I Just Bought A New-Old Head Unit

"Denver Is Stuck In The 90s" (denver80222)
09/07/2015 at 21:11 • Filed to: None

I bought it for $10 off Craigslist. It’s basically the same one I had before, but it came out of a motorhome so its mint. The buttons still have that molded plastic texture to them, they’re not shiny yet. Its so 90s fresh. My tape player was making noise and this one is much better. The new one is installed in the photo below btw.

The 90s Ford Dolby Head unit is actually a very good unit, but mine was showing its age. I'm very glad I was able to find another one in good condition, I almost bought an ugly aftermarket one

DISCUSSION (9)

MM54 > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
09/07/2015 at 21:30

That might be the same one as is in my dad’s 96 F250. It doesn’t work.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > MM54
09/07/2015 at 21:36

Ya want my old one? The only issue is the tape deck motor is super loud

MM54 > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
09/07/2015 at 21:45

Nah, it’s a work truck so he doesn’t use it anyways. Based on the roads he commutes on most days, it’s probably just shaken the wiring harness loose.

Vicente Esteve > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
09/07/2015 at 21:45

OEM head units FTW

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
09/07/2015 at 22:23

I had this same one in a Windstar at some point. Sounded decent enough. Major plus with Ford is that you can just swap those OEM head units unlike GM who decided around that time to put anti-theft features in theirs that check for matching serial numbers and just show “LOCKED” on the screen unless reset with a dealer tool. Because of that I ended up going aftermarket in my Chevy truck when the original unit crapped out after 7 years and has never happy with the look.

ranwhenparked > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
09/07/2015 at 22:48

I’m going through this right now. The ‘80s Lincoln I just bought has a stock JBL “Electronic Sound” radio that’s only 1/3 functional (FM works, but not AM or cassette). And it seems like every single aftermarket head unit simply looks like total crap - too much polished metal, too many glowing lights, they just clash too much with an old interior.

It turns out the exact model I need has become a bit hard to find in guaranteed working condition, but the upmarket “Premium Sound” version is a lot easier to find. Other than one extra button and the different lettering on the faceplate, and the fact that it’s wired to accept a trunk subwoofer that I don’t have, it should be a direct replacement.

Retrosound’s Newport model is the closest new one I could find that I would consider buying instead, but it only comes in the larger 1.5 DIN size.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
09/07/2015 at 23:01

That’s close to the one that was originally in my F-150, but the problem with it is that the output stage is kaput, so I get no sound whatever from either the radio or the tape deck.

It already got replaced with a tasteful aftermarket deck, which has bluetooth, so it makes it worthwhile.

The Silverado will get a new radio as soon as I feel like I cannot stand the GM unit anymore.

TrickJos > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
09/08/2015 at 06:20

Did you put that ferrite bead on the tape adapter? I recently swapped out an ugly Sony head unit for a factory Monsoon unit in my fiancee’s beetle. I noticed there’s lots of interference from cell phones when plugged in using a tape adapter like that. Wondering if you solved a similar problem with that ferrite.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > TrickJos
09/08/2015 at 09:39

Ya, I put it on there. It has helped alot, but its still not perfect