456 GT Radio Project

Ok....so I've been researching this for several weeks. I need to replace my original stereo with upgraded, bluetooth, hands free calling, pandora, etc., etc.. not as simple as "put in a new single din stereo". So I picked the head unit I wanted... an Alpine UTE-73BT. I found Pac Parts online and was able to buy the Male and female connectors between the faceplate and head unit.....bought 46 feet of CAT-6 cable (a pre-made 25 footer, a 14 footer and a 7 footer), three CAT-6 couplers, a spool of electronics solder....and off I went. I cut 25 footer in half, cut 2 feet off the 14 footer and cut the 7 footer in half. I soldered three lengths of cable 2 feet long each to the 20 pins on the female connector....then I soldered the three longer lengths of cable to the male connector...marked the corresponding cable pairs as 1, 2 and 3...the six ends had male plugs already so connected the six cables with appropriate couplers.

All parts bought at Best Buy and Lowes.

I tested the whole contraption out of our 456.......and it worked!

Now to install all into Sofia tomorrow night. The intention is the longer length cables pass through rear shelf wall into trunk (through existing grommet) to connect to stereo....feed up into the console area.....the shorter cables couple to the corresponding couplers and on up to the remote faceplate mounted in the console...

Once I get it all installed I will post picks and parts list.

 

I just ordered Chris's faceplate adapter!

https://www.shapeways.com/product/RQKGU3D4K/ferrari-456-radio-adapter-alpine?optionId=62150289&li=ostatus

Installing all the fiddly bits today and tomorrow... just awaiting the faceplate so I can paint to match and complete install!

 

Anyone ever set up a four channel amplifier?

 

Some pix of the parts and assembly..
Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Test fit everything tonight... pulled cables through from trunk to cabin... and it plays! I'll be buttoning up tomorrow and will share new pix.

 

It works perfectly.... I am not sure about the USB as I have not ever tried it, but bluetooth and all other features seem to work perfectly. I do see a random "blip" in the display for a split-second every once in awhile... but it all works exactly as I expected it to work.

 

It really was not that difficult.... the most challenging was the little terminals that need to be soldered. There are 20 of them at each end. So you are aware, I used six lengths of Cat 6 cable because I joined them in the middle with a connector on each one so that I could more easily pass through the rear bulkhead. If I were to do this over, I would make it three lengths of Cat 6 cable, and solder the ends... as it should easily pass through the rear bulkhead. Also make sure to measure it to the right length... mine is too long and I have it coiled up under the driver's side rear seat cushion. The 3d printed faceplate mount is very nice..... but I had to "rig" up a way to hold the connections at each end and I ended up using gorilla tape.... not very elegant but effective.

 

Because I wanted to solder all the connections on my workbench under a magnifying glass...it is pretty small terminals & wires being soldered...

 

@rhern213 here is the thread I made about my radio install.

 

Apologies I have been crazy busy at work and playing with a new to me 1979 Porsche 928 Euro 5spd.

Let me try and find my paperwork, I don't have the part numbers handy but what o did was look up a different radio on Pac Parts and ordered them and they worked.

I'll try and find a part number to share!