Head units

Weldingman · Dec 28, 2021

What kind of head units are you guys putting into bullnose trucks? I have an 86 and the stock radio won’t hold a station for more than 5 minutes. I’d like to put in a newer head unit maybe with some Bluetooth capabilities that Will fit in the factory location without having to cut up the bezel.

DaveBen · Dec 28, 2021

Most aftermarket radios with Bluetooth come with their own bezels to replace the factory one.

Kdo58 · Dec 28, 2021

I like alpine myself

Weldingman · Dec 28, 2021

So a regular din radio will fit in place of the stock one?

DaveBen · Dec 28, 2021

Yes, a single DIN will fit. A double DIN will NOT fit.

ROCK HARVEY · Dec 28, 2021

I actually just bought a cheap-o stereo receiver with Bluetooth to replace the stock stereo in my ‘89. Because mine is cheap it didn’t come with a replacement bezel or anything, so I also bought this kit off Amazon: Metra 99-5510 Installation Multi-Kit for Select 1982-up Ford/Mercury/Jeep Vehicles (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002BEUXK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_X3HG6WXWEBZ619S8A3K4

You may need the same thing for your bullnose, or it may come with your head unit.

EDIT: I should add that I haven’t installed my stereo yet, so for all I know I don’t need the adapter kit either!

Shadetreemechanic · Dec 29, 2021

I bought an alpine CDE-172BT after trying some cheaper head units. I wanted the handsfree calling to actually work and the alpine has a remote mic that I put on the a pillar. Before that you had to yell into the dash which kinda defeats the purpose of the hands free.

TNBrett · Dec 29, 2021

+1 on the wired remote mic. With the background noise in our trucks, that is a must for hands free calls. I’ve had a couple of head units with remote mics, and they work well. The ones with built in mics are garbage in a truck.

Weldingman · Dec 29, 2021

Shadetreemechanic said:
I bought an alpine CDE-172BT after trying some cheaper head units. I wanted the handsfree calling to actually work and the alpine has a remote mic that I put on the a pillar. Before that you had to yell into the dash which kinda defeats the purpose of the hands free.

Does that plug right into the factory harness?

DaveBen · Dec 29, 2021

Yes, with the supplied wiring harness adapter. crutchfield.com sells them with the radios.

Shadetreemechanic · Dec 29, 2021

What @DaveBen said. Crutchfield will sell you everything you need. The issue may be finding that radio in stock. Crutchfield had it backordered last time I looked.

Cubey · Dec 29, 2021

DaveBen said:
Yes, a single DIN will fit. A double DIN will NOT fit.

Unless you have an older Econoline, then you can make one fit. LOL

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catbird7 · Dec 29, 2021

Another avenue is a stereo designed for classic car. Since the bullnose was the last F-.series with the two knob traditional radio formate, classic car stereo with the adjustable knob spacing would work fine.

nakiahwitt · Dec 31, 2021

Double dins are totally possible, completely worth it and having a backup camera is awesome! You have to do some creative trimming and make a custom bezel but it’s completely doable. The only pta is you can’t use one with a CD player, they are to deep and with hit inner dash structurer.

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Weldingman · Dec 31, 2021

That’s awesome

Head units

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