Radio for 69 Bird
 

Does anyone have experience with this radio for a 69 Firebird? Does it fit without cutting dash?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DC12V-Car-S...Cclp%3A2334524

No experience with that one, I have a retrosound that seems to work descent and looks stock. It doesnt require any dash cuts.

Will,I keep kicking around buying the Ebay radio but it always seems to take a month or so when they are avial to ship?Tom

This one? https://www.retromanufacturing.com/p...ac~md_firebird

Sorry Will,not the one I have been looking at,it is the bluetooth model I want.Tom

I installed the AAR (Antique Auto Radio) which fit perfectly, visually correct for 69 Firebird. Looks like push button AM but is AM/FM stereo, Bluetooth, iPod compatible. Real pleased with it's look and performance. Physical size of case is much smaller so easy fit behind dash. I went this route because I also installed Vintage Air and needed the extra room so it was an excellent solution for my intentions.

*If anyone is in need of my original AM it is available for sale.

Tim john---

The AAR radio is very nice!

I bought the AAR radio and the wiring instructions say to connect a wire to the dimmer switch wire so radio dims in sync with instrument panel. I found the harness connector for the factory radio and it has a gray wire and a yellow wire (pic of plug and diagram below). Does anyone if one of these is for a dimmer function for the factory radio? If not, I also posted of the light switch connector and wiring diagram. Does anyone know which wire controls dimer function?

https://www.classiccarstereos.com/19...ird-radio.html

Will, I had forgotten about your request for clarity on how mine is wired up. I will take a look this evening and report back.

Tim john---

No worries- thanks

I installed one of those last year in one of our club members cars. Just for info; It would not work without having 4 speakers connected. And while we were completing the build everytime the battery is disconnected it loses all the memory along with all the appearance and operating settings which was rather annoying for a radio in that price range.

For my Bird I also am installing Vintage Air, so I made a dummy '69 AM-FM radio from an old core with a light and I have a Clarion marine radio control head in the console box that has Bluetooth, Apple, Android, USB, etc. for around $300.

Appreciate the info re: speakers - definitely glad I'm adding the kick-panel speakers. I was under the impression all radios lost memory when disconnecting the battery?

BTW - I posted in a different place re: kick-panel speakers but didn't get a response. Do you know if the speaker gets mounted to the surface of the kick panel or underneath it?

The price of these radios is stupid high.

Yep, but they look really good. Seems like there were a lot of set-up settings that were required besides station pre-set.

Will, I have the green and red wires from the AAR radio going into a grey and yellow wire (s) connector. I am also running a four speaker set up, dual center dash and one tucked up above each kick panel behind the dash facing downwards towards the floor. This is all I can see for it is pretty congested up behind there, I also installed a Vintage Air/heat system.

Tim

Excellent- thanks Tim. Do you have rear deck speakers or a subwoofer?

I do not, just the four in the front. No rear deck, car is a convertible. On the back of the AAR radio you have to select how many speakers by turning a little click dial. I selected "4".

Tim

Gotcha-

Did you source a connector to use on the radio wires so you could plug into the factory harness? If so, where from?

Well my first test failed. I wired the red wire (+12 input) per instructions to an accessory circuit and the green wire (dial light) to the gray wire in harness. The lights are on all the time and turn off when I open the car door.

HoovDaddy, I contacted AAR about their radio not retaining memory (volatile). I totally agree, any radio costing that much should come with non-volatile memory. They upgraded everything about the radio except one of the most important things. I have a Custom Autosound and it's the same way, loses all memory when I disconnect the battery, PITA to reprogram every time. The guy at AAR said he would pass it along, we'll see.

I'm in final assembly of my makeover right now and the marine radio retains all memory settings when disconnected, so I'm happy. My dummy radio looks factory and I'll have all the tech in the console. The radio brain is under the passenger seat.