Stock Regular Radio Wanted (Not Touring Bose), Forum Friend Help Needed

[Bonzo]

I was just wondering if there is a forum friend out there willing to go above and beyond in the nice category to help out a fellow Z owner and forum member? Does anyone out there have their old "like new" stock radio just sitting in their garage collecting dust that they would be willing to sell me? Heck, if it helps, I don't even need the radio, just the full front black plastic face plate (that snaps/pops off). I'm only looking to make my project look better (read below), so tons of money isn't really in the cards. I'm thinking maybe $20 to $25 including freight, but you tell me. I can pay via Paypal right away, so if you send me a P.M. with your e-mail that will be easy. I would really like to have another shot at my project, because I want this awesome car to be as nice as possible. I'd really appreciate your help on this one if you can.

Thanks in advance ---- Bonzo

Long story here.....
So I've been working on a project for the last month or so and I got down near the end of it being perfect, and crap, it's now certainly not perfect. I put in a JVC detachable face radio in January, and I'm trying to make a "dummy" cover for it. The idea is that when I take the JVC face plate off, I replace it with a stock radio face plate. This way when potential thieves look in the window, they don't see an aftermarket blank space, they see a P.O.S. stock radio and walk the other way.

I've spent a lot of hours trying to make it real nice and as nearly perfect as possible, and I was really doing well. BUT, the last thing I did was add some extra glue to the back of the buttons to make sure they were really held on well, and that was a big mistake. I should have used quick set epoxy or something like that, because the glue has done something I never expected. Instead of setting up and drying quick, it's taking forever, and its ruining the buttons on the front. It's totally dry to the touch and very hard, but it's still "adhering" and "eating" into the plastic buttons from the back. So much so that now all the buttons on front are sort of melted looking and deformed. The digital read out area is also out of whack. It's not so bad that it still won't work for what I need, because I do have #22 tinted windows, so looking inside it's still dark. I mean as it is now, it will "work" for the most part, it's just not all that great looking. I would much prefer it look great so it fits the rest of the car. So I'd like to try it again but I need another stock radio. I'm sure the dealers want WAY more than I'm willing to spend for this. And that's where you all come in. Thanks again!!!!!

[MattP725]

Not to sidetrack but you really think thieves would steal an aftermarket head unit without the faceplate? They are rendered worthless without it.

[Gauge]

There was a ton of people selling these on the cheap just a week ago. Check the for sale section.

[Bonzo]

Originally Posted by Gauge

There was a ton of people selling these on the cheap just a week ago. Check the for sale section.

I did multiple searches yesterday and didn't find anything. Perhaps I need to dig down deep. I'll take another look today.

Thanks ---- Bonzo

[Bonzo]

Originally Posted by MattP725

Not to sidetrack but you really think thieves would steal an aftermarket head unit without the faceplate? They are rendered worthless without it.

The answer to your question is, unquestionably, yes. The removable face plate is a deterrent, not a fix. I know this because it's happened to me personally. I used to take my Sony face plate off (and out with me) in my old truck religiously. Low and behold, I came out of work on day and my door lock was popped, and the dash was totally ripped out; radio WITHOUT face plate was gone (I still have the faceplate as a reminder). $3000 damage. At first I was like, you stupid MF. But then I called Sony and spoke with them and they were like, sorry about your luck. But all the thief has to do is call up Sony and order a new replacement face plate for $125. So they stole my $800 radio, and while they didn't get it for free, they got a huge discount.

So now I'm sure things have changed with the more modern electronics, mainly because the turn time on stuff is so fast, replacement faces probably aren't available for very long. But with the JVC there isn't any sort of registration program or security code thing either, at least not that I know of. I'm certainly no expert on how it all works anymore, but I do know it's not fail safe. And besides, there is still a really good chance any potential thief will see the radio, then know that there is a also a really good chance the face plate is still in the car. Hidden maybe, but still a 50/50 chance it's in the car. Probably better than 50/50 actually. While I like to remove the face plate from the car totally as much as possible, that just isn't practical all the time. I mean, I'm a guy without a large purse, so where do I put it when I'm just going to Kroger for 30 minutes? Here at work I can just bring it in with me, but if I'm going out to eat or to a concert or something, dragging in my face plate just isn't practical. I'd do it if it were, but it's not. Thieves know this.

So no, the removable face plate is not a 100% cure, at all. It helps, yes, but it's not a perfect fix. I think some proof that it's not a total fix is that if it were, don't you think every single aftermarket radio would have this feature? I would. I think my stock face plate idea goes a LONG way to alleviate this issue. Only a seriously desperate thief would break into a Z only to steal the P.O.S. stock radio that's in there. At that point they would be more into wanting the whole car, or a joy ride. But that stock radio by itself? No way. I think it's a great idea, and will give me a much better piece of mind about it. If that's all it is, then so be it, but piece of mind is worth it to me.

[Bonzo]

Just thought I'd post some pics of my project along the way. Don't have any with the buttons glued in downloaded from my camera, but here you can see how it comes apart and all the dremeling and sanding I did so far.

[aaron johnson]

Bonzo

Pm sent. I still have both.

Aaron

[USMCASA]

tint windows?...

[Bonzo]

Originally Posted by USMCASA

tint windows?...

Yep, got those already. Had them on my old truck too, and look what happened.

Originally Posted by Bonzo

because I do have #22 tinted windows, so looking inside it's still dark.

#22 is pretty dark, but on a bright sunny day you can still see in if you are a thief really looking. I also think a nice sports car like the Z stands out and draws more attention than say a Toyota with a cool aftermarket head unit.

Swapping the 2 (real JVC to dummy) regularly isn't hard at all, since I have to get out the carrying case anyway. It's just back and forth.

I just think it's a cool mod, and for my piece of mind and what I think is a substantial increase in the theft deterrence level, the effort is worth it for me.