Modified OEM Radios “Feeler”

[ghetdjc320]

I’m thinking of picking up the torch with these radios (provided there is no other forum member working on them) and curious to know if there is any interest on refurbished/modified radios. Many options on the table. Bluetooth receiver modules, custom tuning DSP (usb programable), restored lighting and buttons/faceplates. These radios would no longer have any casette decks.
 

I’ve done batch runs of hvac control decks now and custom switch/bezel systems and these would be a good fit along with those other products.

Again, this is just a feeler at the moment

 

[Torq_Shep]

Yes please. I keep trying to convince myself to do all of this myself but I would vastly prefer to just get a built one.

 

If you do another batch of HVAC controls... 

 

I have a good RX-173, and 2x parts RX units. 

[89 MJ]

Yes!

[Pete M]

moved to Tech so more eyes will see it  

[ComancheX2]

I'd be interested as well.  After seeing this, I was just reading your other thread.  It's all Greek to me, but I may even have an old unit that could be refurbished if I can manage to clean out the garage!

[87MJTIM]

I would be interested in bluetooth function.

 

I have two original radios - one AMC and one Chrysler.  One is a RX161 and the other is a RX170. 

[jodawill]

I've been looking for someone to repair my OEM radio, but I want the cassette deck to be fixed. Would you be willing to do that, or are you strict on your no-cassette rule?

[ghetdjc320]

3 hours ago, jodawill said:

I've been looking for someone to repair my OEM radio, but I want the cassette deck to be fixed. Would you be willing to do that, or are you strict on your no-cassette rule?

I haven’t dived into the cassette mechanism at all but with as many small mechanical pieces as it has, I don’t really want to work on it. That being said, I already have a couple of good tape decks I could easily swap in for the RX-173 if yours is bad. You mentioned yours isn’t working, which model is it? 

[Spinnakerblue89]

I have a plain AM/FM radio that needs a little work done. But for me, I don't use Bluetooth ever, I use USB or SD card. Is that something that would be doable with these old radios? I hate the modern one I have inside my truck right now, not because it's bad or anything, but because it ruins the aesthetic. 

[ghetdjc320]

4 hours ago, Spinnakerblue89 said:

I have a plain AM/FM radio that needs a little work done. But for me, I don't use Bluetooth ever, I use USB or SD card. Is that something that would be doable with these old radios? I hate the modern one I have inside my truck right now, not because it's bad or anything, but because it ruins the aesthetic. 

I’m assuming you’re using a usb thumb drive? You would need some way to control your media. Typically that’s a smartphone or iPod style device with either a Bluetooth or headphone output. If your music is stored on a drive, you’ll need a way to access the file index and control playback. Although not impossible, it would take a substantial amount of work to build one that does that. 

[Spinnakerblue89]

That's a fair assessment, I pretty much figured it would be the case. 

[JZLAJeep]

Interested.

[Spinnakerblue89]

I have to say, I've been doing a lot of research ever since the OP mentioned adding USB to an original radio would present its challenges. I've decided to either go with a Bluetooth FM transmitter or an FM Modulator to use USB. With that said, I would be interested in getting my original head unit looked at. I wish to retain the stock look. Also, my head unit does not have a tape deck. 

[ghetdjc320]

5 hours ago, Spinnakerblue89 said:

I have to say, I've been doing a lot of research ever since the OP mentioned adding USB to an original radio would present its challenges. I've decided to either go with a Bluetooth FM transmitter or an FM Modulator to use USB. With that said, I would be interested in getting my original head unit looked at. I wish to retain the stock look. Also, my head unit does not have a tape deck. 

If your going to use Bluetooth or otherwise provide some type of external signal input, that is within the scope of the mods. Checkout the mods done thus far in the DIY section “What CC knows about stock jeep radios”. You might find what you need there to fit your needs.

I’ve kept all the data there open source, and provided the signal flow pathways to modding the daylights out of these radios. 
 

Adding an FM modulator is a nice setup actually that can give the same audio quality you’d get from a clean FM station. But it does require adding in some sort of switch somewhere to turn it on as it will shunt the vehicle antenna signal to about zero when it’s on. 

 

[Spinnakerblue89]

18 hours ago, ghetdjc320 said:

If your going to use Bluetooth or otherwise provide some type of external signal input, that is within the scope of the mods. Checkout the mods done thus far in the DIY section “What CC knows about stock jeep radios”. You might find what you need there to fit your needs.

I’ve kept all the data there open source, and provided the signal flow pathways to modding the daylights out of these radios. 
 

Adding an FM modulator is a nice setup actually that can give the same audio quality you’d get from a clean FM station. But it does require adding in some sort of switch somewhere to turn it on as it will shunt the vehicle antenna signal to about zero when it’s on. 

 

Yeah, I've decided the modulator is how I'm going to go. Aside from the switch, it'll be cleaner. 

[jodawill]

On 8/10/2026 at 5:22 PM, ghetdjc320 said:

I haven’t dived into the cassette mechanism at all but with as many small mechanical pieces as it has, I don’t really want to work on it. That being said, I already have a couple of good tape decks I could easily swap in for the RX-173 if yours is bad. You mentioned yours isn’t working, which model is it? 

 

I couldn't find a model number anywhere on it. Maybe it was on a sticker that's long gone? No idea. But it looks identical to the one in your first picture, except it doesn't say Jeep on the cassette door.

[jodawill]

Considering how much money I've put into the rest of the audio system recently, I should probably abandon the stock radio. There's no point in having great speakers to listen to cassette tapes and FM radio.

 

I'd like to hear more about your plans for these. I would definitely like to retain the original aesthetic, but have a high quality bluetooth option. USB for flac audio would be nice too.

 

Would you be able to make the lights look the same as the original? Almost all LEDs are about 10x brighter than they should be, and the color is usually too harsh.

[ghetdjc320]

The best audio quality you could get would be a usb DAC with an analog output to an internal DSP which can then switch between tuner/aux and Bluetooth. Ideally you’d use the DSP preamp output to provide line level output. That would be the purest signal without running an optical or coax digital output from your DSP to amp. If you read through the DIY thread on these (“what cc knows about stock jeep radios”), that is a definite possibility

 

Edit: Here where some of the mod/tech info on these units begins

 

[ghetdjc320]

I think most of the info I posted on these is pretty obscure in the diy section. I’ll see if I can throw together a thread here in the mods section about what can be done with these units. Specifically the RX-171, 172 and 173 as these radios can still be found in plenty of 96- XJs in the yards. I like the look of some of the AMC radios but imo, the later RX-171+ units look more period correct in the dash.