I want to upgrade the sound in my 1992 SSEI ( cassette player but no CD )

I am interested in keeping the stock head unit as i like the steering controls unless I can pick up a stock CD player on Ebay.

Any ideas on speakers ? I'm also interested in using the stock wiring if possible.
I don't want to rattle the gas cap off ... I just want nice clear music while cruising. The
paper speakers are shot.

Any other ideas to upgrade ? No 12'* in the trunk please ....
At the most I'm doing speakers and amp .. but probably just speakers.

JLathem

well if using your steering wheels are a problem, you can get an interface that will work with aftermarket headuntis. all you will need is to find a headunit that has a remote control and you are in busness. you have the bose system and though i dont remember the exactly I know that the ohm rating on thoes speakers is weird. the system would sound better if you would bypass that bose system all together.

He doesn't have BOSE. BOSE was an option in the 1987-1991 and standard on HZ5'* from 1997-2003, but not available in the 1992-1996'*. What he has is just a factory upgraded system with a Delco Electronics Amp (very miniscule).
If you want a factory CD player you can look on ebay, but the 1992/1993 steering wheel controls wiring is different than the 1994+, and the 1992/1993 factory CD players don't go for cheap ($250+ easily, every time -my brother sells them on a fairly regular basis). I'd suggest looking on www.car-part.com for either a Pontiac one or one from a Buick of the same year, but then you can just get a Pontiac faceplate and swap it (takes less than 5 minutes for me to swap those with the standard hand tools.

Ok, now for the speakers, how much are you looking to spend? Ebay is a good place (as long as the seller has excellent feedback), or look up the link in this thread:
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...c.php?p=276649
That website has some really good prices.
Good luck, and be sure to let us know how things are when you finish.

Mine is the Delco unit I believe. I know an aftermarket head unit would be light years better. I just hate to sink anymore money in the car. I have already spent too much on the mods. I just want a set of speakers that are better and are direct replacements.
I have other cars I can get crazy with on the stereo I just want this one to work right.
The busted speaker cones are a little more than I can stand.

Just read the above post .. No cd player then . I'm going to stick with replacement speakers.

JLathem

Also I've read about the newer ( 4 ohm ) speakers zapping the old head unit because it was rated at 8 ohms. ANy ideas on this ?

JLathem

Hmm. I wasn't aware of that, but now that you mention it I can see it happening. But 99% of the 1992-1993 CD units my brother repairs have a bad CD unit. I was talking to him about these radios two weeks ago and he told me of all these 92-93 units he'* worked on he only recalled one that had a problem with the amp/reciever.

OLBlueEyesBonne: Bose was not an option in the 87-91 cars. There was an option for "Performance Sound" which consisted of two 3.5'* in the front doors, removal of the 4x6'* in the dash, an amp for the rear deck 6x9'*, and two more 3.5'* on the rear deck. This is either a 4 or 8ohm setup. I am leaning more towards 4ohm, but I don't know for sure.

Jlathem: I understand your predicament, you want something that will make music, but interfacing with the stock stereo will be a PITA. It will cost a little more, but will save MANY headaches to just upgrade the whole thing, even if it'* cheap stuff. You won't run into problems with blowing your speakers or HU, you could run it all off the preamps, so won't need amps, or 0 gauge wires running throughout the car.

Just my $.02

-justin

OSG. My cousin had a gold 1987 Bonneville SE with the same rims as JimW'* old car. It had steering wheel controls, "Bose" on the radio, and BOSE metal badges on the front door speaker covers.
I believe someone spotted a 1989 SE (same color and options as my cousins 1987) on ebay a while back with the BOSE stereo. I'm gonna look this up on google or a some electronics repair shop website -I know I saw them listing Bose decks for 1987-1991 Bonneville'* on one website about 1-1/2 years ago.

I'm doing research as we speak. My owner'* manual has nothing on bose, just delco [Both Cassette and CD decks]. But i'm not stoping at that. Do you remember if the car had the "gain" control? I KNOW my car isn't bose.. and mine has the "performance sound" option.


-justin

My car definately has the Performance sound option with the gain control.
I just checked. So its a Delco. I can't believe I can't just go to ... anywhere
and buy some speakers for it. I like the stock look. I don't listen to it very loud but want clarity at lower levels.

JLathem