[houston_four]

Ok, this may be retarded to some of you but it works for me. My little brother has a 05 F150 and had his stock Double DIN HU replaced w/ a screen. I was wanting to take that head unit and install it in my '03 Stang (non-Mach System). I want to do that because it has a 6 disc changer and MP3 capabilities plus it was free and would be a semi-upgrade from the stock system. I don't want to go out and buy a whole new head unit but this one would work for me.

#1. Anyone tried this?

#2. It has the pin system in the back which I haven't looked to see if they match up but I would imagine that they did

#3. I have no idea where to start at removing the stock HU. I've read enough to understand that I will need the Ford Removal kit but I could possibly get by with a paper clip/coat hanger but have no idea where to start? Am I going to have to remove the entire dash?

Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks,

H4

[EagleAutosports]

Can't say that I've tried it but since it was free, nothing wrong in trying to see if it would work. It's very possible the wiring could match up, or you could just splice in all of them one by one. And yes, a hanger would work too, you just need something that will go in the hole and release the catch so you can pull it out.

[jash7]

i install radios for a living if you need any help throw me a PM

[reivaxtorres]

a little late, but here is my input, just in case anyone else comes up across this thread:

Originally Posted by houston_four

#1. Anyone tried this?

A. Not quite, but im kind of doing the same thing, but with a twist. I'm installing a Headunit out of an 05 explorer (same as the 04 Mach 460 HU in the mustangs) into my car, which already has the Mach 460 system in it, but its the older system that has a seperate single Disc CD player.

Originally Posted by houston_four

#2. It has the pin system in the back which I haven't looked to see if they match up but I would imagine that they did

A. Nope, they dont match up, or at least chances are they wont. in 03, ford changed the radio wiring in the mustang from the "World Plug" style (2 black plugs for the non-Mach 460 HU, 3 black plugs for the Mach 460) to the "Phase 2" system (1 gray plug for the non-Mach systems, 2 gray plugs for the Mach system). From my understanding, only the 04 mustangs got the Phase 2 plugs, the 01-03 stayed with the World Plugs. (helpful hit: if the HU has a "SAT" button, you have the Phase 2 plugs)If you really wanted to do what you plan on doing, you need these two harnesses (get them on ebay or any good radio shop) and you need to splice them together to make it work:
Metra 71-5520 (plugs into the back of the f-150 HU)
Metra 70-5700 (plugs into the stock harness...comes with three plugs, you will only use 2 of them)

Metra 71-5520: 71-5520 OEM Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Harness 03-06; 7;
Metra 70-5700: 70-5700 Ford/Lincoln/Mazda 98+;

Originally Posted by houston_four

#3. I have no idea where to start at removing the stock HU. I've read enough to understand that I will need the Ford Removal kit but I could possibly get by with a paper clip/coat hanger but have no idea where to start? Am I going to have to remove the entire dash?

A. Dont think you need the radio removal tools. if i remember right, either Mach or non-Mach system, you can follow these Directions:
DIY: remove Mach CD-6 - 3.8 Mustang Message Board

the plugs that that radio show are the "Phase 2" plugs. if you notice, this radio should look somewhat similar to the one you have in your car right now, with the exception of the plugs on the back. these plugs should resemble the plugs your f150 HU has. the long grey plug you see is the main one, it has all the inputs for power/lumination/etc, and has the outputs for the speakers. the smaller plug is the one that controls the power to the amps in the mach 460 system, which is known as the premium sound harness. i am assuming you only need the main harness, not the premium sound one.

Side Notes:
1) the head unit from the f150 is a different design than the one that was offered in the mustang. im not too sure it would look good in the car, and you would have to come up with a different way of mounting it. the mustang HU mounts via 4 screws on a bracket on the bottom of the HU, the f150 one seems to mount via 4 screws, 2 per each side of the HU.

04 Mustang HU Front and Rear:
eBay Motors: 01 02 03 04 Ford Mustang OEM 6 Disc CD Radio LKQ (item 190193273362 end time Jan-30-08 18:21:08 PST)

01-03 Mustang HU Front and Rear:
eBay Motors: 01 02 03 04 Mustang 6 Disc CD Changer Radio OEM LKQ (item 190193273204 end time Jan-30-08 18:20:27 PST)

04+ F-150 HU Front and Rear:
eBay Motors: Ford Fusion/Milan In-Dash 6 CD/MP3 Changer Radio OE LKQ (item 220195271531 end time Jan-30-08 18:22:21 PST)

do you notice the plug style differences? and the mounting differences?