What is the stereo in your TJ? Double, single or maybe basic?

Got this unit from Crutchfield 3 years ago - Jensen VX7012 (I know its a cheap brand but its been great so far). It does block the vents when open but I just close it when I run the A/C. I put felt on the corners of the screen to prevent rattling. I installed Polk speakers in the dash, Alpine in the sound bar and sub box in the back (insta-trunk area). It all sounds great even with the top off on the freeway. Unit came with rear camera plug so for $20 I got one from Amazon. Same thing with the HDMI plug which was even easier than the camera. Nice set up without breaking the bank.
Back Up Camera.jpg
HDMI plug.jpg
Jensen VX7012.jpg
rear camera.jpg
 
I like music but am not an audiophile..... I am also cheap, I bought a JVC, refurb. unit from Crutchfield for $50. I plays pandora through my iPhone, has a front USB port for that and charges my phone at the same time, it is AM/FM and no CD or tape, (my experience is that CDs in a Jeep are pretty short lived, they either get really scratched due to dust or fly out when the top is off.......
 
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Yes, great info @TJ4Jim and @Fouledplugs... my hesitation , im just wondering,
would a cheap aftermarket radio be less attractive to a thief, or another way to put it, is a factory radio in a soft top TJ more likely to be stolen ?
Just wondering if I'm better off keeping the el cheapo radio ... less of a target for crooks maybe.? Especially in a soft top.
 
KCsTJ said:
Yes, great info @TJ4Jim and @Fouledplugs... my hesitation , im just wondering,
would a cheap aftermarket radio be less attractive to a thief, or another way to put it, is a factory radio in a soft top TJ more likely to be stolen ?
Just wondering if I'm better off keeping the el cheapo radio ... less of a target for crooks maybe.? Especially in a soft top.
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I highly doubt a thief would steal your factory radio. Chances are the thief will steal an aftermarket radio (regardless of value) before he/she would steal a factory radio.
 
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Boinked said:
But not in the 97 or 98 :smash2:
Click to expand...

It’s the same fit only difference is you would need a bezel from a 03+ TJ and the stereo is direct bolt on and so is the bezel..

The bezels I. The 03+ Tjs was rounded in the corners vs squared of like earlier tjs



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freebo86 said:
It’s the same fit only difference is you would need a bezel from a 03+ TJ and the stereo is direct bolt on and so is the bezel..

The bezels I. The 03+ Tjs was rounded in the corners vs squared of like earlier tjs
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Click to expand...
Are you saying that you can install a stock radio from a later model TJ into an early model TJ and you just need to use the appropriate bezel? I’d also like to go back to a stock radio for my ‘97 TJ.
 
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RussTJ said:
Are you saying that you can install a stock radio from a later model TJ into an early model TJ and you just need to use the appropriate bezel? I’d also like to go back to a stock radio for my ‘97 TJ.
Click to expand...

Pretty much. The radio harness plug connection in the rear changed on the later model tjs also so there is adapters that basically plug into radio and your harness end it make it work.

That radio I pictured when it was installed I had to use the harness adapter to adapt it to my 97TJ harness and it came with the stereo. Once I sold the 97 picked up up 05 LJ then I just took the radio and plugged it right in without the adapter.

The newer radios are rounded as well so a round bezel is needed (50-75$) online.


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freebo86 said:
It’s the same fit only difference is you would need a bezel from a 03+ TJ and the stereo is direct bolt on and so is the bezel..

The bezels I. The 03+ Tjs was rounded in the corners vs squared of like earlier tjs



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
The 97 uses a different bolt pattern
The square 4 bolt wont fit.
hqdefault (1).jpg
 
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RussTJ said:
Are you saying that you can install a stock radio from a later model TJ into an early model TJ and you just need to use the appropriate bezel? I’d also like to go back to a stock radio for my ‘97 TJ.
Click to expand...


The bezel is not quite the same although it will work, the HVAC panel will have to be pulled out about 3/8" with spacers on the screws and the lower switch bezel would also have to be replaced with the later model.
 
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Boinked said:
The 97 uses a different bolt pattern
The square 4 bolt wont fit.
View attachment 56529
Click to expand...

There is adapter plates that adapt the holes on the sides, I forgot about that! I just made my own back then.

TJ4Jim said:
The bezel is not quite the same although it will work, the HVAC panel will have to be pulled out about 3/8" with spacers on the screws and the lower switch bezel would also have to be replaced with the later model.
Click to expand...

Washers do the trick on spacing out the HVAC.
The switch portion stays the same nothing needs to be replaced there.. see picture below that was in the 97 TJ.

bezel.jpg
 
freebo86 said:
There is adapter plates that adapt the holes on the sides, I forgot about that! I just made my own back then.



Washers do the trick on spacing out the HVAC.
The switch portion stays the same nothing needs to be replaced there.. see picture below that was in the 97 TJ.
Click to expand...

Well the switch portion on your 97 is not original, it is the 03 and later switch bezel. The 97's to 02's all came from the factory with an ashtray and it will not work with the 03 and up center bezel.
 
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Pioneer SPH-DA120

f79801cedd9bb30f38fcdfff597fffb0.jpg


Apple CarPlay is sweet, and this unit has a full glass capacitive touch screen (no buttons - totally sealed glass front).

I think I may have paid $120 when I got it 2 years ago. I never regretted it.


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TJ4Jim said:
Well the switch portion on your 97 is not original, it is the 03 and later switch bezel. The 97's to 02's all came from the factory with an ashtray and it will not work with the 03 and up center bezel.
Click to expand...

I stand corrected. It's been a while since I've done that mod.. but yes you are right, I did end up purchasing a 03+ switch bezel also (had to look at my old 97 spreadsheet) to go along with the new bezel.
 
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