In-car install with 97 GMC Sonoma - help?

[rubberbandball]

Allright. I have recently acquired a 1997 GMC Sonoma in a game of chance (allright, it's my dad's, but he's letting me drive it now that I can drive a manual). The problem is, it has a CD player, which makes using my current tape adapter solution impossible. I have looked into getting an FM transmittor, but I hate the sound quality on those, so I'm not going to go waste $30. Then I looked a little closer at the head unit, and discovered it has an AUX-IN input. I haven't had a chance to take the head unit out, but I am thinking I can just use a normal 2pronged stereo to mini-stereo adapter (like the cable I use to hook my laptop to a TV). Is this right? Or do I need to buy a different cable? Thanks in advance for the help!

[rrrad]

You will need a different head unit, as that head unit in your vehicle only will support an external tape player. I have a 1999 Chevy Silverado which had the same Delco / Bose system in it and the only solution (or so I thought) was the PIE GM-9 adapter. Well, it is not compatible with 1999 and below units, because they are only capable of controlling the tape deck, not an external six disc changer, which the PIE emulates. So I waited around until I saw a 2000 head unit on eBay with some cracked buttons (they sell a lot cheaper than the perfect units) and sniped it for about $60. I just swapped the buttons that were cracked from my old unit.

I didn't just buy a new aftermarket unit because I would have had to buy all new speakers, too, as the Bose have a little amplifier built into the doors that make them incompatible with most head units other than the stock Delco. I already had the PIE adapter, too, which also cost me $60 plus shipping.

Overall I am very happy with the sound quality.

One of the best parts about my plan is that swapping out the head units was so easy that noone would ever be able to tell that it had been done. The install was a piece of cake, too and I was able to hide everything behind the dash except for the SiK adapter that plugs into the iPod!

Have Fun!

Reed