radio replacement

[Richard240]

Anybody got a good source for a replacement radio for a 1981 Spyder 2000?

It doesn't need to be OEM match, just AM/FM with simple buttons and maybe a CD.

The aftermarket stuff I have seen is just gaudy and a poor match for the car.

Thanks, Dick Adams

[MrJD]

Retro sound (or something like that) makes a radio that is old style... but get ready to pay for them... for no reason.

I'm going to go with a new style radio having classic features. This is the one I've picked out, just gotta make sure its not too deep for the space the car has... (note that it has the classic two knob look, and blaupunkt made the original fancy radios for fiat spiders!)

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_023TRN420B ... ml?tp=5684

[81SPIDERMATT]

Retro sound (or something like that) makes a radio that is old style... but get ready to pay for them... for no reason.

I'm going to go with a new style radio having classic features. This is the one I've picked out, just gotta make sure its not too deep for the space the car has... (note that it has the classic two knob look, and blaupunkt made the original fancy radios for fiat spiders!)

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_023TRN420B ... ml?tp=5684

cant seem to find dimensions on that unit .... already have my center console out of the car (upper and lower) .... there is a piece of very sturdy metal ..rectangular in shape that drops down from the dash ... I think this is what will limit the depth for the radio ..if it was not there I think depth would not be an issue ..I do not know its purpose and it has nothing connected to it ... but it seems to be very solidly in place ... .. if your console is in can you get a measurement from radio hole to that piece of metal please ... not wanting to pull the dash to see what it is .... if indeed it will limit the radio option too much I may dig deeper and see about trimming it for clearance if needed.... head unit is the last part of the puzzle for me... getting closer

also are you planning on using the Bluetooth for your phone calls .... curious if speaker on front of unit will work or a separate mic would be in order .... I do a lot of top down driving and wonder if it is even worth trying for that option

[MrJD]

I just looked at mine. No metal in the way but the plastic heater box is back there. I took out my heater box last night, so I can't measure, lol.

[Richard240]

For what it's worth, I pulled the radio box out of the dash which held the old Kenwood radio. The entire radio could be removed to prevent theft. The box dimensions are 2"H X 7 1/2"W X 6 3/4"D. Which means any new radio for a Spider 2000 needs to fit in that dimension to avoid interference.

[MrJD]

as an aside, my stock amfm radio that came in the car is 6 x 7 x 1.8

i feel like these dimensions are kinda small though. anyone elsegot their radio out where they can measure it?

The radio i was looking online is 1.96 x 7 x 6.3

from here http://www.blaupunktdirect.co.uk/car-au ... 20-bt.html

[georgeramos]

1 3/4 x 4 1/2 x 7 is the size of the 2 Blaupunkt Frankfurt FIAT models I have.

[bcs163]

I just put in a XX radio (mechless) from CrutchField for $70. I pick it out because I wanted to connect an iPhone/iPod and it was red.

The dimensions are (WxHxD) 7-3/16 x 2 -1/8 x 4-3/16 and I still have room between the back of the radio and the heaterbox.

[81SPIDERMATT]

Retro sound (or something like that) makes a radio that is old style... but get ready to pay for them... for no reason.

I'm going to go with a new style radio having classic features. This is the one I've picked out, just gotta make sure its not too deep for the space the car has... (note that it has the classic two knob look, and blaupunkt made the original fancy radios for fiat spiders!)

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_023TRN420B ... ml?tp=5684

just ordered this unit ... also ordered extended mic for Bluetooth ... my expectations for actually using the phone for communicating with the top down and driving are low ..but for 10 bucks thought I would give it a shot.... I will let you know about depth of install if you are curious when I get to that point .... excited ..as this is the last piece of my equipment needed to finish my stereo for the car

[MrJD]

grats! Looking forward to pics and hearing about your progress!

[81SPIDERMATT]

running out of light and motivation for the day ... been getting stuff ready for the delivery (that came about 2 hours ago) but I can tell you this about the mounting sleeve that came with the radio ( sleeve gets attached to car and radio slides into it and clicks in place) ... IT IS A PERFECT FIT like it was made for that space .... I will let you know more as things progress and I have another thread about speaker boxes to update also ... Thursday will be the install for all of it that is left .... but I am a happy camper ... thinking I was going to have to rig some type of bracket from hell to get it to work ....nope ..... big grin and flex pose of domination

[MrJD]

cool, post up some images when you get the chance. Curious to see what it really looks like.

[81SPIDERMATT]

center console is a little crooked still ... you can see in the pics ..at least I can see it

bluetooth works great for streaming Pandora from the phone.... downloaded phone book and call features are pretty cool ... have not tested them while driving .... external mic placement was based on lighting my lighter while going down the road and finding the spot with the least wind while driving and closest spot to where I thought it should be... thinking that the wind will be the biggest obstacle for people on the other end hearing me while driving .... it is a nice setup with the amp in the trunk and the 6 x 9 speakers in the front .... it is as loud as I want without sacrificing sound quality ... and I like it loud more than not ... got an mp3 player coming from a friend and access to his music library with more than 2 terabytes of music ( do not own and ipod or similar device) ... and will need some type of music as going into the mountains phone reception (Pandora) cuts out pretty pretty quick