mikeringland Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 Has anyone here used the Vintage Car Audio 300 series stereo in their Monte? Do you like it, any issues? I currently have a Custom Autosound 630 and have had nothing but problems with it. I'm open to other brands if anyone has a suggestion. I'm looking for a stereo that will fit in the stock radio slot in the dash, that I can plug an IPod into and has at least one set of RCA outputs for a bass tube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stangeba Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 Just found my receipt from 7 Aug 1996! I paid $422.94 for a Custom Autosound Kenwood 800 Radio, ($399.00 + Tax) It has a cassette tape player and I have a 6 disc CD changer in the trunk, works great! I still have my original AM/FM Stereo in the basement (and one from a 73 Buick I think) Good tunes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rock Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 I have the 630 and I have had no issues. What problems have you had? Only thing I wish I would of done was spend the extra money for Bluetooth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeringland Posted January 13, 2018 Author Share Posted January 13, 2018 I've had two issues, one is resolved, one is not. The first issue I had was the right knob stopped working, so I couldn't skip a track on the Ipod or adjust bass, treble, etc. Custom Autosound sent me a new knob and I had to take the radio out of the car, open it up and replace the knob. They were very quick to send me a new knob, which made me think this is a common issue with them. The second problem I have is a little more complex. I converted my original points ignition to an HEI system. Nothing fancy, just a GM stock HEI setup. Since then, when the car is running, the radio sound cuts in and out almost like a CD skipping. It does it both on FM and Ipod. I checked everything, speaker wires, speaker connections, ground, power, battery, without a solution. I just found out in the last few weeks that HEI can cause RF interference, which the USB and Ipod cables that are on the 630 radio can pick up and cause the radio to malfunction. I purchased a set of ferrite beads to put around both the USB and Ipod cables coming out of the radio. This is supposed to solve the issue. I get them on Monday, we shall see if that solves it. Googling around about this RF issue also lead to me an online thread where the general consensus was if you need to add ferite beads to your radio because an HEI system is causing interference, your radio is a piece of junk, more or less. Hopefully this ferrite bead trick will work and I can just keep the 630 radio, which would be nice, considering I spend 300 bucks on it. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rock Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 I have HEI ignition and I have not experienced those issues but I don’t use an IPod much at all but I use my IPhone all the time. It has never cut out. Maybe you got a bad connection or wiring issue to the radio or something inside the radio like a bad solder joint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeringland Posted January 13, 2018 Author Share Posted January 13, 2018 Honestly, the radio worked perfectly fine before I did the points to HEI conversion. The RF interference is the only viable culprit. When the engine is off and the key is in the on position, the radio works great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stangeba Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 Mike, Did you remove the resistor that is required with a stock points dist? I have NO idea if that would cause your problem, but I know it needs to be removed when using a GM HEI system. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rock Posted January 13, 2018 Share Posted January 13, 2018 If it is interference than a choke will fix it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeringland Posted January 13, 2018 Author Share Posted January 13, 2018 Bruce, Yes I did remove the original resistor wire during the HEI conversion, and ran a new ignition power wire. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monte70car Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 I put this one in my 72 ]http://www.chevelle.com/GetImage.ashx?Path=%7e%2fAssets%2fProductImages%2fJ712RR.jpg&maintainAspectRatio=true&maxHeight=300&maxWidth=300 picked it up here http://www.chevelle.com/1971-72-AMFM-Radio-P5581.aspx when its off the display is black. I've tested the radio with just one speaker and it does have good sound playing through a 4" 100 watt speaker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeringland Posted January 20, 2018 Author Share Posted January 20, 2018 Problem solved. Added ferrite beads to the radio 12v ignition and 12v battery wires. Also added ferrite beads to the USB cable on the radio. Nothing, no change. Looked under the dash one more time and saw the tach wire laying on the 12v radio ignition wire, unplugged the tach from the distributor, problem gone. Unbelievable, haha. Have to reroute the tach wire now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigtankjones Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 I have the 630 also and have had no issues with mine. I've adapted the 70 style knobs to my controls. I just need to upgrade to some better speakers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72Ragtop Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 I have a 3/4" thick file covering Custom Auto Sound and all the problems, issues, returns, re-returns and (worst) the total lack of any customer service. Now that was about 10 years ago, but it still makes me sick when I see them on TV or in advertising. I currently have an actual Am-FM-Cassette-Remote CD Kenwood (KRC-3007 w/ two actual Knobs!!!!) Love it!!! And I have a spare in the attic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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