I recently bought an 82 Camino, and it still has the original AM/FM stereo in it. There is no tape player or anything, and I was thinking about replacing it with a CD player for those long drives. Am I able to simply cut the panel that the stero/heat controls are on, or is there a place that I can get a new panel for it that is made to hold a CD player?

Although I do not have an in dash CD player installed, here is what you can do. The newer style Delco radios/CD/Cassette player (86up) can be installed in your dash very easily. Get a face plate from an 86 and up Elky or Monte Carlo (available on Ebay or through OPGI) and the correct mounting brackets (2). I purchased mine off of Ebay along with the correct wiring harness but they are aslo available from any good automotive stereo installation sales/shop (they should know what brackets and plug-in wire harness you'll need). I also bought a AM/FM/Cassette with built in 5 band graphic equalizer off of Ebay out of a 95 Trans Am. The whole setup cost me less then $100 and it looks like I have a factory installed Delco system. I have a 94 Caddy with a AM/FM/Cassette/CD player that would of fit also, but did not want a single CD player in the dash. My plan is to install a 12 disc player in the smugglers box. There is no need to remove your AC/heater control or cut your dash up. You will have to make one slight cut on the dash where the left side of the radio slides in. This is to clear the bolt that mounts the bracket to the radio itself. This part of the dash is very flimsy, so be extra careful when making this cut.

I just cutout the part in mine, and made my own mounting brackets with some sheet aluminum. was easy, cheap, and fast solution, my car will no longer be "original" but its ok, no biggie, after the exhaust i just put on it, im not really going for classic restoration anyways! :)

The newer style Delco radios/CD/Cassette player (86up) can be installed in your dash very easily.

A word of warning, stay away from the Bose units as the amps are in the speakers. Unless of course you can snag the speakers out of the donor car as well. I've got two AM/FM CD units on my bench right now that are useless to me for that very reason.

There are aftermarket stereo installation adaptors that make the installation easier, Check with any car stereo shop to find them. They're under $20 and make the installation much cleaner.

The face plate from an 86 and up Elky or Monte Carlo that theelcaminofactory mentioned is a nice finishing touch for the aftermarket kit also.

:mrgreen: