Installing a cd player in a Chevy Corsica?

[Sacotool]

I have a Sony Xplode radio/cd player sitting around and I was thinking of installing it in my '94 Corsica. Presently the car has one of those cheap stock am/fm cassete stereos made by Delco. Besides finding an adapter to make the smaller Sony radio fit in the gigantic hole left by the Delco radio, will there be other issues? Specifically, I was wondering if the wiring harness is completely different for the stock radio?

 

[Thegonagle]

The harnesses will be different. You should get a wiring harness adapter for your specific car from the same place that sells the adapter plate to make the stereo fit the dashboard. You connect the wires from the Sony harness to the corresponding color wire on the adapter, and then the adapter plugs right into the car's harness. Never cut the wires inside the dashboard!

I usually solder and use heat-shrink tubing, because it takes me just a few minutes, and it makes the strongest, neatest connection. You can also use solderless connectors. If you must do the old twist-n-tape, make sure you tape each wire up neatly and tightly, and use a good electrical tape, such as 3M brand Tartan. I do this work at a table or a workbench, where there is plenty of room, prior to tackling the work inside the car.

Sound Domain is a nice, inexpensive place to order these parts from. Lately, brick and mortar stores all tend to gouge a significant margin out of these essentials, like they do with $30 USB cables. :|

 

Garfang has hit the nail on the head, good advice.

 

[Thegonagle]

Thanks.

I've had many different cars, but only a few car stereos. My stereo always comes with me from the old car to the new car, so I've done this quite a few times.

 

[Sacotool]

Thanks for the info guys I'm going to try and install the Sony this afternoon, I'll post the results.

 

[T2T III]

I had a 1989 Corsica. I installed a Kenwood deck with an after-market installation kit and wiring harness adapter. From what I recall, the depth to mount the deck was a bit limited. The Kenwood was a perfect fit because it was not nearly as deep as some of the othe decks. Granted, this was about 6 or 7 years ago, so some of the decks could have changed to accomodate this.

The process was about the easiest installation that I've ever done. This was the one (and only) time that I ordered something from Crutchfield. Given the fact that they included the wiring harness adapter free along with the installation kit, I was glad to pay a few more $$ for the head unit itself.