WRX stereo swap?

[MNYPNNY]

Question #1 -- Does anyone know if the dual din stock stereo out of a 2002 WRX will work for an SVX? I mainly want to know if it fits and if it will allow the antenna to remain down when the cd player or cassette is used.

Question #2 -- Awhile back I saw some mention of the wheel bearings out of the new WRXs working in SVXs. Is this true?

[Earthworm]

Mike should know the answer to #1 and as for #2 - nope. I've heard that 2005 STi bearings work though.

[MNYPNNY]

Originally Posted by Earthworm

Mike should know the answer to #1 and as for #2 - nope. I've heard that 2005 STi bearings work though.

You're right, I think it was STi... thanks.

[SVXer95]

WRX radio will fit. You will need a reverse connector from SVXdc. I just recently put in a double din six disc changer from an 05 wrx. There was no need for cutting in the back as some others have mentioned. A bit of cutting was needed to get the black plastic piece that covers the inside of the door to go back on. I believe there are pics of the finished prodcut in my locker. none of the install though. If you do a search, there are several threads on the topic. The 05 looks great, esp. with my grey 'L' dash. The silver color is very nice.

[ssnsltd]

Originally Posted by thndrmtn92svx

You're right, I think it was STi... thanks.

are they stronger thn the origional SVX bearings?

[RojoRocket]

Just FYI you will lose the diversity tuning via the 2 antennae, connecting up only one of them, the mast I would assume. The '02 WRX changer I used worked nicely, but I did have to trim some of the cage at the rear to allow access to the antenna plug IIRC, as well as some added depth. The antenna will stay down if you initially use the CD function, but going from Radio to CD it will remain extended until power is removed. I purchased both reverse wiring plugs from svxdc so it was strictly plug-n-play. The inside cover "liner" does have to be "customized" to clear the knobs. I've been very satisfied with the changer, pics of the install in my locker.

Glenn

[SVXdc]

Originally Posted by RojoRocket

Just FYI you will lose the diversity tuning via the 2 antennae, connecting up only one of them, the mast I would assume.

Yes, the motorized antenna is the better one to use on radios that have only one antenna input.

The antenna will stay down if you initially use the CD function, but going from Radio to CD it will remain extended until power is removed.

Bizarre. By "removed" do you mean using the power 'switch' on the radio or turning off via the ignition key?

I purchased both reverse wiring plugs from svxdc so it was strictly plug-n-play.

For this mod, you want a 'forward' SVX plug (to connect to the car) and a reverse WRX plug (to connect to the WRX radio). See my post in the "For Sale" forum.

[RojoRocket]

Thanks for the added clarity about the plugs required David. Use of your plugs made the job MUCH easier. For the sake of additional clarity, the deck, when the radio function is selected, will extend the antenna, leaving it up when the CD or Cassette functions are selected. In some ways this makes good sense, reducing the number of up/down cycles. So, yep. I meant whenever the deck is switched off, by either the ignition or the deck power switch.

Glenn

[SubaSteevo]

Originally Posted by RojoRocket

Thanks for the added clarity about the plugs required David. Use of your plugs made the job MUCH easier. For the sake of additional clarity, the deck, when the radio function is selected, will extend the antenna, leaving it up when the CD or Cassette functions are selected. In some ways this makes good sense, reducing the number of up/down cycles. So, yep. I meant whenever the deck is switched off, by either the ignition or the deck power switch.

Glenn

I don't have the WRX changer, but I'd much rather have the mast go down when the CD is selected. I rarely use the radio, so what's the point of having the mast up?

[Nemesis Destiny]

I don't have the WRX changer, but I'd much rather have the mast go down when the CD is selected. I rarely use the radio, so what's the point of having the mast up?

Last summer I bought the conversion kit from SVXdc and a WRX 6 disc changer from another member and installed it. The antenna does in fact raise ONLY when the radio is on, and switching to cassette or CD will lower it. When RojoRocket said theirs did not function this way, that was why SVXdc said it was "bizarre" because it's supposed to lower anytime you're not using the AM/FM tuner.

For the record, the radio cage does need to be modified (very easy), and there is a strut inside the dash that needs to be cut, bent, or otherwise modified or the front of the radio will not sit "right". Though, it's barely noticeable, and I've been too lazy to rip it all apart and bent the strut so it fits better. I think there are pics in my locker. Oh, and the knobs on the WRX radio interfere with the door for the radio compartment (another easy fix).

[SVXer95]

My mast stays down when cd is selected. 2005 WRX radio.

[svxistentialist]

Originally Posted by SVXer95

My mast stays down when cd is selected. 2005 WRX radio.

Say, I get tons of spam emails that claim to fix that.

[svxxx26]

WOW..

Thanks for the wealth of info from everyone!
svxdc, I'll be emailing you for the connectors!

[svxash]

Here's a link to when I did mine. Also the antenna only goes up when the radio is on. When switching from radio to CD it goes down.
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=20238

[RojoRocket]

I stand corrected. So does mine.

Glenn