85 BII Premium Sound Update

[ford4wd08]

Thinking about replacing my receiver in BII I daily drive because I am tired of hunting the radio stations each time I get in when there is a temp change. I do know it is a premium sound setup with what I assume is an amplifier in the dash under the cover with the bolts.

I have already changed out the speakers in the dash and the body panels behind the front seats.

Trying to find an appropriate looking head unit that doesn't look like it belongs on a spaceship.

Anyone done this change recently, got any leads on good replacements?

I believe '85 is the first year of the single DIN radio size vs the '84 and earlier RBV's.

@RobbieD any advice on this?

 

[ford4wd08]

Current Radio in BII.

 

[RobbieD]

Thinking about replacing my receiver in BII I daily drive because I am tired of hunting the radio stations each time I get in when there is a temp change. I do know it is a premium sound setup with what I assume is an amplifier in the dash under the cover with the bolts.

I have already changed out the speakers in the dash and the body panels behind the front seats.

Trying to find an appropriate looking head unit that doesn't look like it belongs on a spaceship.

Anyone done this change recently, got any leads on good replacements?

I believe '85 is the first year of the single DIN radio size vs the '84 and earlier RBV's.

@RobbieD any advice on this?

Yes, 1985 was the first year model with the single DIN head unit.

If memory serves, the OEM opening may need minor filing to front-load an aftermarket single-DIN head.

I hope that somebody comes along with suggestions for the head unit, as I'm in the same boat as you.

I have three trucks, a '90 B2 and 2 '94 Explorers, that I would like to get matching AM/FM/CD head units. They all have the same second-generation dash.

I doubt that I can find three working Ford head units, that vintage, that are working and affordable. So I'm going to be looking for a basic, no frills black faced head unit, current manufacture, that I can put into all three. Until I start looking, I'm just afraid that nobody's making such an animal anymore.

I kick myself, for not stocking up on such units when I installed "back in the day". Some of the old Blaupunkt and Sony units looked right at home in these trucks.

My '84 still has an uncut "3 holer" dash panel, so it's got an OEM Ford AM/FM in it (a shafted radio). Unmolested '83-'84 dash panels aren't easy to find anymore.