Hello, I know in the past, I had lots of Dakota parts, as well as some Gen 2 and a few Gen 3 items around my shop, and did this research in person, but didn't take notes... so now I have to ask if someone else might have experimented the same way.

I have a 1989 Dodge Dakota Convertible I am doing a quick full out restomod on, for a daily driver. I want to upgrade to the best stereo available, stock that will pop into the dash as the factory unit did, with perhaps a CD player and factory EQ settings... I remember being able to go quite a few years in to the future from the 1989 build date with these radios...

If you can make suggestions, I'm all ears. I really don't listen to CD or Cassettes, but am more a button pusher, looking for the next great one hit wonder of the years past... so if you have a recommendation outside the stock radio, that fits well with out hacking the dash... again I'd love to hear about it.

Guess if I had my absolute preference... I'd go back to the day when you could buy a stereo with a CB option for a neat little package useful for both on road driving, and off-road communication with other Off-Roaders... These were far and few between.

Love my Samsung XM portable... so perhaps something with a pin jack would make sense as well.

Thanks

 

I don't know about stock radios, but my 87 has a a nice aftermarket kenwood radio with auxiliary input.


This is what I have

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Kenwood-6....undle/16532577


This what I used to install it, no hacking needed.


http://www.walmart.com/ip/Scosche-Ca...-Jeep/14667120

All in all, I love it. I hook my iPad all the time up to it and crank up the music and with my amp and subs, it's pretty hard.

 

Also if you plan to go with an aftermartjet route, be sure to get an adapter for the radio harnes so you won't have to splice anything.

 

I asked about this same thing, If i remember right it was something like up to 2003 or 4? Its when they changed the shape of the radio off that square to something else, but anything out of a TC van, Ram, Dak, Intrepid, Jeep, just about any chrysler vehicle had them so plenty of options. Personally I'm going to try and pull the full system out of a Durango since those had nice amps in the kicker panels wired into the radio.

 

Sorry for the slow update, but here's a pic of my radio

http://s916.photobucket.com/albums/a...filter=noflash

 

I have the higher end of that model in my Dakota (usb), and the newest line of that in my Honda (full BT integration). Both have great sound and are easy to work.

The Dakotas are about as easy a stereo to install as possible. My Shadow was easier because there are no screws in the trim. No hacking whatsoever. I solder my wiring on the table, use butt connectors if you are not **** like me, solder is not necessary. Car toys said my soldering job is better than theirs.

I would look at best buy or car toys for returned or discontinued items. I have seen some good deals. I picked up a good working but older CD player with aux imput for $25 at a pick and pull. Had it for a year in my work truck. Still have it. A local place has all the aftermarket stereos up front and good prices.

 

I managed to acquire a factory cassette and cd player off of craigslist for $20. First time I found a square one that was a combo.

 

they have all 3 combo'd in alot of chrysler vehicels. Intrepids, vans, rams, jeeps. you name it.