03-04 Center Console/Radio Swap

[MR.ADAMS]

For anyone who was interested in this thread, I finally got around to making a write-up.

http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/how-278/678395-how-swap-mach-460-6-disc-into-sn95.html

 

[Hodgepodge]

Just thought I would provide an update to my little project. maybe i should start a new thread.

anyways, as you may have read I am swapping (or attempting to swap) a 2005+ 6 disc CD player into my non-Mach audio car.

Since my car does not have the Mach system, I needed a CD player with only two plugs on the back. Also, I had to purchase 2 wiring harnesses from Metra. The first plugs into the factory wiring harness, and the second plugs into the back of the 05+ Ford CD players. Will post part #s later, still waiting on them in the mail :nonono: Don't want to post bad info in case it doesn't work.

Second thing to buy was a new style (01-04) radio bezel. I scored one local with all switches for $35. Of course, the new style CD player is a bit taller than the older ones. But they do have the same widths, which makes this project doable.

I started sanding on the ABS for about 10-15 mins with 60 grit, and saw little progress.
(Taped cardboard to the sides so I didn't mess it up with the sandpaper, although I will be painting it black to match the rest of the dash.)

Still won't fit

Realizing that I was just wasting my time, I made a quick trip to Ace and picked up a mini Handsaw for 4.99 and bought 2 12" 18T blades for it for 1.50. The blade that the saw comes with doesn't cut the ABS well, but the 18T blades make quick work of it. I made a template out of cardboard and traced a line to follow. Made sure to go slow to get a nice straight line. Small deviations could be fixed by sanding with the 60 grit

Work smarter, not harder!

After about 15-20 mins of cutting it down and sanding to get a straight line, it came out looking like this.

Not too bad IMO. Left side could come down a little, but once it is painted and in the car it should look pretty good. The difficult part will be mounting it up. And I'm assuming that the wiring will work....

 

[MR.ADAMS]

Hey that looks pretty good my man. Nice way to get it to fit. Good luck on the wiring!

 

[Hodgepodge]

Still haven't gotten the harness to plug into the new radio, but figured I would post this up

Wiring into the Freestyle radio(Metra 70-5520)

Wiring into car factory harness(Metra 71-5511)

What do you think, Mr. Adams?

 

[MR.ADAMS]

Unless those diagrams are specific to the vehicles you got your parts from and convert Ford's wire coloring system into the Metra colors, I wouldn't use them. From what I saw the Metra printed functions were garbage. There was even an occasion where a wire was blatantly in the wrong pin, which is exactly why I chose to use OEM Ford pinouts.

Get some OEM diagrams, should be a lot easier with them.

 

[Hodgepodge]

Well my uncle is a Ford tech so I should be able to get some diagrams pretty easily

 

[Hodgepodge]

my swap is done

 

[mysteed]

Looks great man. Do you have any pics of how the wiring matched up?

 

[DoomsDay]

Just searched and found this, im wanting to swap to the newer center but wondering what you guys are using to dye them to match the sn95 interior