1996 Eddie Bauer Factory Radio Change..HELP!!

[suave6565]

I have a 1996 Ford Explorer EB. My Truck has the original factory radio,amp and sub. I am new at this and i want to do this this right way without going overboard. I've been checking out the site, and have seen some pretty good installs and have loved the site for being so informative!! Because of the money situation, i can only upgrade a little at a time, so i want to do this without completely loosing my tunes.

What i like to do first, is replace the my factor JBL radio and replace it with a Dual Din radio that has DVD player and a nice size screen or i can go with single din and get the trim kit...As for the Dual Din, i've only seen custom work to have these radio installed. from what i understand, there maybe some cutting involved to make the dual din fit.any suggestions??

now i have a few questions:

If i should choose any radio, i still have the issue with the 6 CD changer. i would like to replace the existing one and install it with a new changer that can fit in the same spot as the original. is this possible or should be looking at the my center console with more space?

what is a wire harness??? I've seen this term thrown around and thought i might ask here then do a search on the web and get tons o definitions. is this something that makes wiring radios easy? Like an adpater??

I've seen pre-made sub box, i believe come with its own amp, is this the right way to go? my current one suck, this is my second one I've replaced, then again I'm getting what i pay for 20 bucks...

now for the amp... I'm assuming i have to change it at some point...any suggestions a good but cheap one...


The reason I'm these questions and has put my project on hold, its because I've heard its real pain to upgrade from a factory radio to after market on these trucks.


I need help...

Thanks in advance

 

[SkanlaxJMO]

no its easy, the wirring harness is what is is...its a plug that goes into the factory one then you wire that into your new stereo, as for the double din its only a little trimming. Search for it on the site(search function) there is a thread on it. As for the cd changer I am pretty sure you would need a new one and re-wire it.

 

[greger]

just so you know it's hard to find a harness for this truck. so if you find one please let me know..i cant seem to find one anywhere..but good luck on install hope to see picks soon

 

[suave6565]

Thanks for responding guys...if it is a little trimming then il go with the Dual Din. as for the sub woofer in the back, what can i do for that. should go with the pre-made one that comes with an amp?

 

[Joe Dirt]

No- too much $$$

Just get a replacement sub, fit it into the stock housing, and mount an amp either on the housing where the other one was, or remote mount it... you can fit a 6" stock, or an 8" with some Dremel-ing to the housing. I'm putting in an 8" when it warms up for good here.

 

[E-rock]

not a real pain if you know what your doing. if your system came stock with a jbl sound system i would assume it came prewired with an amplifier somewhere in the truck. you can bypass it or you can hardwire it in through the wire harness, you'll just have to figure out which wires are which. if you're new to this, i wouldnt reccomend cutting away at your dash piece. the cdplayer is a cage mount which isnt very stable to begin with. i would suggest getting one of these and a pop out single din dvd player. this way you get to keep your stock system wihtout messing with anything and you can just wire in the new dvd player and save yourself a lot of trouble.

 

[Joe Dirt]

^ Where would that contraption mount? ^

 

[E-rock]

under the dash if the middle console only goes halfway.

 

[suave6565]

E-Rock ,

Thanks for the info..the only thing is, you had put in a link in one of your replys and it took me to ebay sight with some sort of radio cover for a boat. other than that, i was told that there is a harness that would also keep the functions to the rear (volume control,seek and headphones) is this true?i always thought that you can loose those controls in the back for the passengers to control. that would be pretty cool to still keep even though i head my mind set of loosing those controls.


Thanks guys for your input!!!