Pls Help with 95 Ram stereo q's
 

Vehicle: 95 Ram 1500 4X4 with just a tape deck.

Heres what I would like to do but I dont know if its possible....

Replace the factory deck with a newer model factory CD deck, add new component speakers to front and rear, add a 6" Bazooka tube, a four channel amp for the speakers, and possibly either an Ipod or a HD tuner...

Now is this possible? I dont even know if i can connect a new model factory CD player into my truck?

If I can, I think that I need to get some form of an OEM Interface such as an Audiocontrol LC6i or a JL Cleansweep?

Before you reply "get an aftermarket stereo"...... no I am absolutely not going to install one, I dont want one in my truck planeandsimple, Im willing to pay the extra to be able to use a inferior factory CD unit.

RE: Pls Help with 95 Ram stereo q's
 

you should be able to fit up to 2001 cd player in yours. but you might as well buy an aftermarket cause they cost just as much as aftermarket from the dealer and i wouldnt buy a used factory unit. it would save you money in the long run also cause you wouldnt need the interface, just a $15 mounting kit and $15 wiring harness

RE: Pls Help with 95 Ram stereo q's
 

Why don't you want an aftermarket headunit? It will be MUCH easier to put those speakers, bazooka tube (which I would personally never purchase), and amp in if you had an aftermarket cd player. Not to mention it will sound much better and you can customize the sound settings any way you want. Plus, if you are worried about installing it, it's really not hard at all. You can get a direct mounting kit and wiring harness at wal-mart even.

I have a 1995 Ram as well and it didn't take me very long to install my CD player when I got it. All you have to do is connect the ends of the wires on the wiring harness that comes with the CD player to the ends of the wires of the wiring harness you buy from wal-mart or wherever. I just used splice connectors on mine...easy and safe (as long as you crimp them well enough). Then all you have to do is plug the wiring harness into the CD deck, and the other end of the harness into the connections on your truck, which will be 2 separate connections. One light gray piece and a darker grey piece. It's really easy to install everything and only took me roughly half an hour. Not to mention it's hell of a lot easier to connect an amp to an aftermarket CD player than it is to a factory one.

RE: Pls Help with 95 Ram stereo q's
 

I know, it seems like a no brainer but I have my reasions for wanting a crummy old factory unit.... Imnot worried about the install Im more worried about who would "un-install" it from my dash. Every other truck/car that Ive owned, in which I have installed a nice deck, has had it stolen if not once, but sometimes up to three times. Each of which the truck was in a different area, and with the aftermarket alarm activated! So Im done making police reports to just get no where but with a broken window and a jacked stereo, plus the damage that those bastards do to the dash!!!!

So, unless I can hide a nice deck some where in the truck out of sight, the next best idea is to get a new-er factory unit with CD... Belive me I would like to have a nice deck with all the bells and whistles, or even a 160.00 one, butI just know that the second I put it in someone will be trying to pull it out!!!!

So I still think that Im going to go with the used CD route, with some new speakers and a b-tube. Personally the truck is loud as all get out anyway so sound clarity is kinda out of the question anyway. I just want to be able to enjoy some music from my Ipod, and CD's while Im driving, and not have to worry about having my pos truck getting broken into!

The reasion that I am thinking bazooka tube is because I can fit one in there with out any real modification and still be able to use the storage behind the seat thats alll. I know that there are a lot of nicer routes but Im not looking to shake the windows out of it just want a little bit of low end bass, and CHEAP!

I went to a car audio place to ask them if it was possible and they said yea, and heres your 2,100.00 quote, I almost lost it, thats more then what I paid for the truck!

So I think that Im going to pull the factory unit and check at Dodge to see if the connectors are the same, if they are im just going to get a used CD player and just hook the XM, and Ipod via FM modulators, screw it some is better then none! Ill keep this post alive as soon as I get further with it.

RE: Pls Help with 95 Ram stereo q's
 

With a lot of the new CD players, they have detachable faceplates that you can pop off whenever you leave the vehicle. When you don't have the faceplate on when you start the vehicle or anything, the CD player wont even turn on or anything until you attach the faceplate. You can hide the faceplate anywhere you want (I actually tuck mine between the seats) too. A lot of times, if somebody is looking to steal a CD player, they aren't going to want to steal one that they dont even know what it is, and that they have to get something just for it to work. Not to mention it's pretty obvious if they are selling a CD player with no face plate that its probably stolen.

And 2,100 for a system for your truck? Jesus...mine wasn't even close to that and I have pretty nice stuff in mine.
-Pioneer DEH-4800MP = $200
-Pioneer 240watt 6x9s in the doors = $70
-JL Audio 250 watt RMS mono block amp = $250
-12 inch JL W3v2 woofer = $140
-truck box off ebay = $20
-amp wiring kit = $60
-since the sub didn't fit in the box, I had to make a spacer to go around it out of 1 inch particle board and sanded a little out of the box...but my sub has a pretty deep mounting depth. For all that = $10

Total = about $750, and it sounds great and has amazing bass (enough to get you a ticket EASILY). I also have an XM radio unit that I bought for $1 when a nearby audio store was having a promo for it...but I haven't gotten a subscription for it.

You can easily get a system for cheaper than what I did and still have it sound good. Get a cheaper head unit with a AUX jack right on the front so you can plug in your ipod, you don't have to get high quality stuff(you can get a pioneer or sony sub at wal-mart for like 60 bucks and an ok amp at wal-mart as well for 100 or less even). If you don't want to you don't have to get new speakers in the doors like I did. I just wanted better sound.

Go on ebay and get stuff there, then just install it yourself if you know how to or have a friend help. In my opinion, bazooka tubes are absolutely terrible. One of my friends had 2 in his car and within the first month he blew them both and he even had them professionally installed and had all of his settings done professionally. They are cheap for a reason...they don't sound all that good and they aren't made of very high quality.

RE: Pls Help with 95 Ram stereo q's
 

You bring up very valid and good points, all of which I have gone over in my head but I still dont think I can do it. I live in Denver, on two of my cars that were broken in, the face plate was in my back pocket! I am a cop in the Denver metro area and Ive arrested tons of kids who get a kick out of stealing from cars. One interview I had with a 15yo kid that I chased downsaid "I know that the face plate was not on it but most peps are lazy and leave them in the car." He further said that the usally sells them anywhere from ten to fifty bucks. These trouble makers are all around, I just figure that the stealth approach is the best approach. The closest idea that I have is to some how come up with a console in the middle, kinda like the lockable Tuffy one that are made for Jeeps and hide all the goods inside there but keep the stock stereo in the dash, but I havent see one out there that looks like it would work?

RE: Pls Help with 95 Ram stereo q's
 

Yea, you could rig up something that allows you to put a CD player somewhere else and just run the wires from you factory unit to where the CD player is located. The hard part is finding a location that you can get to easily, but still not be noticable if somebody was to look in.

RE: Pls Help with 95 Ram stereo q's
 

Heres the arrangment that I was thinking of, granted its a lot of work so im now sure that Im going to go to this extent. For the deck I was thinking of remote mounting it underneath the factory one in the area were the 97+ Rams have the fold out cup holders. I was thinking of so form of a hinge system that would allow that whole panel to come towards the seats enough to show the face plate/deck behind , no visible holes or anything. Then I was going to hide the XM module up in the overhead console. And all the speakers would be hidden along with the amps. So I would just leave the factory unit in place so that no ones the wiser. But I dunno if theres room behind that panel to fit one in there. Does anyone know if its possible to get a remote wired IR sensor to hook to the deck so that I could just use the remote control?

RE: Pls Help with 95 Ram stereo q's
 

I would consider looking at the Rockord Fosgate 360.2 if you want to keep the stock radio. This piece has an AUX input for your iPod or what ever you want to hook into it. Also with this piece you can tune your system to make it sound awsome. I have one in my truck and I love it. It has 31 band eq for the front and reat and like 27 bands for the. This thing is great it does time alignment and everything you can want in a piece that interfaces with your stock radio.

RE: Pls Help with 95 Ram stereo q's
 

Do you have any further about it? Id love to see some pics of your install if u could post them or pm them to me that would be great! In addition to it are you running any amps, and what kind of speakers are you using? THX