Today I tackled something that isn’t exactly high priority in the grand scheme of restoring a 1992 Dodge Stealth, but it is something that matters a lot to me: getting music back in the car. I’ve always loved having good music while I drive, and after dealing with the old Iowa stereo acting up for way too long, I finally decided it was time for an upgrade.
The Iowa unit was manufactured in October 2000, which means it had definitely earned its retirement. My brother helped by wiring up the harness, and once that was ready, I installed the new JVC radio. The process went smoothly enough, though I’ll admit I used a pretty inadequate screwdriver to remove the old CD player. It was the closest one within reach, and sometimes convenience wins over proper tools.
When I pulled the old unit out, I realized I had forgotten to take the CD out of it. The very first CD I played in the new JVC was Melissa Etheridge. A fitting way to christen the upgrade.
Once everything was connected, only the front passenger-side speaker came to life. Not ideal, but honestly, that one speaker sounded really good. So now we’ve got a little mystery to solve. My brother pointed out that my grounding might not actually be grounded at all apparently, I connected it to something plastic. I thought I had put it back exactly how the previous stereo was set up, but clearly something needs a second look. I’m sure we’ll figure out whether that’s the issue soon enough.
The next part of this project is the radio frame. There is an OEM bezel for the Stealth, but it’s not cheap, and I’m trying to be practical where I can. So I’m making my own frame using small pieces of pine wood and black paint. It’s a bit of an experiment, but that’s half the fun with this car. Every fix, every upgrade, every little project becomes part of the story.
Even though this wasn’t a major repair, it felt good to make progress, and even better to hear music playing in the Stealth again, even if it’s just through one speaker for now. More updates to come as I keep working my way through this car, one piece at a time.
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