Is a Head Swap Easy?

[Pcaola]

Hello gang, thanks for running a great forum! I have been on it a few times since picking up an 04 explorer V8 with 105K on it.

The forum was a big help in finding my 5 digit door code . 10 minute of research, 10 minutes to get the code and 20 to get that pain in the but seat belt adjuster aligned right and put back.

My question . Is it easy to just replace the head unit in the explorer? I know some dodges I have owned in the past were very temperamental. There can be a secondary amp box or something after the head unit but before the speakers. Sometimes changing the head unit makes the stock speakers sound worse but not usually. I'd like to put the Kenwood IPod Head unit in

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113KIV701/Kenwood-KIV-701.html?tp=5684&nvpair=FFBrand|Kenwood

Anyone have experience in a head unit swap without changing speakers (I'd love to but just don't have the money). The truck radio sounds really good. Not great, but good if you don't turn it up too much. And if I switch the head unit, will my DVD player still work?

My truck has the single CD, tape deck, DVD roof unit. It has a sub I can tell and sounds good. But it's not the 6 CD premium unit.

Any input would be great. Thanks guys

Paul

PS. The V8 truck is a BEAST. I am so glad I looked for about 2 months till I found a nice one with a V8

 

[jchristian79]

I believe it's going to be a pretty straightforward, easy job. I'm getting ready to install this Kenwood deck myself: http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113KDCX695/Kenwood-Excelon-KDC-X695.html?tp=5684

Not as nice as the one you're getting but fits the budget and gets me iPod connection and bluetooth!

Here's a good write up on the HU install I found and will be following when installing: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=271666

I've got the stock sub as well and from what I can tell, with the crutch field harness, it should be fairly plug in play. Crutchfield has assured me I will maintain the usability of the stock sub.

I don't have the factory DVD player, but I did read in the install details on Crutchfield that the stock DVD player would no longer work with a new HU. That's something to consider. I'm not sure how they work or what the HU does to control it, but I wonder if you could just rig up RCA audio connectors for the DVD audio and just plug that in to the AV in on the back of your HU?

 

[BigRondo]

Here is a great thread for changing the head unit: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=271666