My original cassett radio crashed and will need replacing. I've called the dealer and the genuine Volvo radio is still available, but pricey. Is there a reasonable substitute that will fit? The car is in pristine original condition and I want a radio that will not require any additions or deletions to the dash.
I'm planning on keeping the stock speakers. Thanks.

'92 245 DL. Virgos. Ipd sways and frame/tower braces. Bilsteins. Michelins. 150K

I use the harness between the radio and the amp to make a new harness that connects to the new radio's harness. This way you have the original connectors and wire to get a neat professional installation. I have done this with 2 - JVC' and a Pioneer. Dan

JMC,

I have a bone stock Volvo radio/cassette that I got at the pick A part which I can send you at cost (I'll take pix if you want to see it first). It came out of an early 80's 245 DL but looks to be a later addition. It has not been tested. I pulled it as the PO on my car installed a JVC radio/cass and figured going stock wouldn't lose me anything. I've since decided (based in large part on comments from this site) to go to a radio/CD through Crutchfield - they're inexpensive, have a ridiculously wide selection, and in some cases their radios come with installation assemblies & hardware.

If you're interested, lemme know...

Lanval
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92 240 GL 143,000mi

Interesting post in that I discovered the AMP situation a couple of weeks ago and ended up running new wires to the back two speakers.
One question/observation, does anybody else have the problem of excessive heat build up above the vents ? Aside from installing a fan, is there any other ways of venting this out to keep it cool?

Replacing these radios is never as simple as it seems. There are GREAT install kits out there that give you the faceplate you need. They run about $15. You used to get the wiring harness kit along with it. I'm told that they don't sell that anymore, but who knows? Ask at your local stereo shops or wherever you order a radio from. Some people here have mentioned Crutchfield as being a reliable source of these adapter parts.

The other issue with this is that your car has an external amplifier. The speakers don't connect directly to the radio in the top of the dash. The signals go from radio to amp, mounted in front of that coin box in front of the shifter. The amp connects to the speakers (2 or 4 depending on system).

You need to get these speaker wires up to the new unit. Short lengths of wire can be run to the connections or the wires may reach from the amp connectors to the wires for the new radio.

As for the radio choices, there are dozens of good units out there. Stick with a name brand and you'll be happy. I've installed 4 Alpine CD units in recent years. The cheap model seems to run about $159-169 and it's a very nice single-CD AM/FM unit with good power. Anything beyond the basic CD player doesn't seem to do a lot more unless you need an MP3 player or Satellite radio built in. Choice is yours.
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 87 244DL- 249K, B230F/M47, Turbo sways, Bilsteins, GT braces, Virgos, Turbo exhaust, Sumitomos, soon to be retired?

When mine went south, I went to the pick and pull. Pulled a JVC out of a 240, so it went right in my 240 -- I wanted a stock Volvo radio, but either they were not working, or had been replaced. The JVC doesn't look too flashy, which is what I wanted.
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'89 244DL M47 172K miles