Help Choosing a New Head Unit

L

Leecon

Registered
The so called "experts" at Crutchfield and Best Buy are telling me that there is no head unit that will fit my 96 MarkVIII. I know that can't be true from what I've read here. Are there any that will plug in using the factory wiring harness, or will I have to cut and splice? Any help will be appreciated. Any recommendations?

Thanks
 
RE: Help Choosing a New Head Unit

you can buy wiring kits that make that part of the installation rather painless. That's not the difficult part.

I believe the '96's had the double-din (or din and a half) hole in the dash, so you need a kit to make the stereo itself fit in the hole in the dash, or you need to find a stereo that fits (which is possible, but reduces your selection greatly). The problem with dash kits is that they are made of cheap plastic and look pretty tacky (mine looks like crap, and it's loose too).
 
RE: Help Choosing a New Head Unit

Yes, mine is a double din. My main problem is the cd player. I'm just exploring all options right now, not even sure that I'm going to replace it. I may be able to find a double din that has tape, single CD and XM capability.

Thanks for the response.

Lee
 
RE: Help Choosing a New Head Unit

Most new CD players can play MP3's too. Make sure you get one that will do that. Then you can put 10 hours of music on 1 CD, which pretty much eliminates the need (or desire) for a CD changer.
 
RE: Help Choosing a New Head Unit

Double DIN radio will not fit in 95-98 marks without modification to the opening, and the woodgrain bezel.
 
RE: Help Choosing a New Head Unit

That being the case, mine must be a 1 1/2. Thanks for the correction. Any suggestions on possible replacements?
 
RE: Help Choosing a New Head Unit

Most of us replaced the head unit and at the same time went with aftermarket amplifiers. My two long time favourites are Alpine and Clarion. Are you looking for an mp3 player ?
 
RE: Help Choosing a New Head Unit

Lee
Before Black Beauty was killed, I had a Kenwood in her. THe problem was and you are now having, is that double din size. I put a regular head unit in but had that crappy plastic space. My thoughts were to get a custom install job to make it look good.
Now with my 98, my window tint guy (auto sound and security on Pat Booker)who also installs stereos, said he wouldn't put an after market in. Wouldn't look good. I agree. I'm sticking with the stock cassette and cd changer. Only thing I might change is getting a Ford CD player, there is a place off of Broadway that deals in these, and hook up my changer to a single-disc unit. That I know is a direct plug and play.
I'm not sure what you have in yours, Norm might have had an 8-track for all we know.
 
RE: Help Choosing a New Head Unit

I can's see the difference between mounting an aftermarket unit in a 96 or 98 Mark VIII. You have to get the same exact kit for both.
 
RE: Help Choosing a New Head Unit

The opening is about a 1/4 inch smaller than the size of a 2DIN unit. Tried that already. It can be done, and I've personally seen it done, but it's not a plug-n-play. Plus the wood bezel has to be trimmed also, if the unit has a trim piece around it.
 
RE: Help Choosing a New Head Unit

Have you searched for 1.5 DIN head units? I know on the gen 2's, there is a plastic surround around the head unit, so i could at least avoid trimming my wood to make it work.

Your best bet is probably to get a regular DIN head unit, and a dash kit, or a DIN head unit and a small EQ that will fit in the spot above it, and have a custom dash kit made. That's probably the best bet as far as making it look good. I hate the POS dash kit that i have in my car. I was thinking about finding some steel or aluminum and fabricating my own. Just put two tiny rails along the edge and fasten a piece of sheet metal above the stereo, and put some kind of logo on it. Maybe powdercoat it black and put a Mark VIII badge on it, or something like that.
 
RE: Help Choosing a New Head Unit

Powdercoated black with a red Lincoln star would look really good. I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do yet. I may even hold off a while longer, I just wanted to do something this week or next, the wife is up in the North Country of Maine with her mother for two weeks, and I've got money in my pocket and time on my hands. A dangerous combination in my house.
 
RE: Help Choosing a New Head Unit

No that set up is great.
What I was saying is I like the stock look, or something like that, and that hideous plastic trim ring was lousy. I see you have added an equalizer to that Alpine. I think Lee was stating just getting a head unit. But your's is real nice and a good option with extra cash.
 
RE: Help Choosing a New Head Unit

American International makes a Ford double-DIN dash kit that works really well, it is model number FMK-550. This kit is mountable with the pocket on top or bottom and also comes with a matching trim ring, so that the aftermarket radio sits flush in the dash, instead of protruding. You can use either the radio's trim rimg, or the one that comes with the dash kit. This kit is also a lot sturdier than a few others I have worked with. I have used these in both G1's ('95-'96's with doubleDIN openings)and G2's with great results. Give it a shot, I think you'll like it.

-Joe Michael
 
RE: Help Choosing a New Head Unit

its the pocket that kills me... Im thinking about removing the inner black plastic piece from the wooden trim and using body filler to make the whole thing flat, then flush mount the new unit in there. that gets rid of like two butt-ugly seems that would normally exist.
 
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