Why do OE radios stop working?

[87BlazeLS]

sounds like he might want to play cassette's and fiddle with the Equalizer instead of actually hearing good tunes.
on a CD player or MP3. Hey we all have are pet peaves ya know....

 

[565bbchevy]

Maybe just get a factory block off plate and then you won't have to fiddle with it anymore.

 

[87BlazeLS]

Yes what ^ he just said. makes sense to me as well.

 

[Texas82GP]

The 1.5 DIN radio that foxtrot mentions above is what I was referring to earlier. Modern functionality with classic looks.

 

[jiho]

Maybe just get a factory block off plate and then you won't have to fiddle with it anymore.

That's what I want. Where do I get one of those? For a Malibu.

 

[565bbchevy]

That's what I want. Where do I get one of those?

You could try posting in the wanted section on here, I have only seen pictures of them but I imagine they would not be hard to duplicate at minimal cost.

 

[jiho]

Kirban has new aftermarket for the Regal, but with holes for gauges. They look *almost* the same as the one in my Malibu, like you *might* just screw them in, but not quite identical.

EDIT: Sorry about hijacking the thread. 🙁

 

[kustomkyle]

Yes, I would much rather play cassettes as that's what was available at the time.

There is also "character" to the older forms of media. There is a certain sound to records and casettes that fewer and fewer people know/like or care about anymore. To me digital media, like listening to XM radio in a current GM vehicle, sounds like it's underwater.

I appreciate all the replies, I'll have to see what that "retro" stereo looks like. It also appears that Cutlass Cieras and Buick Centurys used the same exact radio up until around 1993.

 

[565bbchevy]

I would look for a later model GM 1.5 radio that works and take the wiring harness so you can adapt it to your car if needed.
Even the Retrosound radio pictured below is not going to have a functioning cassette player and for $340 to retain a certain look seems like a waste of money to me.

 

[kustomkyle]

Looks like the same basic layout, and they have the spot for a cassette player, but they put input jacks there instead. That would, in fact, be useless especially if it costs that much. It's actually more like the Chevy version of the era where there wasn't any chrome.

I'll just have to keep my eyes out for a good original unit from a reliable source.