Disco Radio! 1.5 DIN Alpine

Well I think I found a stereo for my Custom Cruiser. Just can't decide if it's too wacky for my car. It's an Alpine cda-d855. Found it cheap on Craigslist, and it's designed to fit the GM dash opening.

It's a 90's vintage radio, but looks brand new. It's just really...bright. What do you think?






-Mike

That's a pretty rare radio. Really good sound quality. Much better than the Pioneers of the era. Get it.

Already got it, but have not installed it yet. I've not powered it up yet, only looked up the pic online with it turned on. Man it looks bright! We'll see!

-Mike

And the Mirror Ball trophy goes to Mike in the white OCC! I like it.
Dick

I'd personally rather have a factory Delco CD player to keep the stock look...BUT unless you want to go with a Chevy (white backlight) or Pontiac (red backlight) unit, you're somewhat stuck. The 1.5 din Olds CD players that were backlit in correct blue/green are hard to find now....and hard to find WORKING if you do find one.

The one I had on the shelf from Mom's 93 Cutlass ragtop is sick. Radio works but CD says ERR and ejects. Ditto the correct higher-end Olds tape deck I yanked the salvage yard a few weekend back...radio works, tape is dead (thought about installing it with an FM-modulated CD changer...same setup I had in my '89 OCC).

If this Alpine works I'll most likely just keep it. Will have CDs again, and my kids will like the light show.

Pics will be posted once it's mounted...of course. ; ) Have to go get a small-plug GM antenna adaptor at Radio Shack.

-Mike

This thing has a lot of plugs on the back. Wonder if I could get an adaptor for Misty's Ipod to plug in.....? Would be nice on road trips.

Will do a little research.

Oh and while I'm back inside the dash I'm yanking the SRS air bag bulb out of the cluster. I'm on the hunt for a 2-spoke leather Sport steering wheel like I have in my Cutlass for the OCC. The stock air bag wheel is warped and the design is ugly in general.

Such fun!

-Mike

81X11 wrote:

Well I think I found a stereo for my Custom Cruiser. Just can't decide if it's too wacky for my car. It's an Alpine cda-d855. Found it cheap on Craigslist, and it's designed to fit the GM dash opening.

It's a 90's vintage radio, but looks brand new. It's just really...bright. What do you think?




-Mike

Have one:



Had previously tried the Pioneer 1.5 DIN retrofit deck & didn’t like it. Early S-series dashes don’t have much depth so there are very few choices that fit properly.

Display brightness can be adjusted, but the photos in the ad make it look brighter than it really is. There is also a blackout mode that turns the display off completely.

Seems an OK unit for what it is. The AI-NET connection on the CDA-D852 & 855 doesn’t seem to support a direct iPod/MP3 player connection (tried it).

The later CDA-D853 & 857 had some additional input capabilities that should make connecting an iPod via the AI-NET easier. Somewhat hard to find as they seem to come up for sale less even frequently than the earlier units.

- J

Thanks Jay. It looks good in your S-10's dash! Glad to hear the brightness can be adjusted. As mentioned I have not powered mine up yet, but the seller swears it works. We shall see!

Came with the owner's manual, plug, storage box for the face, and even has a remote (?). Not a bad deal for $60....if it works.

Too bad about the Ipod not working with it, but I can live with that.

-Mike

Guy on the general Wagon forum says once I install this that my electronic climate control will no longer dim with the headlights on. That went through the radio? If that's true...that's a bummer.

The radio plug itself has a wire for headlight dimmer. Hmmmm.

-Mike

Big radio plans this weekend. I was reading about the Alpine above and it has CD Changer contols. I had a CD changer mounted in the side storage box in my 89 OCC and loved it.

On a whim, looked and Criagslist and found this!
http://austin.craigslist.org/ele/3279866268.html


The is the exact changer it calls for in the manual for my radio. Ha!

SO now I'm going to be tearing the cargo area panels out this weekend and installing the changer back there.

I'm NOW on the hunt for some 6x9's for the back....since I'll be in there anyway.

We be rockin!

-Mike

Ok so lined up a set of new-in-box Kenwood KFC-M6935A 6x9 3-way speakers. One of my local car-club buddies was going to put them in the rear deck of his 66 Mustang, but never got around to it. Says they're around two years old, but have never been used.

Tomorrow is stereo day! Sunday is salvage yard day.

Going to be a good weekend!

-Mike

Hahahaha plans change AGAIN. Going to hold off on the radio install tomorrow. Tint shop just sent me an e-mail for $25 off this weekend only! Sold! Who says e-mail spam does not work!

Tint tomorrow, salvage yarding Sunday, and radio after work or next weekend.

Pics to follow of course!!

-Mike

You have magical luck there buddy....
Nice scores!

81X11 wrote:

Guy on the general Wagon forum says once I install this that my electronic climate control will no longer dim with the headlights on. That went through the radio? If that's true...that's a bummer.

The radio plug itself has a wire for headlight dimmer. Hmmmm.

-Mike

That is correct. The dimmer wire on the new head unit will only dim the head unit when lights are on. HVAC will be full bright all the time. You'll get used to it.

jayoldschool wrote:

81X11 wrote:

Guy on the general Wagon forum says once I install this that my electronic climate control will no longer dim with the headlights on. That went through the radio? If that's true...that's a bummer.

The radio plug itself has a wire for headlight dimmer. Hmmmm.

-Mike

That is correct. The dimmer wire on the new head unit will only dim the head unit when lights are on. HVAC will be full bright all the time. You'll get used to it.

Will the push-buttons on the climate control still light up as well? When you turn on the headlights the digital display dims and the buttons light up. I don't care about the digital display not dimming, but want my buttons to light up at night.

-Mike

Well I've still not picked up the CD changer and don't want to tear into the car until I have all the pieces. The changer guy says he'll be free tomorrow evening....we'll see. He's cancelled on me twice. Craigslist sellers can be odd...

Oh and as you know, I like the little details. The only real wear on the new/used Alpine stereo is on the volume knob. I'm guessing someone had the face off and layed it face-down, or possibly dropped it. ANYWAY I'm sanding down a stock solid black GM radio knob and installing it in place of the scratched silver one on the Alpine. It's the same diameter, just a deeper/taller knob. I'm going to make it fit! Ha!

Why YES it is a factory stereo....see the Delco knob?

And my local car-club buddy Ty brought the Kenwood 6x9's over this past Friday night. They are new-in-box and look great. Can't wait to get them installed in the back of the OCC.



Will be "Mr. Stereo installer" this weekend!

-Mike

Hey just to ask, is there any trick to doing the rear speakers on these cars?? I never touched the ones on my Roadmaster, it was all stock and fine.

I'm guessing I just need to pull the spare tire and cargo box covers, and unbolt the mounts for the sliding cargo cover. That about right?

Oh and anyone know about the buttons on the climate control? Will they still light up? Who's put an aftermarket stereo in their Longroof before? I'd asked the question before but nobody answered.

Thanks as always for the pointers!

-Mike

There's no trick to doing the rear speakers in the wagon. Undo a couple of screws, pop a few buttons, and you're in. I don't remember the details, but you can figure it out by inspection. The only part that gave me trouble were the buttons by the seat belt.

The climate control still lights up. But the auto-dim circuitry for the climate control lights are in the stock radio. They stay full bright at night. It's not an easy fix, because the lights are dimmed using pulse width modification.

I gave my old radio to JerrySSWagon, who was going to design a replacement circuit board, but I guess that project fell by the wayside.

Thanks Nick! I'm ok with the digital readout not dimming...I have a feeling the lights on my wacky new radio will overpower it anyway. Glad to hear the buttons will still light up...I DO care about that.

Good deal on the speakers too. I didn't figure it'd be too hard....I know I could see them when I pulled the cargo box and tire cover. Wanted to made sure there was no trick in getting them out.

Projects! Is it the weekend yet??

-Mike

Nice alpine HU and great find on the matching CD changer. I like the dancing light/ jukebox thing. My dad has an aiwa home stereo with similar dancing jukebox lights. It looks pretty cool in the dark. Alpines older stuff was really good. I've got a set of their 6x9s from the early 90s in my lesabre and love them. I also have a TOTL radio of theirs from 1980, and it would rival new radios in sound quality.

The original CD changer deal fell through. He didn't have the cord for it, and took forever calling me back.

SO I got back on Craigslist and nabbed this for $20! Cord included!




Can't wait to put all this in over the weekend. Is it Saturday yet???

-Mike

I have quite the rockin new stereo system in my Cruiser. I spent all day on the car, with a lot of help from my oldest son...and a little help from my youngest kiddo.

Started the day at the kitchen table wiring the Alpine plug to the GM adaptor I picked up at Wal-Mart. Man kids today sure are spoiled...these adaptors make it SO EASY. I remember playing "guess the wire" when installing aftermarket radios in my first junkers as a kid. These $10 adaptors are awesome.



One last look at the stock setup



And time to yank parts




Took the cluster out and to remove the air bag light. I'm planning to put an 80's leather 442 wheel on here soon. Best to yank the light now.


I have a TBI gauge cluster from a Roady in the garage, and I compared it to the one from the OCC. I thought, other than the font and color, that the Roady and OCC clusters were the same. Well I noticed the Roady cluster has a Cruise light for when the Cruise Control is on. The OCC has an empty socket there. Wonder how much Olds saved by leaving out that one bulb?

I had a stain on the face of the cluster near the trip button, and removed the glass and cleaned it while I had it out. Stain is pretty much gone, but took a few tries to get it off.


My 10-year old Eddie was eager to learn, and really was a big help! It's fun having kiddos!




And my 3-year-old Tuck was there for comic relief.


While I had the cargo box out, I replaced the TRW keyless-entry box...and the locks went NUTS! They locked and kept locking....like I was pressing the lock button constantly. I tried twice and it did the same thing. Put the original dead TRW box back in and said the hell with it! I'm going to see about aftermarket keyless-entry soon.


Eddie actually took over at this point. He did the rear speakers himself...I'm a proud papa tonight!!
Here's the stock speakers removed.


And the new Kenwoods going in:


And the wire run for the CD Changer


At this point I caught Tuck hanging off the ground from my vice handle, trying to crush a brush. Nice work son....



Fitting the new Alpine in the dash



Installed the CD Changer in the rear cargo box



My new/used Apline is in nice shape, but the silver radio volume knob was scratched and the rubber edge was worn. I had an idea....use one of the factory GM Delco knobs in it's place. They're solid black, and stick out a little farter so are easier to grip. Had to drill out the knob to make it fit, but I think it looks better!



And all done! Sounds fantastic and it all works. Sorry the pics are not great, it was dark out when I took these:



The only thing I don't like is the screen on the radio dims too much with the headlights on...I mean it's DIM. Anyone else that's had one of these, is there a way to adjust the brightness? If not, I may take the dash face off again and snip the dimmer wire.

Other than that issue, I love the new toy!

-Mike

Nice work. Replace those front speakers and you'll really be happy with it!

toomanytoyz wrote:

Nice work. Replace those front speakers and you'll really be happy with it!

Running Pioneer 4x6's in the doors. Better than stock!

Now you can do mine Mike!Great job abd looks great too!

What a lot of work. Nice job though Mike.
Dick

So my plan today was to finish the 4-note horn conversion, but instead I spent all afternoon tearing the dash apart...again.

As mentioned yesterday the display on the radio is pretty dim, and it's even worse when the headlights are on. I decided to cut the dimmer wire, which meant the front of the dash had to come off again.

Well in order to get the dash trim off without scratching the column, I like to lower the column down. I had the bolts loose to do that, and forgot to unplug the shift indicator clip...and I broke it off....inside the gauge cluster.

SO I removed the gauge cluster, got my TBI Roady cluster off the shelf, and spent the next 45-mins learning how they came apart...and scavenging the little indicator from the Roady unit.



I'm now an expert at TBI gauage clusters and OCC dashboards...


On the upside I got the cluster back together and re-installed, and it worked, and also cut the radio dimmer, which makes the stereo look great at night. While I had it apart. I added washers between the stock radio mount and the Alpine to raise it up and center it a bit more in the dash opening. Looks better.

Oh and one more thing...Eddie told me he'd forgotten to tape up the connections he made on one of the rear speakers, so we tore into that last....taped it up.. and stuck way back the corner of that trim panel, near where the seat release button is for the 2nd-row seats, I saw a loose piece of blue plastic sitting in there.

So anyone have any idea what this is for? I'm guessing it got dropped in there by accident when the car was built......any clue?







That was my day. Stereo is as done as I can do it...will plan on more work next weekend.

-Mike

That looks like a rear shoulder belt upper trim piece to me.

ditto on the rear upper shoulder belt trim piece.

i broke the shifter tab on my cluster too! i also became a self taught tbi cluster genius when i was trouble shooting my no tach and no speedo problems last winter... fixed now!!

feels good getting stuff accomplished, nice job!

Wow! That radio is so bright and fancy that you're just certain to put an eye out with it.

All kidding aside, it does look pretty good in there. I really like the location you chose for the CD changer...how did you run the control cable?

Nice to see that you had some helpers along. I busted up laughing at the "crush a brush" picture.

There might have been a dimming level option in the setup menu, if the radio has one. As to the keyless entry, maybe it really needed to be hooked up without power in order to start up correctly? Didn't you say that the Roady wagon from which that part was harvested was said to have an "electrical problem"? I'd hate to think it got junked just because of a bad remote keyless entry module!

uxwbill wrote:

Wow! That radio is so bright and fancy that you're just certain to put an eye out with it.

All kidding aside, it does look pretty good in there. I really like the location you chose for the CD changer...how did you run the control cable?

Nice to see that you had some helpers along. I busted up laughing at the "crush a brush" picture.

There might have been a dimming level option in the setup menu, if the radio has one. As to the keyless entry, maybe it really needed to be hooked up without power in order to start up correctly? Didn't you say that the Roady wagon from which that part was harvested was said to have an "electrical problem"? I'd hate to think it got junked just because of a bad remote keyless entry module!

Now that I've removed the dimmer wire from the radio it's ok. In bright sunlight the face washes out, but other than that you can see it fine, and on a cloudy day or at night it looks like a nightclub on my dash. It sounds good too.

I ran the CD Changer wire above the steering column, down the kick panel, under the door sill panels, and up and out under the rear speaker there on the drivers side. Drilled a hole in the cargo box for the wire and simply attached the changer to the side and bottom of the cargo box with 3M gray mounting tape...same stuff I used on the Roady side trim.

Oh and as for the keyless entry box, I tell you it was kind of scary when I hooked it up. I thought something was going to burn up. The doors kept trying to lock, and pressing the unlock buttons on front doors had no effect.... I tried it twice, but it acted wild both times. Oh well.

Well that Alpine CDA-D855 is coming out this weekend. The internal amp is failing. Driving along every once in a while you get a loud pop or static-y pops from the speakers, and sometimes when it pops, the speakers totally cut out and that's it, dead radio. When that happens, you can watch the graphic equalizer still dancing along to the song, but you get no sound output....SO frustrating. If I shut the radio off for 5-10 mins it will come back to life and work fine again...for a while.

We're using the wagon to go visit my in-laws over the holidays and I HAVE to have a working radio to drown out the five kids! I should most likely just suck it up and buy a new modern radio and be done with it, but I really like how well these Alpine's fit the dash opening in my Olds, and I have that Alpine CD-Changer already installed that needs and Alpine deck to run it.

SO I got online again and found a guy selling CDA-D852 in Wisconsin, for $50. This is the step-down model from what I have now, but it's a small step down and I should not notice any real difference once installed.

Real nice guy on the phone, and he swears it all works like new. He has the original box, wiring, and remote. Ordered it yesterday...we shall see. I'm also hoping the D855 and D852 use the same plug and wiring so it'll be plug and play. I'd think they would but will look at the install manual first.



I am going to take that CDA-D855 to the local stereo place once I get it out. If it can be fixed, and not cost a fortune to do so, I'm going to install it in my Cutlass later. The Cutty has that same 1.5-din opening.

Goofy Projects!

-Mike

Good call. Fix it if you can, they're nice pieces.

Ding ding ding ding!! I bet you have some leaking capacitors. Easy fix for a do-it-yourself-er. The hardest part would be figuring out how to tell what capacitors you need, but with the use of the way back machine it's not that hard. If you are confident in your soldering abilities you should try to fix it yourself. It's not hard to spot the leaking capacitor/s. Usually they have corrosion on the outside top end. If you don't see any with corrosion keep an eye peeled for a popped-up looking end. If you see one throw a DMM on there and test it out. That's not a hard process either, when in doubt use the way back machine.

I got a couple free 20 inch dell flat panel monitors from a business. They were throwing them out because they would turn on but after about 5-10 minutes they would shut off. Total parts, and not counting my time tearing into them, it cost me less than $5.00 to fix.

Sorry about the problems hope you figure out an inexpensive way to keep that radio working.

scoffman wrote:

Ding ding ding ding!! I bet you have some leaking capacitors. Easy fix for a do-it-yourself-er. The hardest part would be figuring out how to tell what capacitors you need, but with the use of the way back machine it's not that hard. If you are confident in your soldering abilities you should try to fix it yourself. It's not hard to spot the leaking capacitor/s. Usually they have corrosion on the outside top end. If you don't see any with corrosion keep an eye peeled for a popped-up looking end. If you see one throw a DMM on there and test it out. That's not a hard process either, when in doubt use the way back machine.

I got a couple free 20 inch dell flat panel monitors from a business. They were throwing them out because they would turn on but after about 5-10 minutes they would shut off. Total parts, and not counting my time tearing into them, it cost me less than $5.00 to fix.

Sorry about the problems hope you figure out an inexpensive way to keep that radio working.

I'm not that talented but it gives me hope the local stereo repair place can fix it for cheap! I'd love to have it in the Cutlass.

-Mike

Well my 2nd new (used) Alpine, this one a CDA-D852, came in the mail over the weekend and I installed it last night.

This one, while the same design as the D855, looks much cleaner and the LCD screen is MUCH brighter than the first Alpine I installed. I'm guessing this unit was not used nearly as much as my CDA-D855 was. Also, this one came from Wisconsin, the other one came from Los Angeles Ca. I wonder if baking in the California sun faded the screen on the old one? Hmmm.

ANYWAY the wiring from the CDA-D855 with the bad amp plugged right in to the D852, as did the CD changer. No popping amp so far, nice bright screen, and the remote control works. Pretty cool, and it sounds really good.

Little-by-Little I'm getting this Olds in shape!

Egads, Mike! That button on your climate control looks broken!



I really like the radio, though. Looks fantastic.

Stingroo wrote:

Egads, Mike! That button on your climate control looks broken!



I really like the radio, though. Looks fantastic.

What the a/c button? Yep, light shines through it at night. Need to get a fine brush and some satin black and fix that. Was like that when I bought the car. Guess the old man that owned the car has a habit of shutting off the a/c compressor. The other buttons show no wear.

The "off" button on Grimace is like that.


Is that the same CC head as the Roadmaster wagon? With the 3,000 fan speeds and combinations?

Stingroo wrote:

The "off" button on Grimace is like that.


Is that the same CC head as the Roadmaster wagon? With the 3,000 fan speeds and combinations?

I think the OCC is specific. One it lights up blue, and two the Roady models had idiot lights under the climate controls.

Mike did you install the 4 x 6s in the doors yet? I am debating about doing the same but may go to 6.5". Let me know how they sound. I will do the rears first with 6 x 9". Did you build in any baffle for the rear?
col

COL wrote:

Mike did you install the 4 x 6s in the doors yet? I am debating about doing the same but may go to 6.5". Let me know how they sound. I will do the rears first with 6 x 9". Did you build in any baffle for the rear?
col

All the speakers are in, and no I didn't install baffles. Considering when I bought the car that the rear speakers crackled and the fronts did not work at all I think it sounds fantastic now, BUT it does not sound as good as my Roady wagon, which had the Concert Sound with round speakers in the lower front doors and tweeters in front of the door handles.

As you can guess, since I'm using used stereos and speakers bought from friends and Craigslist and such....this is a budget system. The front speakers were on sale at Wal-Mart, and sound really good, plus were easy to install since they go in the stock mounts, but I'm betting round speakers would sound a lot better.

-Mike

[quote="81X11"]

COL wrote:

Mike did you install the 4 x 6s in the doors yet? I am debating about doing the same but may go to 6.5". Let me know how they sound. I will do the rears first with 6 x 9". Did you build in any baffle for the rear?
col

All the speakers are in, and no I didn't install baffles. Considering when I bought the car that the rear speakers crackled and the fronts did not work at all I think it sounds fantastic now, BUT it does not sound as good as my Roady wagon, which had the Concert Sound with round speakers in the lower front doors and tweeters in front of the door handles.

As you can guess, since I'm using used stereos and speakers bought from friends and Craigslist and such....this is a budget system. The front speakers were on sale at Wal-Mart, and
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Thanks Mike. I had an appointment to have all four installed at an audio place, but cancelled. My wife was complaining about all the money I spent on this car, springs shocks and airlift 1000. I have already put 16,100 miles on it and that is all I spent except Oil changes.

Anyway I have re thought the install and going to do it myself in stages. I can buy better speakers online than locally where I live, for less money. Go figure. So I think I am going with a three way 6 x 9 in the rear first. One of the rear speakers is crackeling real badly. I don't know why she can't see (hear) the need for new speakers. I am the one with hearing aids. Are your front ones three way with a tweeter built in?
Dick

[quote="COL"]

Try Crutchfield...always had good luck with them. Also, and not to scare you, I did read that noise in the speakers on these cars can be from the stock radio failing. Hopefully that's not the issue in yours....yours has the nicer radio in it if I remember right. I tried to go with the nicer GM radio but could not find a good one in the salvage yards. The one I did find was shot.

ANYWAY here is the link on the front speakers. https://gmlongroof.4umer.com/t7117-what-s-your-guess-door-panels-or-dash-panel

Neither the front nor rear are hard to swap, just take your time.

Oh and you might also look for speakers on your local Craigslist after the holidays. Lots of people ask for new speakers for Christmas and get multiple ones as presents, and in may cases you see a lot of new stereo stuff show up on Craigslist soon after!

-Mike

My father borrowed the wagon the other night to pick up my aunt (drives a Camry herself....bor-ring) at the airport. Dad said she liked the Custom Cruiser, she'd owned a boxy one in the 80's, but she wanted to know what ghetto my radio came from.

No respect......

lol - why am I not surprised?

81X11 wrote:

My father borrowed the wagon the other night to pick up my aunt (drives a Camry herself....bor-ring) at the airport. Dad said she liked the Custom Cruiser, she'd owned a boxy one in the 80's, but she wanted to know what ghetto my radio came from.

No respect......

Hey Mike,tell Aunty that if there's no respect then there's NO RIDE!

Flasheroo wrote:

81X11 wrote:

My father borrowed the wagon the other night to pick up my aunt (drives a Camry herself....bor-ring) at the airport. Dad said she liked the Custom Cruiser, she'd owned a boxy one in the 80's, but she wanted to know what ghetto my radio came from.

No respect......

Hey Mike,tell Aunty that if there's no respect then there's NO RIDE!

Good idea!

She drives a camry... What the Hell does she know?

toomanytoyz wrote:

She drives a camry... What the Hell does she know?

She's the stewardess for Southwest Airlines. Keeps a '97 Accord at her home in Arkansas and a '98 Camry at her crash-pad in Baltimore. Two of the world's most exciting vehicles........