]

Rockfrog, I plan on heading to the junkyard this weekend. If I come up dry I'll be letting you know! Thanks everyone.

[86XL]

Here is my two cents, certain years of the H.O. XJ's, they have the clock in the radio, and it was plug and play. So no more extra clock needed.

I found on CL that some one had a factory jeep CD changer that came out of a grand cherokee for 10.00. I havent installed it yet but it looks pretty simple.

[86XL]

Ill post a pic tomorrow for you. of my radio.

[johnj92131]

So what year Grand Cherokee did the radio come from?  My old stock radio is crapping out.  May as well replace it with the Grand Cherokee radio with a CD.  Besides, I am seeing more Grand Cherokees in junk yards than Cherokees these days.