Putting a radio in an 86 K5

[The Griff]

I was wondering what kind of an undertaking it would be to put a radio in one of these trucks?

Having no radio finally got too much for me, Also that all 4 of my Vehicles have one working radio between them might have something to do with it.

Heres the thing, this Blazer never had a radio, it was an ex-gov't truck, and the only factory option it had was AC.

I picked up a factory radio out of an 80's K10 from the junkyard some time ago, I just don't know how to simplify the connection down to power, ground, backlight, left speaker and right speaker.

Also where should I go about putting the speakers?

 

[rebelgregory]

I would look behind where the radio goes. You might luck out and have a factory harness somewhere. If not, you're going to have to custom wire it, but you can jump the wires from the fuse box.

1) You need to identify a 12V pos source that's on all the time. You can do this with a test light or multimeter at the fuse box.

2) Then identify a switched 12V source that's only on with the ignition in the 'on' position. should show no voltage until the key is on.

3) Run wires from the two circuit you identified to the radio. Increase the size of the constant 12V fuse to what it was plus the amp draw of the radio. Easy math example: 5A fuse + 5A radio = 10A fuse.

4) I don't know if your truck has an antenna or not. If not, you'll have to figure something out there. Install stock antenna or get some aftermarket widget that's probably better.

5) If you have no speakers, then install them wherever you want. Stock was under the dash cap and in the rear cargo panels in front of tail lights. I put 5.25" speakers in the doors above the power window switches and 6x9s in the rear side trim panels in front of the rear seat (about at the knee of someone sitting in the back).

It's really not all that hard, but if it has no factory radio equipment, it's basically a custom install and it may take awhile if you're not experienced. Still, not complicated.

 

[The Griff]

No, this truck never had a radio, no antenna, no speakers, no wiring for any of them.

Would it be easier to use an aftermarket radio? or use that factory one I got from the junkyard?


Also it has no trim panels the back, it just looks like the bed of a pickup, albeit with a seat in the middle.
I honestly would be happy with just two in the dash.

 

[ryoken]

it probably has the wiring, just not used... there's probably a plug back there.. most of the stripped units run the same harness...

either way, it'd be easier for sure to use an aftermarket usually.. the factory you'll have to figure out which wire does what, whereas an aftermarket will just be labeled as grd, power always, ign power and speakers, very obvious..

you can spend a bit of time with a battery and some jumpers and figure out what the factory wires do on the one you have do, or you could go pick up an aftermarket on the cheap... you can get decent units new for $50 to 100...

 

[dyeager535]

Your factory radio has what each wire does stamped into the case. Either top or bottom of it.

I doubt an aftermarket would be any easier or tougher to install, the antenna is going to be the issue, unless you lucked out and you happen to have the window antenna for some reason, which means just connecting the cable from ratio to the windshield.

 

[The Griff]

Every one of these trucks I have ever seen has the antenna embedded in the windshield, this one doesn't, is there are cowl mounted antenna for these?

 

[dyeager535]

Not cowl, fender mounted. Not a real common setup, but I bet you can buy/find the parts for one.

Probably cheaper/easier to just have the windshield replaced. That's of course arbitrary on cheaper, if time is worth nothing, and you find a complete fender setup right away, it's going to be the cheapest option.

 

[The Griff]

Is there such a thing as a magnet mount Radio antenna?
Like the CB antennas?

 

[ryoken]

here's one..

http://www.sourcingmap.com/magnetic...gn=usfroogle&gclid=COjv-MWU77oCFSEV7AodRRIATw

 

[The Griff]

Well that answers that.

Now, assuming that it does have the correct wiring harness, would it have the appropriate connector for the factory radio?

 

[Rtull32]

Get a radio with an aux input and buy a cheapo MP3 player...problem solved and no commercials!

 

[dyeager535]

From my experience all the radio/antenna wires are the same. Might be some stuff out there newer or foreign that is completely different, but I haven't seen it.

 

[ryoken]

Well that answers that.

Now, assuming that it does have the correct wiring harness, would it have the appropriate connector for the factory radio?

depends on what yr the rig vs what yr the radio is.. you could always ditch the plugs and run some quick disconnect bullets or something in place if they don't match.. poke around under the dash and look for the plug...