I have an older cassette version of a Sony from the Explod series and have
really liked it. It's showing it's age now but I've been using it for about
7 and three buses now. Sounds good, affordable, and easy to install.

On Tue, Sep 9, 2008 at 8:52 AM, Jack R. <jack007@comcast.net> wrote:

> Jim,
>
> I put this Sony radio into my 84 Westy, and also into our friends 90 Westy.
> As you can see from the photo, it is a perfect fit, and a good match.
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/77623993@N00/2843132694/
>
> The model I put in our friends Vanagon is newer, but still looks the same.
> It fit just as well. http://www.xplodsony.com/xplod/headunits/CDX-GT420U
>
> You should be able to find it for $100 or so
> http://www.millionbuy.com/snycdxgt420u.html
>
> By the way, it comes with a wireless remote, which fits nicely by the
> speedometer, and can change the song from the upper bunk at night!
>
> You will need an antenna adaptor, Best Buy will charge you $15 or you can
> get it on Ebay for $4 http://tinyurl.com/58ztmf
>
> I hooked up the power leads, and used a circuit tester to find a proper
> switch lead by the fuse panel, so the radio would shut off with the van.
> You can also wire it hot, so it runs any time you turn it on.  The last
> option, which I did for my van, was to wire a three way switch by the
> on-off
> key, so I can turn either tell it to turn off with the van or run when the
> switch is on.  Not too hard to do, you wire a always hot lead to the bottom
> of the switch, and a "on with the key" to the top of the switch... the lead
> to the radio comes from the center.  You can get this switch at any Radio
> Shack.
>
> Once the power leads are hooked up, you can match up the speaker wire pairs
> to the speakers one-by-one.  The solid leads are the positive on the
> Vanagon
> speakers... you'll find the pairs pretty easily.  I used a crimp tool to
> secure the leads after cutting the wires two at a time. Or if you don't
> want
> to cut the wires use these... they do take up space however and not as
> clean
> as a crimp and join.
> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=97990
>
>
> The radio sounds find with the factory original blaupunkt speakers, and I
> don't blast it, so for me I'm happy.  If you want to take up precious
> camper
> space for a sub, it can handle that as well.
>
> Lastly, and a feature I use a lot, the radio can read from an CD loaded
> with
> 180 MP3's, and I have various CD mixes depending on mood and situation.
>
> All this for $100 or so, you can't go wrong.
>
> Hope this helps!
>
> Jack R.
> 84 Westy Wolfie
> N. of Detroit
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Jim Cochran
> Sent: Monday, September 08, 2008 9:54 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>  Subject: stereo
>
> Hi List,
> Time to update the radio/cassette player from the original '86 player
> to something newer. I'd like to have a cd player with input capacity
> for my Sirius XM receiver and my iPod, and a remote would be nice,
> too. But I'd like a unit that won't clash with the style. Simple brown
> interior. Any leads out there? Ideas?
>
> Jim C
> 86 Westy
> 71 Van
>

--
Thanks,

Jeff
'90 Carat (Grover)
'86 (We call this one Parts)
'78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus